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Shannon Murphy Cerise

Internal Family Systems: What Is It? How Does It Work?

Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a type of psychotherapy developed over fifty years ago by Dick Schwartz, Ph.D., a systemic family...

Shannon Murphy Cerise

Going Beneath the Surface What is Polyvagal Theory?

Sometimes things aren’t exactly what they appear to be on the surface. When it comes to human beings, what we see or experience on the...

Shannon Murphy Cerise

Mindfulness: What Does It Really Mean?

We hear a lot about mindfulness today and with good reason; learning some basic techniques of mindfulness has been shown to help people...

Shannon Murphy Cerise

Why Touch Matters

Touch is a fundamental part of being human and crucial to our physical, emotional, and social well-being. From the moment we are born,...

Shannon Murphy Cerise

Adoption: Win, Win, Win?

In some form or another, the concept of adoption has been around forever, allowing children to be cared for by others when biological...

Shannon Murphy Cerise

Understanding Your Window of Tolerance

When we talk about someone’s ability to manage and regulate their emotions, especially in stressful situations, we can think about their...

Shannon Murphy Cerise

Theraplay® & Play Therapy: What’s the Difference?

When a child is struggling with any sort of emotional or behavioral issues, parents of course want to get them the help they need. While...

Shannon Murphy Cerise

Perfect Parenting is a Myth, Good Parenting is Achievable

Parents who never fall short of their own expectations, make mistakes, disappoint their children, or wish they had a do-over are like...

Shannon Murphy Cerise

Attachment: How We Connect With Others

Human beings have a strong need to be connected to other human beings. Especially for children, the bonds, or attachments, formed with...