Enjoy this photo of a bookshelf in my therapy office by James Michael Juarez for the LA Times Image magazine. www.latimes.com/lifestyle/im...

just write it terrible for five minutes and see where it goes. or write questions to yourself into the draft—“what the fuck goes here, i don’t know, but it’s something about blah blah this will sound smarter later” is acceptable rough draft material

Really really glad I was able to take two weeks off for bereavement. I have another week to chill, attend to funeral arrangements and a bunch of related admin, plus cry whenever I feel like it.

I learned the parents are artists and I missed seeing the sculptures in the yard.

Meeting the parents of the 15yo’s friends remains interesting more often than not. Today a parent was super into my tattoos and wanted to look closely at one arm. As I was pulling away from the house she shouted, Are you from LA?? Yes, I shouted back.

Bad Language faced out on a shelf at Skylight Books in LA. The shelf talker card by Mick reads "A fascinating manifesto/memoir about the ways in which violence weaves into language. How do the things we say, and how we say it. transform into violence, and how can we reduce that harm? So Mayer Icans heavily on Ursula Le Guin for answers, which is the correct approach."

Booksellers are the absolute best. The jam, the bees, the world.

Thank you Mick at Skylight Books LA for reading & seeing BAD LANGUAGE (& putting it there above Martin Amis hahaha). Can't believe how far a book can travel!!

The table of contents page of LA Times Image Magazine 4/18/26, titled LINEUP. The background photo is one of the shelves in my office. Photo by James Michael Juarez.

The print issue of the latest LA Times Image Magazine is gorgeous. The Lineup page features a closeup of a shelf in my office, photo by James Michael Juarez.

It’s a very difficult show for me to watch because a) parent of teen and b) was teen long ago with similar access to drugs and alcohol 😵

“I hope I didn’t just drop her off at Euphoria,” my partner said after dropping off the 15yo at a friend’s house 😹 I mean fr I hope not either but it’s funny to me having only seen the first two episodes

💛💛💛

The cover of the April 2026 LA Times Image Magazine: Lauren Halsey's "sister dreamer" sculpture park in South-Central. From left to right: Cheryl Ward, Margaret Prescod, Autumn Luckey, Lauren Halsey, Monique Hatter, Andre "Sketch" Hampton, Monique McWilliams, Kenneth Blackmon, Robin Daniels, Michael Tower, Emmanuel Carter, Dyani Luckey, Dominique Moody, Rosie Lee Hooks, Damien Goodmon, Londyn Garrison and Christopher Blunt. Photography by SHANIOWA JARVIS.

And the cover of the April issue 💎💎💎💎

Thank you! ☺️

Four photos of aspects of my office by James Michael Juarez in the LA Times Image Magazine. A yellow framed door, a monstera plant, a shelf with books and other items, a dish with rock and crystal.

A print essay in the LA Times Image Magazine.

Three photos from my office by James Michael Juarez for LA Times Image Magazine. My tattooed hand near an abalone shell, a tapestry of the sun framed by a monstera plant, an orange dish with an orange butterfly, tiny pinecone, amethyst.

This is a lovely treatment of my essay 💛

The table of contents page of LA Times Image Magazine 4/18/26, titled LINEUP. The background photo is one of the shelves in my office. Photo by James Michael Juarez.

The print issue of the latest LA Times Image Magazine is gorgeous. The Lineup page features a closeup of a shelf in my office, photo by James Michael Juarez.

Pink rock purslane/calandrinia spectabilis in bloom: a vibrant violet flower.

These are popping in my front yard 🌞 🌿

looking up at a tree full of large fluffy pink flowers, bright blue sky behind

paying attention

passing by Dolores aka Lola aka Dee This is probably my favorite photo of my mother. I can only guess what the backstory is. Her facial expression in the photo is very...

Probably my favorite photo of my late mother 🖤 newsletter.mommyselcamino.com/archive/pass...

Pink rock purslane/calandrinia spectabilis in bloom: a vibrant violet flower.

These are popping in my front yard 🌞 🌿

Why I rejected the "neutral" aesthetics of therapy rooms As a therapist, I wanted to create a container — a place where someone would cross the threshold and feel.

For a peek inside my office, and thoughts about therapy room design: www.latimes.com/lifestyle/im...

My fake but real exchange with the artist Sophie Calle From her friendship with Frank Gehry to her burial plot in Bolinas, the French artist reveals a surprising California story.

www.latimes.com/lifestyle/im...

Thank you, Penina! Something tells me the ad campaign for the tv show might not be doing it justice 😬

Peek inside this therapist’s office.

Links to purchase the books for a small discount in my linktree/bio 🖤

The spines of BRUJA, HOLLYWOOD NOTEBOOK, and EXCAVATION by Wendy C. Ortiz, in front of a shelf of books.

The books EXCAVATION, HOLLYWOOD NOTEBOOK, and BRUJA by Wendy C. Ortiz on a wood table.

It’s been a rough <insert any amount of time up to 6+ years ago> and I forgot that this week my reprinted books are now 1 year old. Thanks to @nupress.bsky.social for giving them new lives! Please get a copy or all three 💚💚💚

I remember this 🖤

Fascinating

So far the response to my essay on therapy office design from other therapists and social workers I respect has been great. And truly it’s their opinions on the matter that I was most curious about! Maybe even a little anxious about 🥹

If you don’t use that labeler you don’t know what I’m talking about. Enjoy the essay!