From Exhaustion to Rest: Redefining What Rest Looks Like in This Season of Life
Sensory overload during pregnancy and postpartum isn’t just inconvenient—it’s a signal from your nervous system that you need rest. But rest doesn’t have to mean stillness or silence. At Veraluna, we help women redefine rest in a way that honors their current season of life—whether that’s a deep breath behind a closed door, or finally asking for help without guilt. This isn’t about doing more. It’s about listening to what your body and mind truly need.
The Blood Moon, Self-Discovery, and Seeing Myself Clearly for the First Time
I’ve spent my whole life feeling like the moon in a phone’s camera—there, but never fully seen. Last night, as I stood under the deep red glow of the Lunar Blood Eclipse, I realized just how much this mirrored my journey of discovering I am Autistic with ADHD. What people saw was never the whole picture. For years, I masked, adapted, and overanalyzed, believing I was failing at being human. But now, at 45, I am finally seeing myself clearly. And I am learning that curiosity, not judgment, is the way forward.
Managing Conflict Without Meltdown: De-escalation Tools for Neurodivergent Couples
Conflict in neurodivergent relationships can escalate fast, often leading to emotional meltdowns or shutdowns. Sensory overload, emotional flooding, and miscommunication make arguments feel overwhelming—but they don’t have to. Learn how to de-escalate conflict, regulate emotions, and build stronger connection using strategies like co-regulation, Gottman repair exercises, and Brainspotting. If you're ready to navigate disagreements without spiraling, explore how neurodivergent couples intensives can provide the tools you need.
Love in the Fast (or Slow) Lane: Navigating Differing Processing Speeds in Neurodivergent Relationships
Have you ever felt like you and your partner are operating at completely different speeds? Maybe you process conversations more slowly, needing time to reflect, while your partner is quick to respond. Or perhaps you make decisions fast, but your partner prefers to sit with all the options first.
These differences in processing speed are common in neurodivergent relationships, and while they can lead to frustration, they don’t have to be a source of conflict. By understanding each other’s communication styles and using practical strategies—like creating processing pauses, setting clear expectations around timing, and integrating co-regulation techniques—you and your partner can find a rhythm that works for both of you.
Want to navigate these differences with more confidence? Learn how to align your communication styles and strengthen your connection in my Neurodivergent Couples Intensive Therapy—a 3-hour deep dive into practical, relationship-building tools. Schedule your consultation today!
How to Make Peace with Food When You Are Stuck in the Restrict-Binge Cycle
Struggling with the restrict-binge cycle? Discover how to find relief from emotional eating and food guilt. Learn effective strategies, including Self-Compassion and Intuitive Eating, to heal your relationship with food and find peace within your body. Find out about how IFS and Brainspotting can help! Explore compassionate, weight-inclusive therapy options at Veraluna Wellness in Chicago, IL, and Charleston, SC. Ready to reclaim your freedom? Read more now!
How to Communicate When Your Families Are Over-Involved: A Guide for Neurodivergent Couples
Navigating family dynamics as a neurodivergent couple can feel like an extreme sport—one where the rules keep changing, and somehow, you’re always “it.” Maybe it’s the unsolicited advice (“Have you tried just being less anxious?”), the unspoken expectations, or the guilt trips that come with setting even the smallest boundary. Whatever the case, managing family involvement doesn’t have to feel like an endless cycle of stress.
By creating a united front, using gentle but firm communication, and setting aside family-free time as a couple, you can keep your relationship strong—without getting pulled into every family drama. If navigating over-involved families feels like a full-time job, my neurodivergent couples’ intensives can help. With a mix of Gottman, IFS, and co-regulation strategies, you’ll walk away with real tools (not just wishful thinking) for setting boundaries and staying connected.
Read the full blog to learn how to protect your peace—without disowning your relatives.
What Does Food Mean to You? Finding Food Freedom Without Judgment
Ever find yourself elbow-deep in a pint of ice cream after a stressful day, wondering how you got there? Or maybe you meticulously track every bite, convinced that control over food equals control over life? If so, you’re not alone.
Food isn’t just fuel—it’s comfort, control, connection, and sometimes, let’s be honest, pure confusion. The good news? You don’t need another set of food rules. You need a way to understand why you eat the way you do and how to make choices that actually feel good.
At Veraluna Wellness, I help people like you break free from diet rules, find peace with food, and build a relationship with eating that’s rooted in self-kindness—not self-criticism. No guilt trips. No “good” or “bad” foods. Just you, learning to trust yourself again. Ready to explore what food freedom can look like for you?
