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How Do I Overcome the Shame of Sex? November 25, 2016 . 15 Comments
Dear GoodTherapy.org, I grew up in a fairly religious household where sex was rarely discussed (and when it was, it was talked about for the purposes of conception). Now, in my 30s, I have ... Read More
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Snapshot of a Memory: EMDR in Practice September 14, 2016 . 10 Comments
Editor’s Note: This article contains description of childhood abuse, which may be triggering for some readers. “I have an image in my mind I can’t seem to get rid of,” I tell Dr. ... Read More
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The Gift of Shame: A Positive Look at a Negative Emotion July 26, 2016 . 8 Comments
Shame has a bad reputation. Let’s face it: it doesn’t feel good. I mean, who really wants to feel shame? It’s uncomfortable, even downright painful at times. Here is something to ... Read More
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Does Therapy for Low Self-Esteem Really Work? May 20, 2016 . 25 Comments
How can being in therapy improve your self-esteem? Once we understand both the roots of self-esteem and the essence of therapy, the answer becomes clear. Self-esteem has been described ... Read More
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Mental Health Stigma Remains Problem for Service Members May 10, 2016 . 5 Comments
Pentagon efforts to reduce the stigma of mental health care remain inadequate, according to a report from the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO). The report follows at ... Read More
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The Truth May Not Set You Free, but Shame Definitely Won’t May 25, 2015 . 8 Comments
Many families have secrets of one sort or another. When she was 80, my mom shared with her eight children, on an individual basis, a secret she had carried for over 60 years. She wanted ... Read More
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Help! I’m Afraid to Talk to My Therapist about Self-Injury March 27, 2015 . 12 Comments
You are feeling frightened and ashamed to talk to your counselor about your problems with self-injury and other “bad habits.” You might worry that your counselor will feel critical ... Read More
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Could a Hole in Privacy Laws Harm College Students? March 13, 2015 . 5 Comments
With nearly half of college students experiencing anxiety and more than a third experiencing depression, college counseling centers are more important than ever. But a hole in medical and ... Read More
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Everyone Needs Help from Time to Time—Therapists Included November 26, 2014 . 13 Comments
“You are never strong enough that you don’t need help.” ―César Chávez My first assignment in graduate school was to write an essay about my experiences in life of asking for ... Read More
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Inside Hakomi Therapy: Acclimating to the Process October 13, 2014 . 1 Comment
Editor’s note: This is the second of two parts exploring Hakomi experiential psychotherapy. Part I appears here. “To notice what arises inside, without judgment, is the essence ... Read More
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Life with a Food Sensitivity: Would You Like Shame with That? September 2, 2014 . 7 Comments
Meg Ryan, in the film When Harry Met Sally, led the way for people who are particular about their food. Unfortunately, that was done for comedic effect, and the joke was on her: Listen ... Read More
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Objectification and Internalized Shame in Romantic Relationships August 26, 2014 . 5 Comments
For generations, women have raised concerns about how objectification contributes to street harassment, unwanted workplace sexual attention, and sexual violence. The practice of treating ... Read More