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Healing from Shame After Childhood Sexual Abuse
Shame is one of the most painful and persistent wounds survivors carry. It can linger long after the abuse has ended, shaping how you see yourself, how you relate to others, and how you move through the world. Shame whispers that you were responsible, that you should have done something differently, that you are somehow “broken” or “too much.” None of those things are true, but shame has a way of feeling believable. Healing from shame begins with understanding something esse
Karen MacKeigan
Jan 52 min read


A Therapist’s Guide to Starting the New Year with Self-Compassion
The week between the holidays and January 1 can feel strangely heavy. There is excitement, of course, but also pressure. Pressure to reinvent yourself, set big goals, improve everything at once, or “start fresh.” For many people, the New Year brings comparison, guilt, or a sense that they have not done enough. If you have ever felt overwhelmed by resolutions or the expectation to suddenly be a different version of yourself on January 1, you are not alone. This post explores a
Karen MacKeigan
Dec 22, 20253 min read


How to Navigate Family Dynamics During the Holidays
For many people, the holidays bring warmth, connection, and tradition. But for just as many others, this time of year also brings stress, old wounds, and complicated family dynamics. If you’re heading into the holidays with a bit of dread in your stomach, you’re not alone. It’s common for this season to stir up emotions, especially when long-standing patterns or unresolved tension come to the surface. Holiday gatherings tend to blend high expectations with old roles, the ones
Karen MacKeigan
Dec 15, 20253 min read


Why Trauma-Informed Therapy for Survivors Matters
For many survivors of childhood sexual abuse, trauma is not just a memory from the past. It shows up in the present through the body, the nervous system, and the ways we learn to protect ourselves. This is why trauma-informed therapy is so important. It recognizes not only what happened to you, but how those experiences continue to shape your life today. A trauma-informed therapist understands that healing is not linear. Some days you feel steady, other days everything feels
Karen MacKeigan
Dec 8, 20252 min read


Therapist-Client Relationship: Why Trust in Therapy Matters
When most people think about therapy, they imagine techniques, tools, or specific types of treatment. But the truth is, the most powerful part of therapy isn’t a method at all, it’s the relationship you build with your therapist. Research consistently shows that a strong, trusting therapist-client relationship is one of the biggest predictors of positive outcomes. In other words, feeling understood and supported matters just as much as the strategies used in each session. Wh
Karen MacKeigan
Dec 1, 20252 min read


Coping Tools Between Therapy Sessions
Therapy can be a safe anchor in the storm of everyday life. But what happens when sessions pause, whether it’s during holidays, travel, or your therapist’s break? For many clients, those gaps can feel unsettling. The good news is there are practical ways to support yourself between appointments and keep your progress steady. Here are some tools you can use when your therapist’s chair isn’t available but their guidance still echoes in your mind. 1. Build a Grounding Routine Gr
Karen MacKeigan
Nov 24, 20253 min read
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