Therapy and Counseling Articles

After discussing the creation of clear boundaries with Mark, he responded with, "I'm confused." This reaction typifies those with self-doubt who have troubles with sorting and sifting. They don't trust their instincts to generate an empowering decision. Rather, self-doubters cling to their cocoon in an attempt to avoid the inevitability of appropriate action. Mark’s grown children disapproved of a new, intimate relationship that was very important to him. Mark’s narrative was one of being intricately entwined with his children and ex-wife in a codependent relationship.

Many people remember learning to drive a car and hearing someone instruct, “When you change lanes, check your side-view and rear mirrors, then turn and look over your shoulder to make sure that there is not a car in your “blind spot”. Every human eye has a “blind spot”. Where our optic nerve ...

Samantha moved to a large sprawling city to join her boyfriend. They carried on a long-distance relationship prior to her decision to move in with him. Unfortunately, the relationship did not last long, and she felt stuck in a city without a plan to move forward in a positive direction – she sank into a deep depression. This young lady had parents who were extremely passive and detached. Having lived in a rural town, her options for activity were limited. Her parents never encouraged involvement in outside interests. She lacked confidence and was timid around age-mates.

How will I know if I’m bipolar? You’ll know by your moods and behaviors. Bipolar Disorder used to be called manic depression. Now it’s called Bipolar I and Bipolar II. When you have a Bipolar I Disorder you will have manic episodes where you have lots of energy, talk fast, have ...

Conflict is present in all intimate relationships. Whether conflict is resolved constructively or acted out destructively is what determines its impact on the relationship. The following suggestions are designed to help couples resolve conflict by teaching them how to fight fairly. • ...

Writing your way to a mindful existence Do you find yourself overwhelmed by the pressures of modern living? For some people, stress is so commonplace that it has become a way of life. They live life at a fast pace, constantly rushing to meet deadlines, complete tasks and fit as much as possible into their day.

Most of us have experienced the loss of a loved one or a special animal family member or will undoubtedly experience this once or many times throughout life. Perhaps you have heard of the late Elizabeth Kubler Ross, the pioneer of the five stages of grief? Dr. Ross employed this model exclusively in oncology, with persons dying from terminal cancer.

Let’s talk about listening. Truly listening. Not only to those around you but to your inner wisdom, your intuition, your higher power. Are you listening? I learned to listen by experience to go within and to know how to connect with and communicate with my inner being. Some say that prayer is asking for what you want and meditation is listening for the answer. Maybe so, I don’t know. But I do know that as a society we tend to tune out and distract ourselves constantly. We seem to have an aversion to silence.

Can writing down your thoughts, feelings and experiences be a healing experience? Can it change your entire life for the better? More and more studies show it can. Human beings have used the written word to explore their emotions for thousands of years, but only recently has research shown that the very act of writing can be restorative and remedial. In his book, Writing to Heal, Dr. James W. Pennebaker, Professor of Psychology at the University of Texas, says ‘emotional writing’ can improve people’s sleep habits, work efficiency and relationships.

A Collection of Four Stories About the Ghanaian People and their Culture Author Dzagbe Cudjoe writes a series of authentic tales filled with African myth and legend in Tales my Ghanaian Grandmother Told Me. Centered on the Ghanaian people, their cultures and beliefs, these tales are ...

If not, do you know what is stopping you? Who is the voice in your head that talks you out of going after what you really want for yourself and achieving your potential? - by Heather Dranitsaris-Hilliard

The Silent Witness nnNot of the BloodnNot of the LandnNo GaelicnNo outstretched Handnn I’m sure you’ve all heard the words, “History is only a matter of interpretation.” As they emerged out of an unconscious place the words in my introductory poem above spoke my interpretation of life, my personal myth as an adopted person. When they came through me some 12 years ago I had no real understanding of the intensity of my feelings in relation to both my adoption and what I

"The miracle of existence has always been a mystery to humankind. I can find no logical or rational explanation for the uniqueness of you and me. I am just glad that we do exist." --Suzanne Kyra That there is something beyond us supporting our existence is a mysterious miracle. We often define ...

General Anxiety Disorder is a very common condition that affects many of us at some time in our lives. At any one time it is estimated that over 10 million people in the US suffer from some form of GAD. Many are actively seeking treatment through medication or some form of psychotherapy, either online or in-person. What can I do to help manage my Anxiety?

As teens establish independence, parents need to understand that: - Parents are still the most important influence in their children’s lives. Teens are trying to become adults. One of their greatest difficulties is becoming independent while maintaining a loving relationship with parents. - The teen’s struggle for independence becomes a real problem only when it is viewed by the teen and/or parents as a struggle for control. How can I start to build a better relationship with my teen?

The Power of Choices

I love looking at the things "wrong" with me since realizing those things are not wrong at all. Who knew! I accept my natural self (the way it feels good, to me, to operate in life) and use those qualities in creative ways. For example, I am not consistent. Because I rarely do things consistently, goal setting has been a frustration and something to avoid. I've worked at being more disciplined, with exercise for example. The discipline lasted 18 hours and I was asleep most of that time.

