Category: The Human Being of Therapy
The Good Therapy Blog
December 21st, 2010 |
A GoodTherapy.org News Summary
Official diagnostic criteria—the symptoms and qualities that are internationally used to identify mental health issues—are rarely without controversy. Recent attention has centered around the proposed removal of narcissism from a list of personality disorders. But a Boston University Medical Center study in the upcoming issue of Psychological Bulletin examines diagnostic criteria for a psychological condition far more prominent: post-traumatic stress disorder.... Read More
© Copyright 2010 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Boulder Bureau - All Rights Reserved.
December 20th, 2010 |
Last month we met Melinda and Sharon (not actual people), two women for whom the holidays mean obligation rather than joy.
We saw how Melinda’s primary concern is who will be most disappointed if she doesn’t spend the holidays with them; and we watched as Sharon spent herself into debt buying presents for everyone under the sun.
The holidays are a perfect time to practice “courage under fire.” So much is expected of us. We want to be there for others. Read More
December 2nd, 2010 |
A good place to begin a discussion of Relational Psychology might well be with the all too familiar experience of the “awkward silence”. At some point in the therapeutic process a moment occurs that seems out of context. A Kleenex box is dropped. An offhand comment gets drowned out by the wail of an ambulance siren. The squeaky chair makes another embarrassing sound. It is during such everyday gaffes as these that the two people in a room are reminded of their shared humanity. Nothing too dramatic has occurred yet, in this moment of meeting, the roles between that of helper and client may appear... Read More
December 1st, 2010 |
Therapists and counselors are people too. Just because they’re trained to recognize and help people through depression, anxiety, and other concerns doesn’t mean they are immune to these struggles in their own lives. A new survey of mental health professionals found that 41.6% reported experiencing depression at some point in their life, and one in five (20.3%) were currently experiencing mild or moderate depression. About one in eight experienced emotional exhaustion and 2% had attempted suicide. It’s important to recognize... Read More
© Copyright 2010 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Orlando Bureau - All Rights Reserved.
November 25th, 2010 |
A GoodTherapy.org News Summary
So many factors go into our mental health and well-being. Environment, social ties and family dynamics, access to green space, physical health, leisure time, diet and nutrition, financial peace of mind, career situation, and sense of ability to influence one’s own fate all play a role. If you re-read that list, you’ll notice that many have socioeconomic ties. Access to education, career preparation and a good job give people greater control in creating homes and lives that are safe, healthy, and uplifting. Conversely, lack of those resources may make one feel... Read More
© Copyright 2010 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Encino Bureau - All Rights Reserved.
November 23rd, 2010 |
“I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.” - Louisa May Alcott
There is a multitude of ways to work through stuck places. I use the phrase “stuck places” here as an umbrella under which all reasons people enter into therapy may be categorized. Our reasons are stated in the many and various ways we speak of our particular motivation for calling a therapist. These can range from individual to relationship issues, anxiety to depression, phobias to addictions, loss of identity to gender identity issues, PTSD to Bipolar Disorder….. a longer list of issues or circumstances... Read More
November 12th, 2010 |
What's wrong with me? I have a job—I mean, I don't love it, but it's not too bad. I have a partner—we have problems, but at least I have someone. I have a few friends too. If I have all of these things, why do I feel so lost, alone and purposeless in the world? If you have ever found yourself anxiously pondering these questions, it may because the life you are living is not the one that you aspire to. Carl Rogers posited that all people have two selves‚ an actual self and an ideal self. Through the process of self-actualization, you work towards achieving your ideal self.
Let's take... Read More
November 5th, 2010 |
When November arrives, depression is not far behind. Something about the turn of the season, less daylight, less outdoor activities, the holiday bustle nudging its way back into consciousness can make some people turn inward and find deep dissatisfaction in their lives. Deep dissatisfaction can show up as a persistent weight pulling you down. Sometimes it is hard to get out of bed, to do anything. Most people are able to cope with these feelings by ‘pushing through’ or ‘acting as if’ they are feeling alright. Enrolling in new classes, filling calendars with arts, sports, theater, shopping... Read More
October 29th, 2010 |
This is the third 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. See the first two articles at: http://www.goodtherapy.org/voice-dialogue-article.html.
"For years it lay in an iron box buried so deep inside me that I was never... Read More
October 29th, 2010 |
A GoodTherapy.org News Summary
Military suicides have been increasing in recent years, which has prompted the U.S. Army to re-assess the effectiveness of its mental health programs in understanding the support soldiers need, says a recent article published by NPR. With increased awareness of returning soldiers’ struggles with PTSD, one might think that more combat time and more time away from family makes soldiers increasingly vulnerable to mental health issues. But the Army has discovered that PTSD and suicide have... Read More
© Copyright 2010 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist San Diego Bureau - All Rights Reserved.
October 25th, 2010 |
So often when the topic of Sexual Addiction comes up, the primary focus is on the sex addict, the symptoms and causes of sex addiction, and the journey to freedom from sexual addiction. While this is certainly a much needed focal point, something very important often gets overlooked and that is the effect sexual betrayal has on the spouse of the sex addict! Can you imagine waking up one day to find the world and spouse you thought was one thing but then realize that it is not only completely different, but that you have been betrayed! Certainly there are times when a spouse suspects or feels... Read More
October 22nd, 2010 |
Seth Walsh, 13, Asher Brown, 13, Billy Lucas, 15, Tyler Clementi, 18, Raymond Chase, 19, all died within the last three weeks as a result of suicide. All of them were bullied or harassed for being perceived as gay. And these are just the names that we know. There are many others out there suffering and struggling through the discovery of their sexuality.
Every day gay teens or teens who are perceived as being "outside the box" are bullied and harassed for simply being who they are. This bullying can come from fellow students but there are also negative messages from families, teachers, television,... Read More
October 22nd, 2010 |
John, our favorite Australian correspondent, wrote to note that a lot of people don't really want to hear that their alcohol abuse is a choice - and so is fixing it. That came as no surprise to us. After all, what better excuse for continuing drinking than having a "disease" over which you are "powerless"? And for parents wanting to avoid dealing with their adult children's behavior, well, why not decide that it's a "disease" rather than a choice? All in all it's no surprise that many people prefer this option but it doesn't come without costs.
First, since it isn't true, there is always... Read More
October 15th, 2010 |
A GoodTherapy.org News Summary
Humans are inherently social creatures, yet we often feel the need to hide feelings of depression, anxiety, grief and stress from those around us. What is it that keeps us from speaking our fears and feelings to friends, family, coworkers, or peers, let alone acting on those feelings enough to find a therapist or counselor? For some, it’s a sense of shame, reinforced by mental health stigma or perceived mental health stigma. Teenagers, for example, generally accept that mental illness is not a character flaw, but individual teens... Read More
© Copyright 2010 by http://www.GoodTherapy.org Therapist Tucson Bureau - All Rights Reserved.
