Marilyn Marks

Holding Our Center in the Storm

Marilyn Marks — Sun, 06 Apr 2025 19:11:47 +0000

When political, economic, social, and environmental chaos swirls in the world around us, anxiety surges and our protective instinct is to “doom-scroll” or watch the news for hours, checking for the latest disaster. Our nervous system gets hijacked, we feel vulnerable and ask ourselves “Am I OK?”, “What should I DO?”, and “What’s going to […]

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Healing Division Begins with Me

Marilyn Marks — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 22:06:32 +0000

Political, racial, border, gender, and religious “divides” are just a few of the types of division we are hearing about in the media these days. We look to a political or spiritual leader to bring opposing factions together, to facilitate empathy and mutual understanding, but alas there is no one human being who can single-handedly […]

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Self-Compassion During Turbulent Times

Marilyn Marks — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 22:56:01 +0000

We are increasingly bombarded by news of devastating “weather events”; our hearts break for the people, animals, and forests that die or are displaced from their homes due to hurricanes, fires, and floods. We feel overwhelmed and helpless to be of any use other than to send donations toward relief efforts. How do we cope […]

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Rubber Duckies Can Help You Heal

Marilyn Marks — Sun, 12 Jan 2025 20:32:41 +0000

You might wonder if I’ve gone off my rocker. Rubber duckies can help you heal? Yes they certainly can! Many clients will attest that this form of trauma therapy can be beneficial for easing PTSD symptoms, healing the child within, and increasing self awareness of emotional states of being. OK how the heck is this […]

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Winter’s Gift

Marilyn Marks — Sun, 05 Jan 2025 17:51:04 +0000

The new year is often launched with joy, exuberance, and fresh resolutions. We’re inspired to become a “new and improved” version of ourselves. Yet the rhythms of nature, and winter itself, teach us that winter is also a time of rest, stillness, and reflection. This piece by an unknown author invites us to light a […]

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Healing Goodbyes

Marilyn Marks — Thu, 02 May 2024 16:11:53 +0000

Many of us were raised to avoid painful endings and goodbyes. Yet the sadness of a “goodbye” is just as important to honor as the joy of a graduation, retirement, or birth. If we can turn toward grief bravely and with compassion, we discover an opportunity for healing the heart and soul. Many years ago, […]

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In a Funk? Flip It!

Marilyn Marks — Sat, 13 Apr 2024 00:46:27 +0000

Life has a habit of throwing us curve balls—unexpected illness, job loss, the ending of a relationship. We find ourselves spiraling down a deep well of fear, anger, or shame. We feel “done to”, victimized. Or we might start the day with negative thoughts: my back hurts, oh no it’s raining, the traffic will be […]

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The Circle of Life

Marilyn Marks — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 17:53:45 +0000

When beginning a session with clients in my psychotherapy practice, I like to ring a hammered, brass Tibetan bowl I was gifted. I’m not quite sure why I’m moved to do this. Perhaps it symbolically marks the beginning of something sacred, a revealing of the heart and soul. As I slowly press and circle the […]

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Honor Your Tears

Marilyn Marks — Fri, 26 Jan 2024 20:05:19 +0000

In the last week, I’ve been moved by the many forms of grief expressed by my therapy clients: –loss of a beloved animal companion –sadness over ongoing wars in the world –grief over being abused or abandoned as a child –missing a friend, spouse, grandparent who has passed on –sorrow and helplessness over climate change […]

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Kindness Everywhere

Marilyn Marks — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 17:02:58 +0000

Despite the negativity we see in the media, the goodness in people far outweighs the anger and division. Uplifting acts of love and kindness are offered by ordinary people, everywhere, every day. Here are just a few stories that have recently crossed my path: Someone leaving a note on a car, letting the driver know […]

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