For those people on a quest to unlock their life lessons or those that have had some spiritual awakening the path to your purpose can easily be identified when you know what to look for. Mystical masters and self proclaimed psychic gurus have been able to tap into another realm, dimension or ...

People don’t fall into neat little categories no matter how hard we try to classify them. Still, in my psychotherapy practice I do notice a strong correlation between folks with chronic anger management problems and those who exhibit self defeating personality traits. These clients’ identities are often organized around a core belief that they are “victims” by virtue of the fact that they continue to suffer from parental improprieties long after growing up and leaving home.

What is Life Coaching? by M. Joy Young, Social worker and certified professional coach with Portland Lifestyle Counseling LLC

The ability to focus spiritual energy for a clearly defined purpose is something that the peoples of the Asian and African continents understand well. I was not surprised to learn that the dates of the opening of the Olympic games had been decided on astrological principles. It would seem that ...

Sound has been used since centuries for healing purposes. It is being used in different cultures and its practices, such as chanting, mantras, singing and other instruments. Modern science has brought together the traditional healing methods and scientific reasons to bring tuning fork as a powerful tool for treatment. Tuning fork treatments are being practiced across the globe for the purpose of healing through sound energy. If you live in Sydney, then you can find many thera

Welcome to article number 2 in our series “Bodybuilding Sins That Cause Back Pain and Missed Workouts”. In this article we are going to talk about how bodybuilders tend to create massive muscle imbalances and what you can do to not be one of them. If you missed the first article, you can read ...

What is Insomnia? Insomnia is difficulty initiating and/or maintaining sleep, or the perception of poor sleep. Insomnia could include: difficulty falling asleep, waking up too early in the morning, or waking up often during the night time. If you or someone that you know suffers from insomnia, make sure to see a physician to see if there is a physiological cause that needs to be ruled out. Causes of Insomnia Acute insomnia includes: New stress ( such as a death of a loved one or changes in work) • Jet lag • Drug or alcohol use • Emotional or physical discomfort.r

Treatment for spinal cord injury is given in two phases such as acute and rehabilitation. The acute stage starts at the time of injury and it lasts until the individual gets stabilized. Rehab phase starts as early as the individual gets stabilized and ready for working to become independent. During the acute stage, it is crucial that the individual get right medical care. The injured individual in many of the cases can be sent to the closest hospital for the treatment of spin

It’s Monday already but you still feel the weekend hangover and you don’t want to work right now. Suddenly, you decided to stay and just wait for the day to end. This is a common scene on offices and other work places. This is a disease which many of us are experiencing and it is called the lousy day syndrome. W e all had terrible or bad day, disappointing news from a friend, an argument with your boss, a bad evaluation of work, a lousy day may come into various forms. So

There’s a technique I learned when studying hypnosis called “macro sequence intervention.” The gist of it is that you have habits of behavior that you can change by becoming aware of what choices you make when you reach a decision point. A habit like hanging up your coat is triggered by walking in the door and taking your coat off. If you are a person who instead, tosses your coat on a chair you might have what's called a problem sequence.

Mystery Mystery is the power of a precious secret that does not easily reveal itself to us. It, like the mermaids, beckons us to come closer, to see what is inside us. Who are we? How were we created? What is next for us? Mystery is the humility of seeing what we do not know, and when we are ...

Goal Setting Instruction Bookletr The Long and Short of Itr Created By: Sybil R Smith Have you ever made unrealistic goals? Do you neglect to make any goals for fear of failing? I sure have. When thinking about the future, I am often discouraged because there is so much to do that I do not know where to start. Or, maybe you are on the other end of the spectrum like my friend Mary. She does not make any goals or plan for the future because she does not know what she wants. Your life is what you make it. So, why not plan a little bit of it out to ensure your success?

How to Get Your Husband into Couples Counseling by Dr. Mark A. Kaupp, MFT Although there is a slight change in the trend, women are the primary initiators of counseling. Perhaps it's because, in our culture, women are raised to be responsible for relationships. Or maybe it's because men see counseling as a sign of weakness and they don't want to “talk about their feelings.” Whatever the case may be, women do call to set up more therapy sessions than men. But, what do you do if your husband or boyfriend doesn't want to go to couples counseling?

Many people plagued by the symptoms of trauma may not even realize that they are trauma victims or sufferers! Often they think that a trauma is associated with war, terrorism, and general large scale violence alone, therefore dismissing the lesser traumas that are literally “closer to ...

At the risk of offending my reading audience the title of this article drips with sarcasm to nndrive home a point. It’s probably no surprise to any of you men that as a group we have nnbeen reluctantly dragged by the tide of reformist movements that have revamped gender nnroles. ...

