On Sunday 10/29/23, Christy Darcangelo was a part of a 5-person panel on end-of-life care within kinky and polyamorous communities hosted by the Chicago Rose. The panel included Brooke Benjamin, a funeral care director with Inclusive Funeral Care, Valerie Nerini, a death doula and celebrant with Our Inevitable Death, Bella Bathory, a death doula with […] Read more “Toward a More Conscious Engagement with Death”
Toward a More Conscious Engagement with Death
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Estimated: 7 minutes to read
Thriving in a Heteronormative World: Queer Empowering Skills and Actions
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Estimated: 3 minutes to read
Living in a heteronormative world presents unique challenges for queer individuals. The assumption that heterosexuality is the norm can lead to marginalization, discrimination, and limited opportunities. The challenges faced by queer individuals in a heteronormative world are substantial and unavoidable. How do you navigate and thrive in various aspects of life? What’s your path to […] Read more “Thriving in a Heteronormative World: Queer Empowering Skills and Actions”
Nurturing Understanding of Trans Experiences
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Estimated: 5 minutes to read
At LifeWorks, we believe that the infinite experiences of gender that exist make the world a more vibrant and beautiful place. However, for those whose upbringing modeled only two very narrowly defined categories of gender, it can be difficult to know how to learn more. We are living in a time when we (at least […] Read more “Nurturing Understanding of Trans Experiences”
Queer Inner Strength: Overcoming Internalized Stigma and Shame
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Estimated: 3 minutes to read
Internalized stigma and shame can have a profound impact on the well-being and self-worth of LGBTQIA+ individuals. Society’s prejudice and misunderstanding often lead to the internalization of negative beliefs and feelings of shame. Exploring the impact of internalized stigma and shame on LGBTQIA+ individuals, I offer some strategies for healing and building inner strength. By […] Read more “Queer Inner Strength: Overcoming Internalized Stigma and Shame”
Welcome Green House Cohort 5!
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Estimated: 4 minutes to read
Each January, LifeWorks welcomes a cohort of graduate therapists into its Green House training program. These therapists spend 12 months on staff at LifeWorks, work with clients and focus on: Developing cultural competence and knowledge related to LGB, trans and genderqueer, non-monogamy and kink/BDSM Strengthening their identities as therapists and learning how to use their unique strengths in clinical relationships […] Read more “Welcome Green House Cohort 5!”
Podcasts & Blogs
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Estimated: 1 minute to read
This month’s Staff Favorites will feature a collection of blogs and podcasts that we follow that have inspired or transformed us in some way. Some of these podcasts are specific to therapy and mental health, while others are simply about being human and living in the world. As always, we look forward to hearing what […] Read more “Podcasts & Blogs”
New Leadership at LifeWorks
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Estimated: 1 minute to read
LifeWorks is proud to announce that Elizabeth (Betsy) Duke, Psy.D. has stepped into the role of Clinical Director and Danielle Carlson, LMFT, has taken on the role of Director of Training. We are super excited by the changes happening at LifeWorks. Betsy and Danielle are both highly competent clinicians who have been working with the LGBTQIA+, non-monogamy and kink/BDSM communities […] Read more “New Leadership at LifeWorks”
Becoming the Gateway
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Estimated: 5 minutes to read
LifeWorks therapist, Brandon Haydon, submitted this quote from #virginiarosenberg for our reflection and yours. “Presence is a practice. At times, the work of presence is so deeply uncomfortable. And then there are these moments, these cellular sighs of relief, when we quit resistance. We exit fight/flight/freeze, and simply belong to the time we’re inhabiting. In […] Read more “Becoming the Gateway”
Constructing a Queer Life: On the Choice to Parent, or Be Child-Free
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Estimated: 1 minute to read
Many people grow up following a cultural life script: you go to school, get a job, marry your one true love and start a family. Happily Ever After! At least, that’s a common scenario many cultures, based on heteronormativity, have historically supported. But as many of us grow up, we realize that that version of […] Read more “Constructing a Queer Life: On the Choice to Parent, or Be Child-Free”
Polar Bear Nature
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Estimated: 3 minutes to read
