What does it say about a person if they seek therapy?
From my vantage point it means that they care enough about themselves to ask for help. Or they are curious about some part of themselves that they’d like to explore. Or they just want to get to know themselves better...
Therapy--What to Expect
Seeking therapy can be daunting. How do you pick the right person to see? How do you explain what you want to accomplish? How long will therapy last? These are all valid and important questions, and, honestly, the answers tend to vary significantly depending on the therapist, the client, and the goals. So, let's talk generally about what to look for in a therapist, and, should you choose to work with me, my therapy style.
Read MoreYour Mood and the News
Many folks I work with in therapy have commented lately about how “messed up” the world is right now and, consequently, how lousy they are feeling.
For some it’s a sense of impending doom related to terrorist attacks in other parts of the world and threats of terrorist attacks in our own backyard. For others it’s philosophical – how can parents inflict pain on their children? How can police take the lives of those they exist to protect? Why do sociopaths exist who rob strangers of their innocence, treasures, or lives? At times it can feel like just too much to live in a world with this much cruelty. I understand the despair and have been vulnerable to it as well.
Read MoreWhat’s the difference between anxiety disorders?
Anxiety presents in many different forms and it can be confusing to sort out what exactly you are coping with. Following are some common anxiety-related disorders
Read MoreTools for Coping with Depression
Depression can zap your energy and make you want to stay in bed with the covers over your head. Tempting though that is, it won’t help you move forward and toward feeling better. Treating depression calls for action,
Read More7 Ways To Get Your Mind Off Your Worries
When anxiety and worry strike they can hit hard and refuse to go away. It’s helpful to have a few techniques that you can use to at least give you a break from the rumination. These aren’t techniques that will get to the bottom of the anxiety but they can at least give you a foothold when it feels like you’re at wit’s end.
Read More6 Things To Do When PTSD Is Triggered
So how to find the balance between avoiding the world and avoiding meltdowns? Well, one way is to have a healthy list of coping skills available to you so if you do get triggered you can respond in a way that won’t keep you from going out again.
Read More9 Important Elements of Good Communication
Every relationship is a little different from the next but all relationships benefit from healthy forms of communication. If you already incorporate the following into your relationships, kudos to you. But if relationships have been a little bumpy lately consider the following as possible ways to improve your situation.
Read MoreTools and Tips for Managing Chronic Pain
If you spend your energy dollars on things that don’t really matter, you won’t have enough left over for the things that do. On the other hand, there are some pain management techniques that allow you to “earn energy dollars”—energy in the bank for when you need it. Following are some of the tried and true ways to help you manage chronic pain and your “energy dollars.”
Read MoreIs This Depression?
Wondering what the difference is between having “the blues” and a diagnosis of major depression? The difference is in the official criteria for depression. Let’s review this set of diagnostic criteria for major depression
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