NERVOUS SYSTEM HEALING BLOG
A Place To Come Back To Yourself
Pull up a chair and stay awhile. Here you’ll find reflections, practices, and resources for trauma recovery, nervous system healing, and self-compassion. I hope they help you feel more at home in your body, hear your own yes and no more clearly, and stay connected to yourself in the relationships that matter to you.
Start with what's on your mind
Start with whatever catches your eye. You might find words for something you’ve felt for a long time, or a practice you want to try next time it comes up.
How do I set boundaries and still feel close to the people I love?
Setting a boundary can sound like a simple decision. In practice, you’re weighing what you need, how safe it feels to speak up, and how you’ll handle the stress, tension, or guilt that might follow. What you learned early on about keeping the peace can make that decision even harder. Explore how to honor your needs in the relationships that matter to you.
How can I feel steadier when I’m overwhelmed or shut down?
There are a lot of myths about your nervous system. That being regulated means staying calm all the time. That a deep breath should work for everyone. That understanding why you react a certain way should be enough to change it. Here, we’ll unpack those myths and explore practices you can try when you feel on edge, overwhelmed, or shut down.
Tired of fighting the scale and your body?
You may be exhausted by the weighing, food rules, and constant body criticism, while another part of you believes that easing up would mean giving up. When your body feels like the problem, shame can seem necessary—the thing that keeps you accountable and moving toward your goals. Here, we’ll explore what that fight is costing you and how to care for your body without abandoning your desire for change.
How Can I Build the Strength to Get Through Hard Things?
Resilience is something you can build. It helps you recover after setbacks, trust your judgment under pressure, and take the next step when things feel uncertain. Here, I share reflections and practices for building that kind of strength, including how to learn from a mistake without letting it undermine your confidence.
Read With Me
I read novels, memoirs, and psychology books with an eye for what they can teach us about being human. Here, I share the passages I keep thinking about, the questions they stir up, and what they help me see differently about belonging, healing, and the ways we learn to protect ourselves. You might find your next read or a new way to make sense of something in your own life.
Looking for help with something specific?
Sometimes you’re here because something is happening right now. You can’t stop replaying a conversation. You’re struggling to say no. Your anxiety is climbing, or food and body thoughts are taking over your day.
Search for what you’re experiencing. You may find an explanation that helps it make more sense, a practice to try, or simply the relief of realizing you’re not the only one.
Search the blog.
Hi, I’m Jenny.
I’m a therapist, teacher, and lifelong collector of the small things that help us understand ourselves and find our way through hard moments.
When I was a kid, my favorite breakfast spot had a treasure chest by the door. I loved the pancakes, but what really lit me up was getting to choose a treasure—the surprise, the sparkle, and the feeling that I had found something special.
Healing has felt a little like that for me. Over time, I’ve gathered insights, practices, stories, and moments of relief that helped me understand my nervous system, listen to my body, and stay more deeply connected to myself.
I’m a licensed clinical social worker with more than 25 years of experience working with trauma, anxiety, food and body struggles, boundaries, and relationships. Here, I bring together clinical knowledge, research, stories, and what I’ve learned through my own ongoing healing.
Think of this blog as a treasure chest you can return to. Look around, follow what catches your attention, and take the pieces that help you feel more steady, more connected, and more like yourself.
Latest from the blog.
Explore the newest reflections, practices, and stories—and see what speaks to you today.
It’s Not Always Depression: A Therapist’s Review
It’s Not Always Depression by Hillary Jacobs Hendel, LCSW Learn how It’s Not Always Depression reframes anxiety, emotion, and vitality through neuroscience and compassion—and what it teaches us about healing. Discover six powerful lessons—from the science of emotion...
Belly Tension and the Nervous System: Why Sucking In Your Stomach Isn’t Helping You Heal
The Truth About Sucking In Your Belly: How Belly Tension Impacts Your Nervous System and Fascia Uncover how fascia, stress, and safety are connected—and what you can do to support healing from the inside out. Why We Hold Our Bellies In We’ve been...
Post-Traumatic Growth: Practical Tools to Support Your Healing
I recently wandered down a neuroscience rabbit hole, and what I learned about post-traumatic growth was too compelling not to share. Below, I’ll break things down simply—no heavy jargon—and highlight the research itself for anyone who likes to understand the science...
Feeling “Gross” In Your Body? My Exact Guide For What To Do
Feeling “Gross” In Your Body? A Therapist’s Guide to Coming Home to Yourself What do you do when being in you're feeling “gross” in your body—like you want to hide or crawl out of your skin? How do you navigate the painful tension of wanting to be seen as attractive...
Self-Compassion and Inner Resilience: The Science of Becoming Steadier Inside
If you’ve ever wanted to feel steadier inside—more grounded, more in charge of your reactions—you’re in good company. Maybe you’ve noticed moments where you get pulled off center: You react more strongly than you meant to. A small mistake throws your whole day off....
Setting Healthy Boundaries: Moving Through Guilt
Why Setting Healthy Boundaries Can Make You Feel So Guilty—Even When You’re Just Taking Care of Yourself By Jenny Bilskie-Smith, LCSW | Wise Body Therapy The Emotional Guilt of Setting Healthy Boundaries There’s a certain kind of guilt that shows up the moment you try...
Letters from Jenny
Once a month, I’ll send you a problem I hear about in therapy, a practice you can try in your own life, and a paper that helps make sense of it—with the useful parts translated into everyday language.
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