Lily Dawson Therapy

Q: Can you leave us with some parenting advice? Me: I’m more of a storyteller than advice giver. Q: Just one tip? Me: OK. My best tip is: train your kids to dis...appoint you. #GetUntamed #UntamedKids #LilCheetahs

Since my divorce I’ve thought that to reclaim myself I needed to be radically self compassionate (napping whenever, pushing deadlines without guilt, canceling plans on a whim, working a limited schedule). All this after a lifetime of feeling guilty for not being productive enough, fighting body issues and finding self worth only when I was doing it right. Lately, I’ve been thinking about a third way. Yes, I’m loved when I’m productive AND unproductive. But missing is the go...od that can be found with some discipline to sustain my effort for important and difficult projects. It’s easy to claim self care as a reason to step aside from social justice reform. It’s too hard. It’s too big for my brain to handle. But it’s what I want to do, as big and hard as it feels. I’ve been having conversations with clients abt helping the BLM movement. It’s allowed me to understand the importance of facilitating these talks. I’ve decided to open up my hours in order to reach more people with these conversations. This isn’t easy for me. Schedules can feel restrictive to my trauma brain and therapy can be exhausting work. I have really thought hard abt support so I don’t burnout with these longer days. I landed on a schedule around exercise, family and lunch breaks to ensure I can sustain this effort and commitment to reach more ppl. I’m continuing my own therapy, meditation and yoga. I encourage you all to figure out where your contribution lies, how to sustain it and make that adjustment. We get comfortable in routine. The comfort of routine has allowed the continuation of systemic prejudice. Break your routines for good to curate your life to best serve your values and sustain the effort you need to properly contribute to reform.

Boy oh boy, have I missed seeing my clients in-person! Starting this week you can start booking in-office sessions at my office at Moss and Main Therapy Group in Westport. Dan and I have taken some extra precautions to move everything around so we’re safely distanced. I will continue to offer virtual sessions. Please choose the session-style that’s most comfortable for you at lilydawson.com/appointments. For your safety, all the therapists at Moss and Main are committed to th...e following procedures: -Keeping our offices sanitized: wiping door handles regularly, wiping bathroom/exterior doors, sanitizing surfaces often. -Not coming to the office if we’re sick or if anyone in our household is sick. -Placing disinfecting wipes in the bathrooms and in the waiting rooms for clients and therapists to use freely. -Staggering sessions so that client turnover isn’t happening all at once and keeping our waiting room occupancy low. I ask that you, too, please reschedule or switch to a virtual session if you or anyone in your household is sick. Please let me know if there’s anything else I can do to facilitate a comfortable experience for you. All feedback is appreciated. I look forward to this reopening and I’ll remain flexible in reassessment as needed. #readyforbetter #kctherapist #kansascity #kcmo #everyoneneedstherapy #therapistsofinstagram #therapist #therapylife

There is so much lingo out there. For today’s check-in is the popular jargon tripping you up from grasping the concept? We need a special dictionary, I swear. Does self worth resonate with you or does it just feel like a foggy buzzword? #wellbeing #wellness #health #mindfulness #healthylifestyle #motivation #happiness #healing #peace #consciousness #mentalhealth #inspiration #selfcare #consciousliving #relax #think #holistic #instagood #selflove #livebetter

What do #boundaries look like for you? #readyforbetter #kctherapist #kansascity #kcmo #everyoneneedstherapy #therapistsofinstagram #therapist #therapylife

This. Guys, I see it EVERY DAY. Clients just want to wake up. No planting, no watering, no waiting. And I can’t blame them. Unfortunately nothing grows if we don’t take it one step at a time. I hate to break it to you, but it’s the only way. (And you can do it!) #thehardtruth #youarenormal #selflovejourney #selfappreciation #selfacceptance #selfworth #selfimage #selflovewarrior #confidence #selfesteem #selfawareness #honoryourself #becomingwhole #selflovematters #learntoloveyourself #selflove #selfloveisthebestlove #selfloveadvocate #selflovebringsbeauty

Yoga tip time! To keep a straight spine throughout any posture, draw the ribs back towards the back-body. I am notorious for jutting my lower ribs forward and falling out of alignment. Watch that spine and keep the energy flowing! #yoga #healing #meditation #findhappiness #therapistlife #therapistsofinstagram #yogalife #kansascity #kcmo #readyforbetter

What an important difference. It’s like you either lose yourself to privilege another (and call it love) or you keep yourself and just BE with the other person as themself. My heart! #readyforbetter #mondayinspiration #kctherapist #kansascity #kcmo #inspiration #therapyquotes

Here’s some time I’m holding for you. Still online this week, moving to in-person options June 1. #readyforbetter #kctherapist #kansascity #kcmo #everyoneneedstherapy #therapistsofinstagram #therapist #therapylife

Friday check-in-time! Where do you stand, right now, with how you view what’s coming up for you? If you want more, set aside time to reflect on your own this weekend. #wellbeing #wellness #health #mindfulness #healthylifestyle #motivation #happiness #healing #peace #consciousness #mentalhealth #inspiration #selfcare #consciousliving #relax #think #holistic #instagood #selflove #livebetter

How do you care for yourself? (Also, anyone have trouble spelling conscious or conscience without autocorrect? ) #readyforbetter #kctherapist #kansascity #kcmo #everyoneneedstherapy #therapistsofinstagram #therapist #therapylife

If it’s not mutual, it’s not worth the disappointment. #thehardtruth #youarenormal #selflovejourney #selfappreciation #selfacceptance #selfworth #selfimage #selflovewarrior #confidence #selfesteem #selfawareness #honoryourself #becomingwhole #selflovematters #learntoloveyourself #selflove #selfloveisthebestlove #selfloveadvocate #selflovebringsbeauty

Hey yoga-curious-friends! If you’re cultivating a home practice, be super generous in your interpretation of what that needs to look like. It shouldn’t be as intense as a normal class, just movements that your body is craving. If it means super-intense postures, go there! If some mornings your body just wants child’s-pose for ten minutes, do that! Let your home practice be an exploration of your body’s cravings and then SATIATE THEM! #yoga #healing #meditation #findhappiness #therapistlife #therapistsofinstagram #yogalife #kansascity #kcmo #readyforbetter

A lot of my work with clients is rooted in this idea of finding a felt sense of stability and comfort even in gray areas (those moments of uncertainty or unfamiliarity). It is extremely uncomfortable to see a pattern that’s not working AND to have no idea what to do to change it. Breathe into this. Acknowledge your lack of power and control and give yourself what you need to find peace in the unknown. #readyforbetter #mondayinspiration #kctherapist #kansascity #kcmo #inspiration #therapyquotes