Category: Holistic Psychotherapy
The Good Therapy Blog
January 30th, 2012 |
A death, divorce, illness, sudden unemployment, or any major loss, creates chaos in your life. This emotional fracturing, as well as the practical aftershocks of dealing with estates, lawyers, housing, finances, doctors, etc., often yields intense feelings that can be overwhelming.
When you think you simply can’t assimilate another thing, it’s crucial to just stop. Even if you have never meditated, simply sitting or lying down and paying attention to your breath will calm your nervous system and give you the literal breather you need.
Sometimes, it’s too hard to stay still, so take... Read More
December 21st, 2011 |
How many things can you think of that are free, make people feel better, and empower the giver? I can only come up with a few, and they all involve saying something nice. I’m not suggesting you lie, but if you pay attention, there is almost always something you can find to say that is heartfelt and positive.
Who doesn’t like hearing praise? Whether it is about someone’s style, intellect, taste, talent, wit, car color, organizational skills, sense of humor, creativity, hobby, or anything else they do, you can almost always say something that will make someone’s day and boost their self-esteem.
So,... Read More
November 3rd, 2011 |
Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness. How do you know this is the experience you need? Because this is the experience you are having at this moment. - Eckhart Tolle
If you are reading this, the demons haven't won.
Facing your demons is part of life. From your earliest moments when you might have been hungry and the breast or bottle wasn't immediately available, to later life crises like divorce, death, job loss, financial hardship, illness, and other challenges, everyone is beset with demons. When things are particularly rough, it... Read More
October 6th, 2011 |
While there are a multitude of distractions and amusements available to anyone with a library card, it is not unusual to go through periods of boredom when not even the most scintillating book, movie, or conversation will sate the crankiness demon. At those times, it is best to stop whatever you are doing and simply sit with what is. Are you feeling annoyed, frustrated, agitated, sad, or self-critical? Welcome whatever comes up. Investigate it. Do something paradoxical and try to increase the feeling. This may sound counter-productive, but it will actually help you figure out what is going on.... Read More
August 31st, 2011 |
I have a confession to make: I don’t believe you can feel happy 24/7, any more than you can feel anything every minute for your entire life. We are designed to feel a broad spectrum of emotions because, so far, they have kept us safe and helped perpetuate the human race.
We all know how something that feels bad can actually redound to your highest good in the future. But, being the hedonists we are designed to be, we naturally avoid pain and seek pleasure. What if sitting with discomfort helped us make peace with it, increased our frustration tolerance and our ability to accept life as it... Read More
July 29th, 2011 |
If hope is the thing with feathers, as Emily Dickenson said, then trust floats on gossamer wings.
Most people lose that child-like trust with the end of a first love, but not all. I have known a handful of souls who maintained it until death, or appeared to, but it's certainly not the norm. Life intrudes on the fantasy that someone will be an all-loving, supportive parent. Paradoxically, if you had toxic parents, it's even harder to relinquish this desire as yearning for a kinder, gentler... Read More
June 23rd, 2011 |
Manifesto: a public declaration of intentions, opinions, objectives, or motives.
As a long-time yogi, I have been setting an intention before my daily practice for over ten years. Perhaps, it was this habit that prompted me to write my first manifesto in 2004. Gathering healing thoughts and wishes into one short document was enlightening, centering, and deeply positive. Since others have found this process helpful, I wanted to share the method and give you some suggestions for possible... Read More
May 16th, 2011 |
“How poor are they who have not patience! What wound did ever heal but by degrees.”
-William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616)
Patience is the best remedy for every trouble.
-Titus Maccius Plautus (254 BC - 184 BC)
“Patience is the ability to idle your motor when you feel like stripping your gears.”
-Barbara Johnson
Many years ago, when I was studying with Albert Ellis, he told a story about a man standing on line at the grocery store with half a gallon of ice cream. The line wasn't moving, and the ice cream was getting softer by the second. He was feeling increasingly annoyed until... Read More
March 17th, 2011 |
Scents, Memories, and Emotions
The use of pleasant aromas to enhance wellbeing dates back thousands of years. Fragrant oils were used in religious and other ceremonies in the Far East, as well as in ancient Egypt and Greece. Essential oils were extracted from herbs and flowers to create medicines and perfumes, to scent one’s home, and to anoint the ill as well as those who had passed on. Smell is considered to be the most poorly understood of our senses, however, most have experienced the powerful ability of familiar scents to trigger emotions and memories of times past, such as holiday gatherings,... Read More
February 16th, 2011 |
In the last couple of weeks I have had two different people come in that I hadn’t seen for a while and in whom I sensed a recognizable shift. The first thing I noticed with each of them was a gentle radiance around their body, the coloring in their faces was different, not the skin itself, but there was just more color, more light around them. They both also appeared calm, contained. I discovered that both of these women had been undergoing a cleansing diet under the supervision of their Naturopathic doctors. They had both cut out meat and fish and many other foods for a short period of time.... Read More
January 29th, 2011 |
A GoodTherapy.org News Summary
Sometimes small things make the biggest difference. One place this applies is in the doctor’s office. New research published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) finds that a few simple gestures of empathy in the doctor’s office greatly impact the outcome of treatment. It’s not that empathy directly impacts physical health. Rather, patients who are treated with empathy are more motivated to follow through with... Read More
© Copyright 2011 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Fullerton Bureau - All Rights Reserved.
November 23rd, 2010 |
Workplace wellness programs were really gaining some momentum before the economy hit its rough patch in 2008. But new a new study shows that, even in tough economic times, such programs are more than worth the initial investment. From an employee perspective, good wellness programs offer various structures and outlets that make better physical and mental health possible: healthy eating choices, affordable and convenient exercise opportunities, access to counseling and therapy, stress-reduction mechanisms, and social... Read More
© Copyright 2010 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Fort Lauderdale Bureau - All Rights Reserved.
November 12th, 2010 |
A GoodTherapy.org News Summary
Depression impacts virtually every social demographic, and seniors are certainly no exception. For most people, mood is a strong indicator of depression, and treatment starts with therapy or counseling before adding medication and other supplemental approaches. However, the way seniors exhibit signs of depression and respond to treatment tends to differ from what we see in younger people. The conventional approaches to recognizing and treating depression aren’t as effective among older populations. To really meet the mental health needs of seniors, the way we... Read More
© Copyright 2010 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Albany Bureau - All Rights Reserved.
August 20th, 2010 |
This week, Mumbai hosted the 37th annual International Conference on Holistic Healing, which drew from dozens of disciplines aimed at overall health and well-being. Traditional psychotherapy and counseling joined color therapy, hypnosis, meditation, reiki many others to present a comprehensive picture of the various avenues of healing and wholeness available today. Often, people enduring emotional and psychological struggles begin with therapy and counseling, and this is... Read More
© Copyright 2010 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Beverly Hills Bureau - All Rights Reserved.
