There is no timeline for grief — and healing does not mean forgetting or moving on. Mental health therapist Shelley Fourney addresses the most common misconceptions about grief, explains what healing actually looks like, and reminds us that life can be good again AND still carry loss. If you are still grieving years later, this one is for you.

Supporting someone who is grieving can feel overwhelming when you don't know what to say or do — but it doesn't have to be perfect to be helpful. A mental health therapist shares exactly what helps, what doesn't, and how to show up for someone in loss in practical and meaningful ways. Spoiler — it is less about the right words and more about just being present.

Grief affects your body and your mind in ways that can feel alarming if you don't know what to expect — brain fog, sleeplessness, inability to function, and more. Mental health therapist Shelley Fourney breaks down the physical and emotional impacts of grief and helps you understand the difference between normal grief responses and when it might be time to ask for help. You are not broken — this is just what grief does.

Grief is not just about death — it can show up in relationships ending, health changes, life transitions, and so much more. Mental health therapist Shelley Fourney explores what grief really is, the many forms it takes, and why there is no right or wrong way to move through it. If you are walking through any kind of loss right now, this series is for you.

If you or someone you love is struggling with thoughts of suicide, you are not alone and help is available. This article walks you through exactly what to say, what to do, and where to turn — written by a mental health therapist in rural Colorado who knows how hard it can be to ask for help in a small community. You do not have to figure this out alone.

Ever catch yourself being incredibly hard on yourself? In this candid post, I share my recent experience with shingles and what it taught me about self-compassion. As a therapist, I know better than to push through exhaustion—but knowing isn't the same as practicing. I explore what self-compassion actually looks like in daily life, how to recognize when you need rest (and actually take it), and practical ways to speak to yourself with the same kindness you'd offer a friend. If you've ever struggled with giving yourself permission to slow down, this one's for you.

A practical list of questions (conversation starters) to help couples talk about the expectations that cause the most conflict - from who does the laundry to how you'll spend holidays. It's never too late to have these conversations.

Learn why couples fight about surface issues when the real problem is unspoken expectations. Discover how to have productive conversations about money, roles, holidays, and more - before the next blow-up. Practical tips for bringing up hard topics without starting a fight.

Feeling pressured by January expectations? Learn how to rest before resolutions, protect what's working, and create sustainable goals that actually fit your life.

Realistic holiday planning strategies for managing time and money. Break tasks into small pieces, set budgets, and choose what matters to YOUR family.

Navigate the people part of the holidays with practical strategies for managing family gatherings, setting boundaries, and making changes to traditions. Discover how to plan time with people who fill your cup while managing relationships that drain you - all while honoring what YOUR family needs this season.

You know that feeling when your computer has 20 tabs open and it starts running really slow? That's my brain without routines. I feel completely out of control, really irritable, and can get REAL bitey with my family when someone interrupts me, chews too loudly, asks me a question. Anyone else?

After years of people-pleasing that left me anxious, overthinking, and constantly guilty, I discovered that being my own best friend meant learning to fill my own cup instead of serving everyone else at the cost of me. I developed some questions to ask before saying yes to opportunities, distinguishing between daily maintenance tasks that keep me functioning and longer cup-filling activities that restore my creativity and joy. Using a cup level chart (0-10 scale), I learned to recognize warning signs when my cup runs empty and take action to care for me - not in a selfish way, but so I can show up as my best self for the people and work I am called to. The key insight: you can only care for others to the extent you care for yourself, and taking conscious responsibility for filling your own cup is the first step to being my own best friend.

I struggle with wanting to "fix" everyone I love, even though I know nobody (including me) wants to be told what to do. The closer someone is to me, the harder it is to shut up, especially when I've been through something similar and want to share my wisdom. I've learned to recognize my warning signs - like when I stop listening and can only think about what I want to say next, or when I'm consumed with sharing my "wisdom" even though they haven't asked. The solution isn't about giving advice; it's about genuine curiosity - asking questions because I want to understand their world, not steer them toward my solution. I'm learning to "sit in it" with people instead of rushing to fix, and I check myself with three questions: Have I listened well? Do they feel loved? Have I been asked for solutions? Sometimes I literally have to yell at myself "IT ISN'T MINE TO FIX! STOP SHELLEY GO BACK TO LISTENING!" because the reality is we all grow differently, and my job is to walk beside them, not fix them.

You know that feeling when your computer has 20 tabs open and it starts running really slow? That's my brain without routines. I feel completely out of control, really irritable, and can get REAL bitey with my family when someone interrupts me, chews too loudly, asks me a question. Anyone else?

We ALL need help at different times with different things to be able to move forward in our life.  Using a resource that has more experience than you are also commonplace – we hire help with our taxes, hair, medical care, remodeling, however when it comes to managing our stress, mental health, life changes we refuse. 

My thoughts are going many directions, however for this post I want to start by explaining that this blog isn't necessarily going to be about my business as much as it is about life in general.  My hope though is that it will definitely apply to those looking for some help, encouragement, and a way to sort out life.  I can promise you this will be real, fun, have variety, and just what strikes me in the moment.