Blog | ManyColorsCounseling

Welcome to Field Notes
Reflections on healing, belonging, and becoming

This is a sacred space for cycle breakers, wild hearts, and those who seek deeper connection—to themselves, to others, and to the earth beneath their feet. Here, you’ll find reflections, blessings, and gentle guidance rooted in lived experience, nature’s wisdom, and the complexities of our shared human journey.

Whether you’re navigating transition, healing from wounds both visible and unseen, or simply craving a pause to breathe and remember your sacred self, you are welcome here.

Pull up a chair, pour yourself a cup of something warm, and let’s walk this path together—one small step, one honest truth, one healing story at a time.

Women's Work: How to Give Without Depleting Ourselves

Note: This is not an accusation, a test, or a trial. Don't we have enough of those? Our healing invitation, should we choose to accept it, is simply to consider what it might be like to turn some of that infinite kindness and generosity we so often shine onto others back onto ourselves. The Set Up: Losing Ourselves in Our Relationships From childhood, we are taught what it means to be a "good" girl. Polite. Sweet. Compliant. Giving. We see all that our mothers do. We see the

Anna Belle Wood

Feb 263 min read

Is Medication Right for Me?

Do I really need medication? What if it makes me feel worse? How do I start medication? What if people judge me? I can't tell you if medication is right for you or prescribe it (that's out of my scope of practice as a psychotherapist) but I can help demystify what it's like for the many people I have known personally and professionally who have decided to give prescription medication a try. When Medication Might Be Worth Considering If you are experiencing one or more of the

Anna Belle Wood

Jan 303 min read

Tending the Nervous System in Uncertain Times

Understanding the Impact of Uncertainty If you feel like uncertainty is jumping from the screen to your body, you are not alone. That's because what we're seeing in the news in our country and beyond can register not just as one scary headline but as a loss of trust in the social fabric itself, activating core attachment questions. Am I safe? What will happen if someone comes for me, my community member, or my loved one? This isn't about needing everyone to agree. It's about

Anna Belle Wood

Jan 283 min read

The Year I Logged Off: What a Year Without Social Media Taught Me

Last year, I made a bold decision that changed my life: I logged off social media for good. For days afterward, I found myself reaching for my phone, only to remember that my accounts were gone. It was second nature to scroll, like, comment, and post. But I needed a break. As I reflect on this past year, I want to share what led to my decision, what I've learned, and where I'm headed. If you're curious, you can read last November's post about breaking up with social media her

Anna Belle Wood

Nov 13, 20252 min read

Effective Grounding Tools for Your Worst CPTSD Symptoms

Grounding refers to coping with difficult thoughts, feelings, and body sensations by returning to the present moment, on purpose. Anyone can use grounding to cope with their worst symptoms. Let's break it down, to give you a sense of what it is and if it could work for you. Notice and name. The first step is to notice and name what is going on. For example, This is a trauma response. This is a flashback. My body is r emembering. By labeling these experiences, you begin to

Anna Belle Wood

Nov 11, 20253 min read

In a World of Empire Builders, Be a Village Builder

Have you ever watched a dating show where someone says they're "looking for someone to build an empire with?" They often appear meticulously polished, aiming to create a brand with their future "King" or "Queen." This idea is deeply rooted in our consumerist culture, which tells us that with hard work, determination, and adherence to societal hierarchies, we can earn our worth and belonging. Often, this path is also tied to traditional gender roles and inherited positions of

Anna Belle Wood

Oct 24, 20252 min read

Moving Beyond Shame: Finding Freedom, Breath, and Belonging

Shame is one of the most paralyzing emotions my clients with complex trauma carry. It lingers long after the original harm is over, curling itself around the sense of self like a suffocating vine. Shame feels like paralyzing self-doubt. Like fear that you made the wrong decision. Like panic that you are wrong. In an instant, all of the good, all of the trust you have built can evaporate. Shame is cold. Shame is electric. Shame has a strong, almost magnetic pull. And when it

Anna Belle Wood

Sep 25, 20252 min read

When the News Hurts

If you are suffering from information overload, you are not alone. Viewing unsettling events can be destabilizing. But, your efforts to stay informed don't have to hurt you. You are worth noticing how your news consumption is impacting you and making adjustments, as needed. You might benefit from making some changes to how you view the news if seeking out, reading, and reacting to the news is negatively impacting your functioning. Let's break this down... Is your news consump

Anna Belle Wood

Sep 18, 20252 min read

Understanding CPTSD: A Guide For People Impacted By Complex Trauma

Asking "What's Wrong With Me?" Some days your nervous system has to process old trauma. It can feel like a fog or heaviness of distressing thoughts and feelings, making it hard to see clearly, or even making you wish you didn't exist. But, that doesn't mean there's something wrong with you, or that you're stuck there forever. It just means that your nervous system is functioning normally and as expected, doing its work as someone impacted by complex post traumatic stress di

Anna Belle Wood

Sep 11, 20252 min read