Some thoughts on life, healing & the human condition

Child.ol’.a.try: 1. Worship of one’s children at the expense of one’s marriage. 2. Why parenthood today kills sex and creates marital dissatisfaction.

Read more

Prioritizing Your Partner Over Your Kids

Sep 3, 2014

Child.ol'.a.try Child.ol'.a.try: 1. Worship of one's children at the expense of one's marriage. 2. Why parenthood today kills sex and creates...

Social Media: Creating Feelings of Connection or Disconnection?

Social Media: Creating Feelings of Connection or Disconnection?

Jun 16, 2014

Social media has made its way into our lives over the past decade and is now an undeniable part of the lives of most people I know and...

HSP Therapy in Asheville

HSP Therapy in Asheville

May 27, 2014

Highly Sensitive People, or HSPs are often people who feel a lot, give a lot, and struggle a lot as a result of this predisposition. Finding HSP...

The Serenity Prayer

The Serenity Prayer

May 16, 2014

Over the past week I have been reminded, on several occasions, of the importance of acceptance on the road to healing. Situations with...

There are no long-term, lasting benefits from taking A.D.H.D. medications… but mindfulness seems to be training the same areas of the brain that have reduced activity in A.D.H.D. That’s why mindfulness might be so important… it seems to get at the causes.

Read more

Using Mindfulness to Treat Adult ADHD

May 15, 2014

Cognitive control, loosely defined as the ability to maintain sustained attention amidst the temptation of distraction, is a key factor missing for...

Stepping in to Step-Parenting!

Stepping in to Step-Parenting!

Apr 23, 2014

When I got married two years ago to my (now) husband, a father of two boys, I was hopelessly romantic and admittedly naive about what becoming a...

Anxiety Therapy

Anxiety Therapy

Mar 1, 2014

Anxiety is a normal human response to stress. Everyone, at some point in their lives, experiences anxiety. The degree to which our anxiety impacts...

My Own Lessons in Non Attachment

My Own Lessons in Non Attachment

Feb 28, 2014

When I started up my private psychotherapy practice a few years ago, my first office seemed to fall into my lap. It was a low-risk investment in a...

Transpersonal Counseling Asheville

Transpersonal Counseling Asheville

Feb 17, 2014

Spirituality Need Not Be Grandiose... I recently read Thomas Moore's 1992 New York Times Bestseller, Care of the Soul. A great book about the loss...

« Older Entries

Next Entries »

Looking for Something Specific?

Podcast Interviews

Instagram

rachael.chatham

Oooh, hey IG! It’s been a minute, but I’ve b

Oooh, hey IG!

It’s been a minute, but I’ve been thinking about you and wanted to let you know that I’m good…

I made it through the storm #hurricanehelene and I’m ready for winter…

So far this fall I’ve been enjoying curling up with this unbelievable read by @gabormatemd and it is rocking my world.

The research on mental, emotional and physical health are stunning and sad. They are proving what I already know through my firsthand experience and what I witness everyday in my psychotherapy practice.

#women #womenshealth #healthandhealing #feelingsmatter #supportmentalhealth #themythofnormal

Here in Western North Carolina, we’ve had a hell

Here in Western North Carolina, we’ve had a hell of a month. Hurricane Helene hit hard in the early morning hours of Friday, September 27 after days of unrelenting rain had already soaked our land, causing unprecedented flooding.

The days that followed were spent without water, power, internet or cell service in most places. Massive trees stretched across roads, cars and homes. Stores and gas stations were closed. Homes and businesses were destroyed. Lives were lost.

As a result, so many of us were left feeling powerless, disoriented, confused, afraid, disconnected and deeply saddened for the many losses that resulted from the storm.

In an effort to support our community as we begin the process of healing and recovery from this disaster, I am offering a free, three-week therapeutic writing group for survivors of Helene. My intention with this group is to provide an opportunity to process the experience of being impacted by a natural disaster. I hope that, through gathering together to express and share our experiences, we can bring some healing energy to the wounds of this trauma.

The group will meet online from 1-2 on Thursday afternoons in November on the 7th, 14th and 21st.

Register here: https://rachaelchatham.com/product/healing-from-high-water/

#asheville #hurricanehelene #healing #creativewriting #therapeutic #therapy #creativityheals #traumarecovery

If you come up empty-handed after searching for th

If you come up empty-handed after searching for these answers, that might be something to look at. It could indicate that you're a self-sacrificer, you've lost self-trust, or that you're someone with a strong inner critical voice. If you struggle with feeling selfish or guilty for asserting yourself in your relationships, it might be time to try something new.

If you're ready to do some sacred self-discovery this fall, join my online group course Awaken Your Authentic Self. We'll explore what it means to be a fully integrated woman through working with Four Feminine Archetypes.

Register now! There's just one week before the course closes ⚡️

In Awaken Your Authentic Self you'll learn:
🩷 How you came to self-sacrifice as a result of cultural and/or familial messaging.
🩵 How to know what you need. (The domain of The Girl Child)
💚 How your critical inner voice can undermine your attempts to grow and how to stop negative self-talk! (The domain of The Inner Critic)
🖤 How to ask for what you want. (The domain of The Rebel)
- Ways to connect with your intuition. (The domain of The Goddess)

Check the link in my bio and register today!

#codependency #peoplepleaser #selfsacrifice #archetypes #womensworkshop #onlinegroup #womensempowerment #innerchild #innercritic #rebel #goddessarchetype #divinefeminine #symbol #writing #meditation #imagery #personalgrowth #selfhelpgroup #selftrust #healing

Fall is a time to turn your attention inward. Let'

Fall is a time to turn your attention inward. Let's Awaken Your Authentic Self. ✨

It’s time to shift your gaze from always looking around and seeing how everyone else is doing and feeling. It’s time to take a peek inside, at the wonder of you.

