Taking Child’s Pose
April 9th, 2014
Archive for the ‘Therapy & Counseling’ Category
Booker T. Washington & Chocolate Cake: Real World Advice on Coping with Depression & Loneliness, Part IV
March 12th, 2014
Coping with depression, loneliness, and feelings of hopelessness can feel like a solitary activity. When we feel these ways, we often have the impression that we’re on our own. I recently asked my Facebook friends how they get through difficult times – an effort of mine to get more ideas as a therapist and to also help people feel more connected at a time when it’s hard to feel love from others. I received many replies and have published portions of each one. Following are the final comments I received from my friends. I hope you find these as meaningful as I have.
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“F*ck it…might as well do the dishes”: Real World Advice on Coping with Depression & Loneliness, Part III
March 5th, 2014
About a month ago, I posed a question to my Facebook friends, asking them how they cope with periods of depression, loneliness, and hopelessness. I received many wonderful, honest responses. Studies have shown that therapy and counseling are an effective ways to deal with depression. But I know that there are others ways too. So, I continue to share with you the variety of ways people get through the tough days, months, and years.
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Dance Party for One: Real World Advice on Coping with Depression & Loneliness, Part II
February 26th, 2014
Feeling depressed, lonely, and hopeless are not unusual emotional experiences for many of us. Yet it is something we rarely talk about in public or with our friends. We read books – often in the solitude of our homes – which can be helpful. But books connect us in a different way then discussion. In an effort to destigmatize this part of life, I asked my personal Facebook friends for their thoughts on how they cope when they find themselves in difficult emotional states. Here’s the second installment of their lovely responses.
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Beach time & Quilting: Real World Advice on Coping with Depression & Loneliness, Part I
February 19th, 2014
I so often write about dealing with depression, loneliness, hopelessness, and other difficult, dark times. I do this because we all go through challenging periods, but many of us rarely talk with our friends and loved ones about how we cope and find our way. Usually, I’ll write about the suggestions I give to clients, the ways my clients cope, or advice from other clinicians. This time, though, I’m doing something different, with the hope that this will be helpful as well.
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Be You!
February 10th, 2014
Trying to be authentic in this world can be hard. We feel pressured to conform…even by such simple questions as “How are you doing today?” – which we often answer with a pasted on smile and the word “Fine”. Some of us work in jobs we hate, fearful of what it would mean, what people would think, and how we would get by, if we changed careers. People in their 40’s and 50’s realize that they have much they still want to do, contemplate making changes, but don’t make them because they’re fearful that they will be seen as going through a “mid-life crisis” – a patronizing, and simplistic concept. Others are fearful to express their sexuality whether it is a same-sex attraction or a BDSM desire. And some present themselves as a gender that they know they really aren’t. Of course, the list goes on; I’m sure you could add your own ways in which you feel coerced into “fitting in.”
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Keep Your Heart Open
December 9th, 2013
Yesterday was a cold, snowy day in DC. I, along with a small group of intrepid yogis, attended a class on inversions and folds. It was a great class – very inwardly focused yet challenging. We did a lot of heart-openers, pushing our chests and hearts out, bending our upper backs and feeling very flexible – or not so flexible – depending on our individual situations.
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Creating Confidence
October 7th, 2013
Confidence is something we all want. In fact, we’re attracted to confidence in others. But confidence can seem elusive for many of us. I recently read Augusten Burrough’s self-help book – “This Is How”. Now, I’m not much of a self-help reader. For some reason, I find them confusing and simplistic. But I really enjoyed Burroughs’ book. Especially his take on developing confidence.
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The Logical vs. The Emotional
March 11th, 2013
I’m not one much for sporting analogies, but in this case, it seems apropos. As a therapist, I’ve been a part of many boxing matches – watching clients logical brains spar with their emotional brains. People often think that if they can understand their emotions, they won’t have to experience them. Logic beats emotion and, in theory at least, makes life easier. And for many beginners in therapy, the logical brain wins. I’m not always celebrating this accomplishment.
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