Finding Each Other Again: How Neurodivergent Couples Can Strengthen Their Connection During Stressful Times
Does Stress Feel Like It’s Pulling You Apart?
For neurodivergent couples, stress can amplify existing challenges, leaving you feeling disconnected or overwhelmed. You may find yourself thinking:
“Why do we struggle to stay connected during hard times?”
“How do we support each other when we’re both feeling stressed?”
“Can we rebuild our bond after a difficult period?”
Caring for the Inner Child Who Feels Unworthy: Embracing Self-Compassion for Deeply Held Body Shame
Does Your Inner Child Still Feel Unworthy?
Let’s be real—do you still hear echoes of those childhood comments about your body? Maybe it was a family member casually mentioning your weight, or a classmate making a thoughtless remark. To them, it might have seemed harmless, but for you? It left a mark.
These small moments have a way of sticking, growing into beliefs about our worth that can follow us into adulthood. Add in society’s endless beauty standards, and it’s no wonder we struggle to shake those messages.
But here’s the truth: those old stories don’t define you. Healing starts when you reconnect with your inner child—the part of you who first heard those hurtful words—and offer them the compassion they’ve always needed. With kindness and a little courage, you can rewrite those harmful narratives and build a relationship with your body rooted in love and acceptance.
Ready to begin? Let’s explore the roots of body shame, how it shows up in your life, and actionable steps to nurture your inner child and find healing.
7 Steps to Take if You Believe Your Partner Expects Perfection From You
If your partner expects perfection, it can strain your relationship. Discover seven practical steps to address the issue, communicate better, and create a healthier dynamic.
5 Reasons Why It’s Perfectly Okay to Be an “OK Mom”
Being an OK mom isn’t failure—it’s freedom. Learn how embracing imperfection helps you raise resilient kids, strengthen relationships, and find joy in the messy moments of motherhood.
Finding Yourself Again: Reconnecting With Your Identity in the Postpartum Journey
Do You Feel Like You’ve Lost Yourself? Becoming a mom is a profound transformation, but it can also feel like losing pieces of yourself along the way. The activities, interests, and parts of your identity that once felt so clear might now seem distant or irrelevant. You may wonder: “Who am I outside of being a mom?” “Will I ever feel like myself again?” “How do I balance motherhood with my own needs and desires?” These questions are normal and valid. Let’s explore how you can reconnect with your identity, honor the person you’ve always been, and embrace who you are becoming.
Why Identity Feels So Shaky Postpartum=
Rediscover Your Authentic Self: Choosing Your Guiding Word for 2025
Embrace your authentic self with a guiding word for the new year. My 2024 journey with "Simplicity" and my focus on "Emerge" for 2025 show how reflection and intention lead to balance and connection.
Reset, Reflect, and Reclaim: Creating Space for Yourself in the New Year
New year, new you? Maybe not. But a new year is the perfect time to reset, reflect, and reclaim your space—both mentally and physically. Dive into this guide for practical ways to embrace self-compassion, set boundaries, and create intentional growth this year.
Breaking Free from the ‘New Year, New You’ Trap: Embracing Authentic Goals and Self-Compassion
Breaking Free from the “New Year, New You” Trap: Embracing Authentic Goals and Self-Compassion
As the clock strikes midnight on December 31st, many people find themselves swept up in the relentless tide of the “New Year, New You” mantra. Diet culture, fitness challenges, and promises of transformation flood our social media feeds, urging us to strive for unattainable ideals. While goal-setting can be a powerful tool for growth, this approach often leaves us disconnected from our authentic selves and fosters feelings of inadequacy when we don’t achieve perfection. Let’s explore how you can break free from the “New Year, New You” trap by setting authentic goals rooted in self-compassion and adopting weight-inclusive practices that honor your unique journey.
The Problem with “New Year, New You” The “New Year, New You” mindset often perpetuates the following harmful ideas:
How to Support Each Other During the Overstimulating Holiday Season: A Guide for Neurodivergent Couples
Does the Holiday Season Feel Overwhelming?
For neurodivergent couples, the holidays can be both joyful and overwhelming. Between sensory overload, social obligations, and shifting routines, you might find yourself thinking:
Navigating Food and Body Struggles During Christmas: Finding Joy Beyond Diet Culture
The holiday season is here, bringing with it festive meals, joyful gatherings, and sometimes an unwelcome guest: diet culture. For many, Christmas can feel like a minefield of food rules, guilt, and body dissatisfaction. But it doesn’t have to be this way. This post explores how to embrace the holiday season with self-compassion, ditch diet culture, and find joy in food and connection.
Understanding Diet Culture’s Grip on the Holidays-