I’m speaking at the University of Minnesota’s 2026 THRIVE Cancer Survivorship Series about something many survivors are not prepared for: the stress that can remain after treatment ends. I’ll share my perspective as both a therapist and cancer survivor and explore the nervous system, boundaries, movement, nature, and realistic ways to begin trusting your body again.

What does it actually mean to be triggered? A trauma trigger can show up as anxiety, anger, numbness, physical sensations, or a reaction that feels much bigger than the moment itself. In this post, Heather explains why triggers happen, how medical and relationship trauma can create unexpected reminders, and what you can do to help your body recognize that you are safe in the present.

Chronic illness can affect far more than your physical health. It can bring grief, anxiety, changes in identity, relationship strain, and a loss of trust in your body—even after treatment ends. This post explores why those reactions are so common and how therapy, connection, and support can help you feel less alone.

Grief and depression can both make it difficult to sleep, concentrate, connect with others, or imagine feeling like yourself again. This compassionate guide explains how grief and depression can differ, where they overlap, and why grief often comes in waves. It also explores disenfranchised and prolonged grief, when additional support may be helpful, and what grief therapy can actually look like.

Cancer treatment may be over, but the emotional impact can remain. Learn why depression, grief, fear of recurrence, survivor guilt, and identity changes often emerge after treatment—and how therapy can help you adjust to life after cancer.