Category: Psychotherapy: Models & Methods
The Good Therapy Blog
March 11th, 2011 |
Full permission has been given by the client to tell this story on GoodTherapy.org. All identifying information has been changed.
The client ‘Jimmy’ that I described in the previous blog, who created a video project in art psychotherapy, has completed his video. He decided sometime ago that he wanted to upload it to YouTube. His intention was to come out from hiding his story and to possibly help others who are struggling with their own past experiences. His decision was an opportunity to discuss in therapy the possible... Read More
March 9th, 2011 |
Learning about the stages of healing can be distressing, motivating, upsetting or uplifting. None of these emotions is the right one to feel, meaning that no matter how you feel, you do not have a wrong reaction. Acknowledging your emotional response to the stages of healing can allow you to harness the emotion’s energy and reach out to a trained psychotherapist.
When looking for a psychotherapist to work on your healing with, it is vital to keep in mind that regardless of what type of psychotherapy you pursue, it is essential that your therapist empower you, welcomes you as a collaborator... Read More
March 8th, 2011 |
In addition to being a psychotherapist, I am a certified Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy practitioner and a yoga instructor. I’ve long been interested not only in movement but in the role of body-oriented techniques in the process of psychological healing.
This began when I was in my late twenties, long before I ever knew that I would someday become a psychotherapist. I started taking stretch and yoga classes at a fitness center where I took aerobics, and discovered that I was beginning to experience my body from the inside, rather than looking at it (and judging it) from the outside. I was forging... Read More
March 7th, 2011 |
This article will make it all sound so easy. And, practically speaking, it is. The act of making requests is an extremely straightforward process. Similar to the choice to forgive someone, offering a sincere request can immediately and radically alter the landscape of your long held grievances. Suddenly with a courageous wave of your hand, the chances of getting what you want from others can be tipped in your favor. It takes practice. But it's not rocket science. There are four recommended steps to follow – described a few paragraphs down. (Go ahead and glance at them but then come back.)
The... Read More
March 7th, 2011 |
Strong mind-body awareness is associated with peace of mind, improved mental health, balance, and wellbeing. But simply using your body doesn’t necessarily mean you’re in touch with its up and downs. In fact, researchers at the University of California at Berkeley found that dancers—known for expressing emotion through physical movement—are actually less in tune with mind-body connections than regular practitioners of mindfulness meditation. Exercise is something that therapists may recommend for clients facing... Read More
© Copyright 2011 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Rolling Hills Estates Bureau - All Rights Reserved.
March 4th, 2011 |
During my career, I had the privilege of working with adults living with severe and persistent mental illness in an outpatient program at a local behavioral health center. Although frequently grouped together and labeled as “crazy” or “nuts” – as well as “dangerous” - in popular parlance, this was hardly a homogeneous population. There were people in their late teens, adults and senior citizens from many different cultural backgrounds, living with varying symptoms and in various stages of the “disease” process: from newly diagnosed to chronic. Among those I counseled were people... Read More
March 3rd, 2011 |
To continue with the theme of the Paramitas from last month, when we began with Generosity, we will look at the practice of Ethics or Morality (Shila in Pali), sometimes referred to as Discipline.
Many of us have a negative response to the words Morality and Discipline (and possibly Ethics). It can sound like something imposed, a “Should” that we never quite live up to. Some of us feel hopeless around these words, or like bad people, or self-righteous. In truth, Discipline and Morality are inner qualities that, when cultivated within a clear framework, bring a sense of peace and well being,... Read More
March 2nd, 2011 |
The subject of consequences comes up frequently in my work with teens and families. The fact that many parents of teens struggle with this area should come as no surprise. Up until adolescence, consequences are pretty straightforward and effective - if your little one wants this you distract with that, if she throws a tantrum you give choices and/or use a quick time out. For good measure we'll throw in a simple set of rewards and consequences for chores and behavior. Such is the journey that leaves one completely unprepared to parent adolescents.
What make adolescence so difficult? Without getting... Read More
March 1st, 2011 |
There are several types of therapy that are used to help people with attention issues (such as ADHD) learn to set healthy habits and try and keep their mind on track. Therapy for ADHD often includes a psychoanalytic approach, psychodynamic approach, behaviorism, or humanism. After adequate therapy, those with ADHD probably do not need counseling forever, but they could benefit from a bit of continued guidance as they go. Enter ADHD coaching,... Read More
© Copyright 2011 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Santa Barbara Bureau - All Rights Reserved.
February 18th, 2011 |
Without playing with fantasy, no creative work has ever yet come to birth. The debt we owe to the play of imagination if incalculable.
-C.G. Jung
Jung wrote about the need for finding and living our myth, our story, as he grew older, he wrote his most important works and found his own unique ways to play. We need new stories that weave playfulness, gratitude, and compassion for self and others. Re-writing your myth or story can help you understand more fully your core values. Your story reflects your uniqueness and the many gifts you have to offer others. If you fully expressed your values,... Read More
February 17th, 2011 |
I love this quote; I have to work so hard to play. For many of us play does not come easily. Try wrapping your arms around the idea that you are not your work. What makes you successful? What do you consider achievements? If your list of successes and achievements are all on the highly difficult side of things then I would like to suggest a slight adjustment. Are you successful when things come easily or when you feel good about what you achieved?
I love what Phil Porter, co-founder of InterPlay has to say:
Get on
Get off
Get on with it Read More
February 17th, 2011 |
How many times have I heard “So, do you have a manual for my kid?” We learn from very early on in parenting that there is no such thing. Sure, there are generalizations about milestones, abilities and limitations, but just as adults are so different from one another, kids can be as well. For first time parents, it is hard to know what's normal for a certain age or what a typical reaction is when going through a stressful experience.
When kids come to therapy, work with parents can be as important as with the child. It's very common to want to know if a child's behavior is normal. Also, if... Read More
February 17th, 2011 |
A GoodTherapy.org News Summary
Affection between grandparents and their grandchildren is one thing. But it can be hard for grown grandchildren and their grandparents to relate to one another. We know how important familial bonds are for a person’s mental health and sense of social support. So how, family researchers wondered, do we find common ground across generations? In a recent study published in Family Relations and funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, authors looked at grandparent-grown... Read More
© Copyright 2011 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Mountain View Bureau - All Rights Reserved.
February 16th, 2011 |
This is the fourth in a series of articles on the Scapegoat and how Voice Dialogue can help heal this ancient phenomenon that continues to occur within all human communities and within certain sensitive and susceptible individuals. The first two articles explored the Shadow, the phenomenon called projection, and the history of the Scapegoat in human communities. The third article begins the sorting and healing process through Voice Dialogue sessions with a composite client named Helen. See the first three articles here.
In... Read More
