I used to resent homeless people, especially in the winter. I had this autopilot response when I’d see them bundled up, clouds of carbon monoxide vaporizing above their heads, trading spots on cold concrete to try and find some kind of warmth…
Read MoreYou can't overcome anxiety, addiction or depression without allowing yourself to, first, go outside of the box... a bunch. People often emotionally limp into my office and look at me as if I have all the answers, thinking I have some magic word/pill that will set them on their feet again - without their effort…
Read MoreWhen I think about who I am as a therapist and why I decided to pursue this wonderful and wacky helping profession, there are three memories that seem to encapsulate something that is very difficult to put into words…
Read MoreHave you ever been to court? Have you ever stood in suspense as the judge contemplated your sentence? I have. And it blows. There's a sense of fear and dread, followed by this weird emotion of "whatever! I'll deal with whatever comes down the pike!" all wrapped up into one discomforting package…
Read MoreIn therapy, one of the most tenacious foes I face is helping someone realize they're wrong. Most people that come into my office are just dead wrong! About what? About what they believe about their future. And boy are they certain that they have it all figured out! "Nothing will ever go right for me; no matter what I do, I'll never be okay; I'll never find the right person; I'll always struggle…be alone…a screw-up, ..."
Read MoreTruth be told, I'm not completely free of anxiety myself. There are times during performing therapy, for instance, that the "what if's" come to me like an eagle swooping down to claw up its prey. "What if I panic and have to leave the room?" or "what if I go blank and can't think of anything to say?" Yes, I still experience anxiety on occasion. One of the reasons: toxic anxiety can be a bully!
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