There’s a quiet hierarchy in the world that we tend to absorb. Physical pain sits at the top. Broken bones? A divorce? Hospital visits? Those are Visible. Valid. Undeniable. But the slow, grinding pain of not feeling fully welcome… of having to perform to belong… of shrinking yourself or pretending to keep connection… of wondering if you might just be a bad person… Or a zillion other unseen reasons These get ranked lower. Easier to dismiss. Easier to hide. And over time, it

I recently watched K-Pop Demon Hunters. On the surface, it’s a stylish, catchy, fun animated film about pop stars and literal demons. I liked it. And then there’s the movie beneath it. I lovvved that one. It was the one saying: “We’re doing to you right now exactly what we do in the real world.” In the story, a boy band isn’t discovered. It’s “engineered”, every member chosen, every trait optimized, every emotional hook designed to appeal to the widest possible audience. Manu

At 38, I returned to school for a master’s in psychological research. I planned to study oxytocin, the ever-so-fascinating neurochemical involved in bonding, trust, and connection. And released by touch! Touch! I was so excited. And then it was 2020. No labs. No contact. No touching. Fucking COVID. On a personal level, it was miserable. On a research level, it forced a pivot. If I couldn’t study oxytocin directly, I had to choose the next most important question to dedicate

I cry easily. I always have. Sad movies, beautiful moments, relief, grief, overwhelm, connection, and sometimes just being seen . Tears come quickly for me. They love to hang around even when I’m ready for them to go, and they give no shits at all about whether it’s an “appropriate” place for them to show up. Society is not always kind about tears, so I’ve avoided plenty of situations simply because I knew they’d come and I didn’t want to deal with the response. My tears aren

If you’re considering a session, touch is likely a need you already know you have. Or one you’re curious about exploring. Oxytocin, often called the bonding hormone, is released through gentle, consensual touch. But it isn't about touch alone. Oxytocin is also deeply tied to intimacy: to being seen, understood, and met with care. My favorite description of intimacy? Into me, see. So, we begin there! Each session begins with a check-in, summed up in a simple question: What do