Katheryn Kiker

Licensed Professional Counselor

Compassion Chronicles

  • Hijacked by Our Own Mind

    I am fascinated by the science of mental health and a lot of times clients find it extremely validating that the intensity of emotion they experience from day to day makes sense in our neurobiology. So first off- what is the amygdala? The amygdala is an emotional processing hub in the center of our brain, Read more

  • Intimacy with Self, Intimacy with Life

    Intimacy is a word that people associate with couples- and it belongs in that realm of course- but the use of the word can be applied to any type of relationship. For example, I imagine someone who’s been taking the same hike for the last 10 years has an intimacy with that specific trail, watching Read more

  • A New Take on Boundaries

    I have come to not enjoy the word “Boundaries.” If it were up to me, they would be called the “internal filtering mechanism of intangible things.” Internal– in our minds, of the “self” Filtering mechanism- tell good from bad, able to make judgments, use discernment Of intangible things- nonmaterial things such as ideas, relationships, opinions, Read more

  • Competing Needs in Relationship

    A disclaimer: this blog article is NOT intended for those in abusive relationships. This is from the perspective that a relationship is healthy where both partners are trying to do their best to be supportive and navigate conflict. One of the worst feelings is when you get into conflict with a partner. It’s like the Read more

  • When Will I Start Feeling Better?

    It’s an important question. And probably not discussed frequently enough. After your first session with your counselor, you may feel a bit of relief after just sharing what’s been going on with you, knowing that there’s someone you can talk to that you have permission to open up about pretty much anything. Sometimes clients have Read more

  • The Paradox of Remembering Your Story and Letting Go

    When a painful event happens, it is normal to have an urge to ignore its impact. Sometimes we think this is just “letting go” or “getting over it.” We can go years without exploring the emotions associated and think that whatever happened didn’t really affect us all that much. But our behavior tells a different… Read more