In this episode, Jesie and Brooke explore the idea of how intentional rituals can have incredible benefits for our well-being. From increasing a sense of control to mitigating the heavy impact of grief, ritual can allow us to have a nourishing intentional structure. Finding ritual, even in the mundane tasks can help us to live a more intentional life.

"Ritual is the act of sanctifying action-even ordinary action-so that it has meaning. I can light a candle because I need the light or because the candle represents the light I need.” -Christina Baldwin

This week's invitation: One, think about the rituals that already exist. The routines and habits you can inject some intention into and notice how they begin to feel different to you. Two, think about the mundane things-your commute, your morning or evening, and think about what happens when you add one intentional practice to them.

If you’re interested in hearing more about ritual around grief and the holidays, join Jesie for a free mini-workshop on Saturday, November 18th from 10:00 am-11:00 am MST. To join, email Jesie at [email protected]

If you're located in Colorado and interested in working with one of the therapists at Riverbend Counseling, reach out to us at www.riverbendcolorado.com

Brooke and Jesie understand the courage and bravery it takes to share one's story. If you'd like to share your story, ask a question, or join us on an episode of the podcast, contact us here: https://www.riverbendcolorado.com/podcast

In this episode, Brooke and Jesie deep dive into the benefit of creativity as a building block for authenticity. Creativity can create distance from the stories we've always told about ourselves and allow us to see ourselves and our world in new and healing ways.

"At the deepest level, the creative process and the healing process arise from a single source. When you are an artist, you are a healer; a wordless trust of the same mystery is the foundation of your work and integrity." -Rachel Naomi Remen

This week's invitation: Create! We don't know what that will be for you, but give yourself just 5 minutes to sit in the quiet and notice what is stirring. Whether color, texture, thought, or memory. Just notice your creative self.

If you're located in Colorado and interested in working with one of the therapists at Riverbend Counseling, reach out to us at www.riverbendcolorado.com

Brooke and Jesie understand the courage and bravery it takes to share one's story. If you'd like to share your story, ask a question, or join us on an episode of the podcast, contact us here: https://www.riverbendcolorado.com/podcast

In this episode, Jesie and Brooke propose a pathway to connecting deeply with the wisdom of our bodies and exchanging judgment for curiosity. What happens when we follow the impulses of our bodies? Can cultivating curiosity help us better witness the sorrow of the world?

This week's invitation: When you notice you are in a place of judgment, watching, or fear, what is a better and more curious question you can ask about the person, the circumstance, or yourself?

If you're located in Colorado and interested in working with one of the therapists at Riverbend Counseling, reach out to us at www.riverbendcolorado.com

Brooke and Jesie understand the courage and bravery it takes to share one's story. If you'd like to share your story, ask a question, or join us on an episode of the podcast, contact us here: https://www.riverbendcolorado.com/podcast

In this episode, Brooke and Jesie discuss the idea of how noticing our core beliefs can allow us to more deeply understand the emotional experiences we are having. By accurately identifying our emotional experience and allowing our body to speak, we move closer to embodiment and physiological regulation.

This week's invitation: The invitation is simple, look around, be curious, sit as an observer, and notice your environment. What calls to you, what invites curiosity, where does your gaze or interest land?

If you're located in Colorado and interested in working with one of the therapists at Riverbend Counseling, reach out to us at www.riverbendcolorado.com

Brooke and Jesie understand the courage and bravery it takes to share one's story. If you'd like to share your story, ask a question, or join us on an episode of the podcast, contact us here: https://www.riverbendcolorado.com/podcast

In this episode, Jesie and Brooke discuss the discomfort that can emerge when we begin to awaken to the emotions we have avoided. Mapping out our nervous system responses to help us welcome the whole spectrum of human emotion.

This week's invitation: Create an emotional dashboard, begin to name emotions, and get curious about their message. Identify specific emotions that are harder for you. Can you begin to trust your ability to feel them?

