As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) located in Dupont Circle, Washington, DC, I provide compassionate and affirming psychotherapy for individuals, couples, families and adolescents. I have specialized experience helping people who do not feel like they fit in – those who’ve been marginalized or dismissed based on their identities or experiences…

What if you weren’t afraid of your feelings? Not a question we are asked very often; perhaps never. But maybe it’s one worth considering.

I think about this often, both for myself as well as with clients. There are many emotions we welcome, often without thinking about it. Joy, happiness, transcendence are just a few examples. They feel great! We actually crave the experience of some emotions.

Tags: emotions, feelings, self-compassion, self-love
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A runny nose. A slight cough. A stomach ache. An aching toe. These days, all of these can make your heart beat a little faster. Get you thoughts racing. You worry, “I hope its not COVID!”

Tags: Anxiety & Stress, Depression, Anxiety & Stress
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Social distancing is far from the most fun thing in the world. When all you want is an audience to appreciate your singing or a hug in the middle of the coronavirus outbreak, this prudent suggestion can cause problems.

Tags: psychotherapy, therapy, Therapy & Counseling
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How do you assume form, let your guard down, and let others know you in all of your joy and sorrow? It’s not easy. As the musician James Blake sings, it requires you to “be out of your head” and in your body. Why? Because your head is where your fears, predictions of disaster, and self-doubt (or worse, self-hate) live. If you want to be “touchable” and “reachable”, you need to find ways to work with your fears, to honor them, but not let them be in charge.

Tags: compassion, mindfulness, self-acceptance, self-compassion, self-love
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I was trying to transition from a tripod headstand into crow pose. After I brought my knees to my triceps, I just couldn’t lift my head off of the floor. Or if I did, I rocked backwards onto my feet. The woman next to me, an friendly, encouraging face from class, was making the transition perfectly.  I paused and asked her for advice. She offered some classic yogic advice: Root down to rise up.

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“Trust, Mike!”

That’s what my yoga teacher told me, noticing that I became anxious and had begun to pull out of a backbend from the knees. It was a challenging pose and she was directing the class to go deeper then most of us had in the past. However, immediately upon hearing her, I took her direction and entered back into the pose, and went deeper into it then I ever have. It was one of those moments in yoga, when you realize that you’re capable of more then you thought.

Tags: Anxiety & Stress, change, self care, self-love, trust
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Astavakrasana, Eight-Angle Pose, is not easy for many yogis. Some will push themselves, working hard to master this posture. Perhaps in that process, criticizing and becoming frustrated with themselves.

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This being human is a guest house.

Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

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Tags: self care, self-acceptance, self-compassion, self-love
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“Ok everyone. Let’s try mayurasana. You’re going to want to immediately lengthen your legs out straight. Most of you, though, will fall out of the pose if you do that. But if you exercise some humility and slowly move from having your legs pulled in to full peacock, you will be more successful. Just remember… ‘slowly’ can mean years.”

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Tags: addictions, alcohol, Anxiety & Stress, Depression, Anxiety & Stress, hope, therapy, Therapy & Counseling
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