The Benefits of Mistakes

Perfectionist. High Achiever. Overly critical. Lofty expectations. Many of us resonate with these phrases, and maybe even had them placed on us by others or by ourselves. I am one of these people – I have always set extremely high expectations of myself, and struggled...

The “White Noise” of Gender Dysphoria

Much of my work at Live Oak focuses on working with those who experience gender dysphoria, or those who identify as part of the Trans* community. This experience can take many shapes, including feeling at odds between one’s mental experience and physical body,...

Doubt: From Dread to Choice

Doubt has a negative connotation; it is often associated with fear or dread. However, the origin of the word in Latin (dubitare) does not carry the same ominous weight. Dubitare meant to question, hesitate, or to consider the choice between two things. It wasn’t...