“And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees… I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.” — F. Scott Fitzgerald
Hello, friends. Happy Summer Solstice. Today marks the height of light in our seasonal cycle, a gentle invitation to notice what is flourishing, what is calling for your attention, and what you wish to carry forward into the months ahead.
Below you’ll find:
• a simple summer ritual
• a reflective journal prompt
• book recommendations
• practice updates and new offerings
Hang in there, this one is a bit longer because the updates and offerings are ROBUST!
Get Outside: A Simple Summer Ritual
Step outside for 10 minutes and let your attention be led—not directed. Notice what is fullest right now: light, sound, growth, heat, movement.
When you come back inside, place a hand on your chest and ask: What part of me feels most alive right now?
Reflecting on the Season: A Journaling Prompt
Where in my life am I being asked to expand, and where am I being asked to conserve energy rather than overextend?
Bookmarking the Season
You can now browse my private practice library on bookshop.org!
These are the books I recommend most often in my clinical work (side note: as an affiliate on Bookshop.org, I may earn a small commission if you purchase through my link, at no additional cost to you).
Additionally, check out these new books that I thoroughly enjoyed!
Yesteryear by Claro Claire Burke
This one has been VERY popular recently, and for good reason. You think it’s just about a “tradwife” influencer being sent back to the 1800s for a dose of her own medicine…but it’s really social commentary on so many levels it made my head spin.
Road Trip by Mary Kay Andrews
She is one of my favorite authors, and her latest is so easy to read. We get a somewhat dysfunctional sister relationship, international travel, mystery, ancestry and love. I can’t think of a better way to start summer!
Practice Updates
My private practice, Covenstead NW, is moving into a season of refresh and expansion. An updated website and Instagram presence are currently in progress, with an anticipated relaunch approximately July 1, 2026.
New Offerings
Between the Lines: A Self-Growth Book Club
A therapeutic book club is a facilitated space for self-reflection, inner growth, and increasing awareness of how we relate to ourselves, others, and the larger systems shaping our lives. It is not group therapy, though it may feel meaningful and emotionally resonant.
February • May • August • November
Equity-Based Sliding Scale: $30/$40/$50
* Aug 8, 2026 — Fighting for Our Friendships by Danielle Bayard Jackson
* Nov 14, 2026 — On Our Best Behavior by Elise Loehnen
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Between Shifts: A Healthcare Provider Book Club:
A reflective space for health care providers and care workers navigating emotional labor and meaning-making in practice.
January • April • July • October
Equity-Based Sliding Scale: $50/$60/$70
* Oct 17, 2026 — Trauma Stewardship by Laura van Dernoot Lipsky
* Jan 9, 2027 — The Wild Edge of Sorrow by Francis Weller
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Introduction to SoulCollage® (5-Part Series)
February • April • June • August • October
(Completion of all five sessions fulfills the prerequisite for SoulCollage® Facilitator Training.)
Equity-Based Sliding Scale: $30/$40/$50
Seasonal SoulCollage® Workshops:
January • March • June • September
(Honoring the turn of each season.)
Price TBD
Want to bring SoulCollage® to your clinical setting or other group? Contact me to discuss details!
Before we part, I’d love to hear from you. Tell me how the ritual or journal prompt resonated, what you’ve been reading lately, or whether you’re interested in joining a future book club or SoulCollage® gathering. You can always reach me at joan@covensteadnw.com.
One of my favorite parts of this work is connecting with fellow readers, seekers, and creative souls, and I’d be delighted to hear what this season is bringing to your life.
Wishing you a beautiful Summer Solstice and a season of abundance, curiosity, and light.
Warmly,
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