This October, join me and a group of women on a path of healing and wholeness.

In this five-week online course, I’ll be teaching you about the psychology of people-pleasing. We’ll look at how early experiences have contributed to your self-sacrificing habit. And we'll check out the beliefs and behaviors that are maintaining it.

Most importantly, we’ll explore the different parts of YOU. I’ll be leading you to explore and integrate four key archetypes of every self-sacrificing woman:

🦋 The Inner Girl Child
🖤 The Inner Critic
💪The Rebel
🌙 The Goddess

Through using creative and spiritual therapeutic techniques you will discover a new way to relate to yourself and others.

Awaken Your Authentic Self will include:
- the psychology of people-pleasing
- archetypes/parts work
- meditation
- guided imagery/visualization
- self-compassion practices
- writing
- sharing, conversation, and connection with other women

DM me or go to rachaelchatham.com to reserve your sacred space today. 💫

#selfdiscovery #selfdiscoveryjourney #archetypes #partswork #ifs #schematherapy #selfsacrifice #selfcare #creativewriting #peoplepleaser #womenpsychology #onlinecourse #traumahealing #attachmentwounds #meditation #selfcompassionjourney #guidedimagery #visualization #spiritualpsychology #personalgrowth #asheville

Fall Into Self-Discovery with Me ✨ I want to sh

Fall Into Self-Discovery with Me ✨

I want to share a group I’m leading this fall for women who have a tendency to self-sacrifice and are ready to shift their focus inward.

After spending the last few years writing about this phenomenon and working with individuals to heal this pattern, I’m ready to share it in a new way!

This five-week experiential course brings together archetypal parts-work, self-awareness/meditation practices, creative writing, guided imagery, active imagination, and self-compassion practices. Together, we’ll explore and integrate four key archetypal parts that people-pleasing women have in common: The Girl Child, The Inner Critic, The Rebel and The Goddess.

Please join me if you are ready to learn more about this pattern of people-pleasing and discover new ways to tend to your Sacred Self.

For more information, check out my web link in bio or shoot me a DM!

#peoplepleasing #codependencyrecovery #womensempowerment #womensgroup #women #archetypes #authenticity #personalgrowth #selfdiscovery #onlinecourse #peoplepleaser #codependentnomore

A few months ago I got a DM from a man who express

A few months ago I got a DM from a man who expressed some concern about a post of mine having to do with the "Trad Wife" phenomenon.

In our exchange, he shared part of his life story, that he'd grown up with a Mom who worked. And as a result of her working, it was clear that he ended up feeling neglected.

I felt empathy as I read his note. As a child, he wanted his Mom around more, and some of his emotional needs likely went unmet.

And I also found myself wondering "Where was your Dad (or other parent)??"

Moms don't have a monopoly on emotional intelligence, the quality of nurturance, or the ability to empathize.

Dads could learn to do that stuff, too.

And frankly, it's long past time for men to learn how.

Children need nurturance from both (or all) of their parents, not just the ones born with a vagina.

Big ups to all the men out there who are working to understand themselves and their emotions, who are working hard to develop their communication skills and ability to empathize.

You are fighting your own battle against the patriarchy. And I see you.

Big ups to all of the women who are fighting a hard battle against misogyny and doing the best you can in a world that expects you to be available for constant, selfless care of others.

If you're ready to Pivot Away from People-Pleasing, check the link in my bio for some helpful tips to get you started. 🩷

#patriarchy #tradwife #genderroles #genderequality #personalgrowth #peoplepleasing #healthymasculinity #healthyfemininity #parenting #parentingtips

You're pathetic. Everyone can see through you - y

You're pathetic.
Everyone can see through you - you're a fake.
You totally messed up. In front of everyone.
You're a fool.
No one takes you seriously.
You're ugly.
Your body is wrong.
You need so much work it'll take a lifetime to fix what you've got going on.
The mistake you made was so pitiful. Only you would do something so stupid.
You're stupid/an idiot/a moron.

If any of these sound like things you regularly say to yourself, you've got yourself an Inner Critic problem. 😟

The Inner Critic is the voice inside of your head that is CONSTANTLY finding fault with you, and it's a BIG part of what keeps you people-pleasing and betraying yourself.

The Inner Critic is what we psychotherapists call a Parental Introject, which means that it is often the internalized voice of a critical parent. Does your negative internal voice remind you of one of your parents??

Working directly with the Inner Critic is how we get to know this powerful part of your psyche, and how we put her in her place.

She can be helpful, but not when she's taken over your entire personality.

Keep following this account to learn more about the Inner Critic: who she is, what she wants, and how to get her to chill the f* out.

#perfectionist #perfectionism #innercritic #selfcriticism #selfacceptance #archetypes

"Aaah, the weekend is finally here!! It's time to

"Aaah, the weekend is finally here!!
It's time to celebrate!
I mean, relax...
Or rather, get stuff done...
I also really want to see my friends... "

Sound familiar?

Weekends can be fraught when we have so much (or so little) that we want to do, and only 48 hours to fit it all in.

I recently had the pleasure of contributing to an Apartment Therapy article on striking the right balance on the weekends written by the talented Heather Bien. It includes 10 simple steps to help you enjoy your weekend.

If you (like me) suffer from the Sunday Scaries, this is the article for you!

Check it out: The Fail-Safe Secret To Enjoying the Weekend (And Skipping Sunday Scaries!) by @hmbien https://i.mtr.cool/yvbjgrsnif

#apartmenttherapy #weekends #restisresistance #intentionsetting #sundayscaries

Show Me More Posts! Follow Along

Stay in the loop!

Get my quarterly newsletter and access freebie meditations, imagery exercises and journal prompts.

Whole Self Therapy® PLLC