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Lex Enrico Santí, LCSW, MFA What is Dharma? Dharma is a concept deeply embedded in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, often translated as "duty," "righteousness," or "the path." But it is more than just a job or a moral guideline—it is the unfolding of one’s true nature in alignment with the greater harmony of the world. As Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita, "It is better to live your own dharma imperfectly than to live another’s well." Dharma is not about choosing the right pr

Lex Enrico Santí, LCSW, MFA I have been on the path of yoga, seemingly, all my life. I have enjoyed sharing perspectives and the spiritual path as part of my method of supporting clients and connecting what it means to be a being who is working on themselves in this lifetime. I don't always get it right--and the path of trying to work on yourself is fraught with pitfalls. Here is some of what I have learned of being on the yogic path. Yoga, in its truest sense, is not merely

Lex Enrico Santí, LCSW, MFA I love podcasts, I think they're great, really. Lately, I’ve found myself exhausted by a particular brand of podcast storytelling—one that centers white sadness, nostalgia, and pain, only to ultimately arrive at… nothing. These stories follow a well-worn formula: a young podcaster embarks on a deeply personal journey, tracing the roots of some tragic figure from their past. Maybe it’s their mother’s ex-lover, a punk rocker turned drug dealer who wa

A Reflection on Power, Integrity, and the Road Not Taken By Lex Enrico Santi, LCSW, MFA Lex Enrico Santi In 2003, I was a returned Peace Corps volunteer living in Washington, DC, in a bare-bones apartment with weak air conditioning. My wife at the time, a brilliant and hilarious Romanian woman, held the passport of the country I had just served. We were broke—stretched thin after putting down a deposit for our apartment on 18th and Columbia. The United States was at war in Af

Maurice Mitchell’s article Building Resilient Organizations: Toward Joy and Durable Power in a Time of Crisis provides a critical...

By Lex Enrico Santí, MFA, LCSW Painful memories can feel like a knife in the heart, a persistent and sharp reminder of something unresolved. But what if that pain could soften? What if, instead of a stabbing wound, it became something gentler—like the sensation of rubbing an old scar? This is the essence of samskara, the deep impressions left by past experiences that influence our present lives. Through narrative therapy and creative writing, we can work with these impression

By Lex Enrico Santí, LCSW, MSW – A Key Therapy LCSW PLLC In an age dominated by technology, the challenges of mental health have shifted, particularly with respect to phone addiction, gaming addiction, and the rapid rise of anxiety and depression in the digital age. Understanding these mental health issues requires a comprehensive approach that examines both modern and ancient perspectives on the mind. This article seeks to connect two seemingly disparate frameworks: the He

How to Write a Letter to Someone Who Hurt You: A Guide to Letting Go Writing a letter to someone who has hurt you can be one of the most powerful tools for healing and closure. It allows you to express your emotions, take control of your narrative, and begin the process of letting go. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the steps of writing that letter—whether you choose to send it or keep it as a personal reflection. This exercise can help you find peace, regain your self-r

Stories Shape How We Heal By: Lex Enrico Santí, LCSW, MFA -- A Key Therapy PLLC We all tell stories about our lives—whether it's the embarrassing thing we did in high school, the details of a recent breakup, or the job we didn’t get. These stories shape how we see ourselves and, sometimes, how we get stuck in negative loops. That's where Narrative Therapy comes in—a form of therapy that doesn't just ask what happened but focuses on how we tell our stories. Narrative Therapy l