Category: Psychotherapy: Models & Methods
The Good Therapy Blog
October 26th, 2009 |
David Brooks, New York Times columnist, was recently inspired by the movie, “Where the Wild Things Are.” He wonders if we are one person, with an ingrained, stable character – or are we different people in different situations, tripping around the truth with one person and going whole hog honest with another?
His thoughts, and the movie, offer us a great forum to explain Internal Family Systems (IFS).
In “Where the Wild Things Are,” Max the child is torn between loving and needing his mother and raging at her. He falls... Read More
October 20th, 2009 |
When I tell colleagues that I am a Gestalt therapist, I generally hear “so you hit pillows” or “so you just talk to an empty chair.” The general lack of understanding of basic underlying theory and guiding philosophy is surprising given the approach's popularity and influence over that last 60 years. In this article I would like to describe and discuss a concept that is at the heart of Gestalt therapy. This concept is the Gestalt “cycle of experience.”
In Gestalt Therapy, the self is not seen as a static thing but... Read More
October 16th, 2009 |
Human beings are fascinating bio-psycho-social organisms. What makes up a person? Traditional psychotherapy works toward congruence in a person’s thinking, emotions, and actions/reactions. There are many therapeutic techniques that have been developed over time to explore and improve these aspects of our life. We do exist on several levels simultaneously, but are we limited to thoughts, emotions and actions? If we look at life and the human experience we see that there are five basic levels on which we function. There is the Intellect/Thought, and the Emotions and Actions as mentioned above,... Read More
October 15th, 2009 |
Hi, my name is Jaffy Phillips. I am a certified Hakomi therapist, and I have studied a number of other body-centered approaches to therapy as well. I volunteered to be the topic expert for Hakomi therapy here at Goodtherapy.org because I feel that Hakomi makes such an important contribution to the larger field of psychotherapy, and because it is really the foundation of my own practice.
There are so many wonderful things about Hakomi that it is impossible to address them all... Read More
October 5th, 2009 |
Neurological exercises, logical thinking, and meditation are just some of the methods through which people regularly challenge their minds, whether as a necessity or by choice. Recently, a noted neuroscientist has predicted that by the year 2050, mental exercise will be as prevalent as exercise focusing on the physical body. Noting that benefits can range from greater memory recall to an increase in general well-being, the expert backs up his theory with research showing that those who participate in activities like... Read More
© Copyright 2009 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Coral Gables Bureau - All Rights Reserved.
October 1st, 2009 |
In my practice I am often visited by clients who have both physical and emotional concerns. Often they have been to numerous medical specialists in hopes of alleviating a “pain” that continues to go undiagnosed and or untreated. They are frustrated, I am excited. Why?? This is my key to where therapy needs to begin. Sometimes we are plagued by a nagging ache, stomach problems, headaches, etc. The bottom line is the physical pain has been either unexplained by medical doctors or minimized as in our heads. The latter... Read More
September 30th, 2009 |
One of the most common requests I get from clients in my psychotherapy practice is “Please help me get rid of this anxiety!” I then get to explain the Bad news and the Good news. The Bad news is that you are not going to get rid of your anxiety. In fact, it would be harmful to not be able to feel anxious. Anxiety and fear come with being alive. Anxiety can be useful when it causes you to be extra alert or careful, such as when you are walking to your car in a dark parking lot or when you are taking a test. Human beings were... Read More
September 22nd, 2009 |
When thinking about hospitals, most people aren't too likely to call to mind anything about artwork, but the image of an austere or harsh-looking environment may come to the fore. In an effort to combat boring hospital artwork, a hospital art consulting firm along with university professors recently conducted a study on the effects of artwork on hospital clients. The study found that definite and engaging, rather than abstract pieces of artwork, produced happier reactions in clients... Read More
© Copyright 2009 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Louisville Bureau - All Rights Reserved.
September 21st, 2009 |
A GoodTherapy.org News Summary
There's a great deal of research to suggest that listening to music, particularly music that is recognized and enjoyed, can excite the pleasure centers of the brain, resulting in pleasing experiences. Though it has recently been suggested that people experiencing feelings of depression and similar mental health concerns are closed off to the pleasurable effects of music, most people, in the presence of a favorite song, will notice a rise in mood. Such a rise can be of great importance to those... Read More
© Copyright 2009 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Evanston Bureau - All Rights Reserved.
September 17th, 2009 |
“Man's task is to become conscious of the contents that press upward from the unconscious.” -- Carl Gustav Jung
“If she walked into my life again” came onto the radio. He raised his hand as if in a silent request, then closed his eyes and dropped his head slightly to the right. His previously opaque face had become flush with emotion and I almost didn’t recognize him. It was clear that he had left his 82 year old body behind and was returning to a memory whose raw power was palpable. Everyone knew it was time to be quiet.
In my silence, I began to wonder about his life choices... Read More
September 7th, 2009 |
A GoodTherapy.org News Summary
The many benefits of cognitive behavioral therapy are widely lauded among both mental health professionals and the clients who have benefited from its introduction into their lives. In particular, those experiencing symptoms of depression are likely to gain a great deal of personal empowerment and inspiration from undergoing a course of cognitive behavioral therapy, achieving a greater understanding of themselves and the... Read More
© Copyright 2009 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Nashville Bureau - All Rights Reserved.
September 3rd, 2009 |
There are a growing range of mental health practices combined with mental activities indicated for helping to support and invigorate both the body and mind, and every once in a while a seemingly unlikely combination ensues. Recently, a group in New Zealand has introduced therapy on the water in canoes, a type of treatment that combines the best of psychology, physical education, and the group dynamic to encourage healing and the development of positive personal growth and greater teamwork ability. The program has so far experienced... Read More
© Copyright 2009 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Beverly Hills Bureau - All Rights Reserved.
August 31st, 2009 |
There are a number of activities that, when combined with quality mental health care, can lead to meaningful and even accelerated recovery from difficult emotional and behavioral concerns. Among them, as residents of Cornwall in the UK are finding out, sailing may comprise an especially effective therapeutic supplement. Recently, local charity Sea Sanctuary has begun offering therapy in conjunction with sailing lessons aboard its 43 foot yacht,... Read More
© Copyright 2009 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Phoenix Bureau - All Rights Reserved.
August 31st, 2009 |
Typically, those who experience strong compulsions to perform certain tasks or routines repeatedly with concerns about the perceived consequences of not doing so are associated with obsessive compulsive disorder, a mental health issue that can become debilitating for some people. This issue has traditionally been classified as relating to health concerns involving anxiety, but a... Read More
© Copyright 2009 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Simi Valley Bureau - All Rights Reserved.
