More Than Tough: The Real Work of Being a Man
We teach men that toughness means silence, but true strength begins with self-awareness. Drawing from law enforcement, Stoicism, and modern psychology, this essay explores how vulnerability, emotional mastery, and courage redefine what it really means to be a man. Brian Granneman, LMHC, CAP, CCTP, Naples Integrated Recovery
Reasonably Happy: Contentment and being at Ease in an Uncertain World
We spend years chasing happiness like a finish line — the next degree, paycheck, or sense of freedom that will finally make life feel settled. But happiness fades when it depends on conditions. This essay explores how joy and contentment grow from capacity, not control — and how peace begins when we stop waiting for it. Brian Granneman, LMHC, CAP, CCTP, Naples Integrated Recovery
How Learning to See Truth Differently Helped Me Make Peace With Faith
A grounded look at how rigid belief systems shape identity and suffering, and how shifting from certainty to clear, humble seeing can transform faith. This explores Right View, personal agency, and a wider understanding of truth without abandoning spirituality. Brian Granneman, LMHC, CAP, CCTP, Naples Integrated Recovery
got a broken ‘picker’? The Psychology of Attraction and Attachment
How attraction, attachment, and evolution intertwine. Why we’re drawn to certain partners, how our nervous system shapes love and conflict, and what it means to outgrow familiar chemistry for genuine connection. Learn how biology, projection, and regulation all shape the way we love. Brian Granneman, LMHC, CAP, CCTP
The Neuroscience of Safety: How the Mind and Body Shape Each Other
Explore how Polyvagal Theory reveals the biology of safety, attention, and healing. Learn how our nervous system shapes thought, emotion, and presence — and how mindful co-regulation in therapy and daily life restores calm, resilience, and authentic connection between body and mind. Brian Granneman, LMHC, CAP, CCTP, Naples Integrated Recovery
Stop gratitude journaling. it’s not ‘thank you’ or a list
A deeper look at gratitude beyond lists—how story-based, emotionally grounded recall activates safety circuits in the brain, reduces stress responses, and strengthens connection in trauma and recovery work. Gratitude shifts the nervous system from defense to presence when it’s lived, not forced. — Brian Granneman, LMHC, CAP, CCTP, Naples Integrated Recovery
Outgrowing old frameworks
Outgrowing Old Frameworks explores what happens when growth outpaces the teachers and systems that once felt sacred. Through trauma integration, IFS, and shadow work, it redefines “doing the work” as evolving beyond external validation—moving from obedience to authentic, self-led spiritual maturity. Brian Granneman, LMHC, CAP, CCTP, Naples Integrated Recovery
What My Pitbull Honey Taught Me About Recovery, Impulse, and Grace
A grounded look at addiction, impulse, and recovery through the lens of neurobiology and the lessons learned from my pitbull Honey. Explores dopamine wiring, resilience, shame reduction, and how instinct meets accountability. A compassionate narrative about healing, discipline, and choosing to come home.
Brian Granneman, LMHC, CAP, CCTP, Naples Integrated Recovery
Doing the Work
“Doing the Work” explores the real meaning of inner healing beyond therapy clichés—through the lens of Internal Family Systems (IFS), recovery, and spirituality. It examines how we face our exiled parts, integrate shadow work, and move from seeking external validation to self-led wholeness and authentic connection.
Reading the Room: Where Safety, Bias, and Accountability Intersect
A grounded look at how instinct, conditioning, and personal responsibility shape the way we read safety and tension in others. Blends trauma-awareness with accountability, Stoicism, and real-world experience to explore honest dialogue without shame or performative morality. Brian Granneman, LMHC, CAP, CCTP, Naples Integrated Recovery