Leaders no longer have the protection of a structure of given authority behind which their vulnerabilities remain unseen. The new social norms have transformed organizations into social democracies where leaders are expected to reveal themselves and their irrational side to their staff, to enhance their awareness and sensitivity to group dynamics, and to increase their ability to communicate affect. In summary, it requires them to be emotionally astute and self aware.r

It’s difficult to think about seeing a counselor. We ask ourselves, “Shouldn’t I be able to solve my own problems? Is my problem too small to bother [someone else] with? Is it too big—is there help or hope for it? For me? This is embarrassing! What happens in counseling? How can I know it will ...

Dr. Randi Fredricks, Ph.D., LMFT San Jose Counseling and Psychotherapyrn(408) 264-3082

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is the medical terminology used to represent a complex clinical disorder of symptoms characterized by soft tissue pain, stiffness, and altered deep pain threshold with psychological fallout. It can mimic or accompany symptoms of joint injury, but it is not an ...

Compulsive overeaters are individuals who suffer from an obsession with food and a compulsion to eat despite the resulting negative effects on their physical and emotional health and well being. They eat to satisfy an emotional hunger, whether this hunger is for love, for comfort or for a sense ...

People who have familiarized themselves enough with the different branches of psychotherapy will tell you that there are three major schools, or modalities, of psychotherapy – psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral and humanistic-existential psychotherapy.rnWhat if I was to tell you that there is a type of psychotherapy that combines the essence of psychodynamic therapy with the working process of cognitive-behavioral therapy ? Such a therapy not only exists, but has proven it

Valentine's Day. You either love it or you hate it. Why is that? Some people are enchanted with the idea of being showered with love, affection, and gifts. Others are nauseated at the dramatic displays of ardor. "Couldn't she have received those flowers at home?" And others are trying to disappear into their cubicles dreaming of a day when their office crush will finally notice them and send them bouquets of flowers and cards of adoration.

Understanding what happens when a person verbally attacks is the key to knowing how to respond to them. The hardest situations are ones where there have been ongoing attacks for a long period of time. We all know this by its common name, verbal abuse. There are two sides that we need to look at to better understand the picture and know what action to take. Lets first look at what is happening with a person who attacks.

“Man is not the enemy here, but the fellow victim.” Betty Friedan A man’s middle age is often talked about in general or humorous ways, but rarely is it ever taken seriously. Just as all males and females go through puberty, so too do both sexes go through the change of life. “Dear Abby:r

I used to wonder why some people seem complacent about life as it is and others seem to question everything and know there is more than our five senses tell us. I still sit and watch others wherever I go, rarely finding anyone who makes eye-contact or expresses curiosity about others or their surroundings.

Often caregivers need a little extra support when taking care of loved ones, and just having a bit of time off during the week can make all the difference. One of the best choices for temporary care is to use an adult day care facility, which caters for seniors and adults with disabilities or handicaps. These centers may be one of the most cost efficient ways to care for the elderly on a day to day basis, as the amount of attention they receive while at this type of facility

The marathon of our working lives can take a huge physical and emotional toll. We can easily seduce ourselves into believing that once we retire we will be much happier without the constant wear and tear on our aging minds and bodies. Sounds logical doesn’t it? Well, as many of us have learned about a whole host of relationships, whether it’s with a parent, child, or love interest, we don’t know what we will be missing until it is gone forever.

We all orbit around one another in our own personal little planets. Most of these little planets are completely unaware of each other except when these worlds collide or brush up against each other.

What is CBT Life Coaching it? CBT Life Coaching is a process of analysis, reflection and action that will ultimately enable you to reach your full potential. It does this by helping you to optimise current opportunities and skills and develop new abilities and expertise. This results in lasting personal growth and change and clarity of thought and action.r

Psychological health experts are presently tests out numerous cure strategies and remedy techniques that would successfully relieve the signs or reverse the problems of schizophrenia. One of individuals that have emerged from these research attempts is occupational remedy. Obtain out much more under what are the assorted elements that made specialists take into account this for a feasible treatment method selection for schizophrenia. What is Occupational Therapy? Occupational

If you're unhappy at work, rest assured that things will change. As with all things, you can be a part of the change in positive or negative ways.

Stop it! I don’t like it! The holidays are rapidly approaching. We are all getting more excited as well as more afraid: what will my mother, father, aunty, or uncle do or say in the family gathering? What if they criticize my new flat, hair, boyfriend, job or cooking? What if they remind me all over again about my childhood mistakes? What if they question all my current decisions? Will we end up quarreling as we did last time? How can they find my most sensitive spots? How could I possibly stop them?

Your partner has said or done something that really makes you furious. You are outraged. You are hurt to the core. You cannot believe it! If your partner cared for you, they would never have behaved in such a way. The person you have just started to date does not return your call in a timely fashion. You find yourself mentally ending the relationship before it begins. Overwhelming anxiety and feelings of loss or abandonment take over.