Archive for the ‘Therapy & Counseling’ Category

Rigorous Honesty

December 1st, 2010

honestyTherapy and counseling can be difficult.  You make the appointment and show up with the best of intentions.  There are some things you need to work on – to talk out.  You then find yourself face-to-face with the therapist and you just can’t bring yourself to speak your truth.  You feel self-conscious, conspicuous, embarrassed or perhaps vulnerable.  You know that being honest with yourself will help, but it’s difficult. Sometimes it takes courage to be honest.

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Poly-Friendly Therapy

August 30th, 2010

poly-friendly therapistJudgement.  I know you’ve felt it from people, maybe even from a therapist.  Judgement that your “lifestyle” isn’t healthy.  That there’s something wrong with your open relationship.  Maybe you’ve even been told that your intimate relationships are a sign that you can’t commit, you’re immature, or some other nonsense.

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Why a Kink-Friendly & Kink-Aware Therapist?

May 20th, 2010

kink-friendly therapistDiscussing topics of fetish, fantasy, BDSM and other “kinks” demands that your therapist is non-judgmental.  So many times, folks have reported feeling judged or pathologized for their desires or fantasies, even when they find these desires to be joyful and fulfilling.  A kink-friendly therapist doesn’t judge.  A kink-friendly and aware therapist recognizes that there are many ways in which people express themselves, their identity, intimacy, and sexuality.

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A Mind Like The Sky

February 2nd, 2010

mindfulness psychotherapyI spent the weekend at a workshop exploring insights from mindfulness practices and psychotherapy.  Mindfulness practices include meditation, yoga, contemplative prayer, and a host of other activities.  One of the things that stuck with me was how both mindfulness practices and psychotherapy can help a person cultivate a mind like a sky.  But what exactly does that mean?

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Your Invincible Summer

October 19th, 2009

hope“In the depths of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.”~ Albert Camus

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It Came To Pass…Not to Stay

September 22nd, 2009

patienceWhen you’re in the middle of a crisis or just feeling down, do you ever get pessimistic, thinking that this is your fate?  That you’ll never find relief?  That it will never get any better?  If so, you’re not alone.  It’s common for people to respond this way to difficulties in life, as well as to their current emotional states.

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What Therapy And New York City Have in Common

September 13th, 2009

therapyRecently a friend of mine from the Midwest told me about her visit to New York City.  Her and her partner brought their nephew, a teenager who feels and appears out of place in their hometown, for vacation.  What’s important to understand is how their nephew behaves at home.  He dresses quite provocatively and acts quite haughty.  He easily puts people off with his behavior and attitude.  If one tried to understand what might be behind this, you might guess that he is acting in a protective and distancing way.

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Radical (and Gentle) Acceptance

August 24th, 2009

difficult emotionsHave you ever felt lonely, confused, angry or sad?  Of course you have.  These are all normal, human emotions and experiences.  Are you comfortable feeling this way?  Perhaps not.  So, what do you do when faced with them?  Do you stuff them, avoiding them through negative self-talk, eating, drinking or some other behavior?  If so, there is another way.

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Be Good to Yourself

June 10th, 2009

self-compassionWhen parting with folk, I often say something like “Be good to yourself.”  I thought the meaning of this statement was self-evident.  But when someone asked me what I meant, I realized that I needed to be clear.

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How Therapy Helps

May 21st, 2009

how therapy helpsIf you bring forth that which is within you,
Then that which is within you
Will be your salvation.
If you do not bring forth that
Which is within you,
Then that which is within you
Will destroy you.
~The Gnostic Gospels

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