If you're located in Colorado and interested in working with one of the therapists at Riverbend Counseling, reach out to us at www.riverbendcolorado.com

Brooke and Jesie understand the courage and bravery it takes to share one's story. If you'd like to share your story, ask a question, or join us on an episode of the podcast, contact us here: https://www.riverbendcolorado.com/podcast

In this episode, Brooke and Jesie highlight the power of gratitude when making sense of painful events. Not silver lining, or bypassing pain, but rooting deeply into true and real gratitude to add color and context to the picture of your life.

This week's invitation: Think about a hard moment or a season of your life that felt "black or white" and start to ask yourself the questions...who was there for you? What did you learn about yourself, and how did it shape who you are today?

If you're located in Colorado and interested in working with one of the therapists at Riverbend Counseling, reach out to us at www.riverbendcolorado.com

Brooke and Jesie understand the courage and bravery it takes to share one's story. If you'd like to share your story, ask a question, or join us on an episode of the podcast, contact us here: https://www.riverbendcolorado.com/podcast

In this episode, Jesie and Brooke challenge listeners, and themselves to re-evaluate where they place their focus. Even in the most challenging moments, we can see the healing that might also exist around the pain.

This week's invitation: Can you increase capacity? Can you know, witness, and honor what is hard, and in those moments, can we ask ourselves what is also true?

If you're located in Colorado and interested in working with one of the therapists at Riverbend Counseling, reach out to us at www.riverbendcolorado.com

Brooke and Jesie understand the courage and bravery it takes to share one's story. If you'd like to share your story, ask a question, or join us on an episode of the podcast, contact us here: https://www.riverbendcolorado.com/podcast

In this episode, Brooke and Jesie explore the idea of suffering and refining moments being the birthplace of awakenings. For many of us, the things we value most about our character development have come from times of struggle that we have bravely leaned into. In this episode, we share the invitation to look at the “places of breaking as where the light can come in” and to lean into the awakening you may be in.

If you're located in Colorado and interested in working with one of the therapists at Riverbend Counseling, reach out to us at www.riverbendcolorado.com

Brooke and Jesie understand the courage and bravery it takes to share one's story. If you'd like to share your story, ask a question, or join us on an episode of the podcast, contact us here: https://www.riverbendcolorado.com/podcast

Heart of Life is back for season three with some big questions and plenty of curiosity. If you had to live the last year of your life over and over again, would you? In this episode, Jesie and Brooke invite you to reflect on areas of regret and infuse them with hope, healing, and action. Are we living in a way aligned with our values? Are we spending time and energy in spaces and places that no longer serve us? Are we avoiding the discomfort of bravery? We invite you to take inventory of where your mental energy resides and to find heart-forward ways to lean into a life lived authentically.

If you're located in Colorado and interested in working with one of the therapists at Riverbend Counseling, reach out to us at www.riverbendcolorado.com

Brooke and Jesie understand the courage and bravery it takes to share one's story. If you'd like to share your story, ask a question, or join us on an episode of the podcast, contact us here: https://www.riverbendcolorado.com/podcast

In this episode, Brianna Hawk, LPC joins Jesie and Brooke in this two-part series on empowerment. Brie shares about the power in reconnecting to our true (capital S) Self and learning to trust ourselves again.

An inspiring word from Brie: There is a wonderful Australian artist and activist named Lilla Watson who says, "If you have come here to help me you are wasting your time, but if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.” She captures the spirit of empowerment beautifully there. I get chills every time I read it.

Brie offered some amazing resources in this two-part series, they can be found at the links below:

⁠Good Inside⁠ by Becky Kennedy (book) -- she also has an IG and podcast that are great. 

⁠No Bad Parts⁠ by Richard Schwartz (book) -- for folks wanting to explore Parts more deeply.

⁠Qualities of Self⁠ -- what we will feel/think/access when we are in Self.

You can find out more about Brie on her website ⁠here⁠ or on Instagram @bhcounselor

If you're located in Colorado and interested in working with one of the therapists at Riverbend Counseling, reach out to us at www.riverbendcolorado.com

Brooke and Jesie understand the courage and bravery it takes to share one's story. If you'd like to share your story, ask a question, or join us on an episode of the podcast, contact us here: https://www.riverbendcolorado.com/podcast