This morning, just like every other morning, I was out walking. But this morning it was a frigid 5 degrees, a temperature I long for all year. I know, for some, this is absolutely crazy! But for me, nothing makes me feel more, alive, more vital, one with nature. I absolutely love the feeling of […] Read more “Polar Bear Nature”
Winter Solstice: Knowing Yourself Through The Night
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Estimated: 10 minutes to read
Happy Winter Solstice everyone! This centuries old celebration is one of the most meaningful days of the year to me. Ever since I was a small child, the inky nights of winter held a certain kind of spooky magic that enthralled me. Starting with the Fall Equinox, our literal time in light begins to decrease, […] Read more “Winter Solstice: Knowing Yourself Through The Night”
When We Go Inside Ourselves And Stay — Finding Still Center
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Estimated: 5 minutes to read
Lisa Marks is a colleague and Process Work Diplomat who spends half her year in the Pacific Northwest and half the year in the upper Midwest. Where ever she is, she is strongly aligned with the environment and natural world — both within and without. We are pleased to re-post this essay at this time of […] Read more “When We Go Inside Ourselves And Stay — Finding Still Center”
Misgendering: When You Make a Mistake
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Estimated: 6 minutes to read
Understanding Misgendering Misgendering is the act of attributing the wrong gender to someone. Using the wrong pronoun when talking about someone in the third person is a form of misgendering. The verb misgender can also describe any reference to a person in which they are gendered incorrectly. For example, saying “yes sir” to someone who […] Read more “Misgendering: When You Make a Mistake”
Children in Polyamorous Families, Part 4
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Estimated: 7 minutes to read
In this fourth part of the series on children in polyamorous families I offer a sneak peek into my preliminary findings from my ongoing research on poly families with kids. Read more “Children in Polyamorous Families, Part 4”
More to Love: Polyamory in the Real World
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Estimated: 7 minutes to read
On May 30, 2017, LifeWorks partner Rami Henrich, LCSW was part of an interview for Chicago Tonight which aired on Chicago’s PBS station WTTW regarding polyamorous relationships. In the on air interview, Rami shares her experience of being in a polyamorous relationship for over 34 years. She is joined in the interview by Caroline Kearns of Chicago Polyamory Connection […] Read more “More to Love: Polyamory in the Real World”
Interpersonal Boundaries: How Trauma Keeps Us Silent
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Estimated: 5 minutes to read
What are personal boundaries? Personal boundaries are what separate us from other people and things and help us form a distinct identity. Boundaries help us protect ourselves. Boundaries help define what belongs to you and what belongs to someone else. Boundaries can define what is “ok” and what is “not ok.” Boundaries help others know […] Read more “Interpersonal Boundaries: How Trauma Keeps Us Silent”
Your Best Friend Tells You They Are Kinky
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Estimated: 1 minute to read
So, your best friend tells you they are kinky and/or they practice BDSM (Bondage and Discipline [BD], Dominance and Submission [Ds], Sadism and Masochism [SM]). Whether it is your best friend, a sibling, parent, or child, you may want to be an ally, but simply don’t know what to do or say. Before you go […] Read more “Your Best Friend Tells You They Are Kinky”
Take Heart, Heroes
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Estimated: 2 minutes to read
We vote with every moment, With every choice. With our attitudes we elect our reality and the world we yearn to share. We long for heroes to hold our hope and express our power, Our rage, our pain, our kindness, To make our struggle righteous, To champion our smallness. Yet, We are never larger than […] Read more “Take Heart, Heroes”
Finding Possibility
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Estimated: 9 minutes to read
Umair Haque is a thought leader, consultant and author whose personal journey from the achievement and trappings of success to a devastating fatal diagnosis and beyond helped him find peace, happiness and a passion to give to others. Here is an excerpt from one of his reflections called The Sky in Us: Holding Possibility, an argument […] Read more “Finding Possibility”
Bad Dreams Have Meaning
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In honor of the season, we are looking at things that scare or frighten us and why that is. Our colleague and process worker, David Bedrick, helps us understand how inner critics sometimes appear in bad dreams and how we can make use of the messages they bring. The following article originally appeared in Psychology […] Read more “Bad Dreams Have Meaning”