Childhood Trauma and Resilience It's not uncommon for a survivor of childhood trauma to ask of themselves - and sometimes their therapist - what is special about them. In other words, why me? Why did I have to experience sexual abuse, witness domestic violence, be raised by a drug-addicted parent, or experience the loss of [...]
In considering what gifts to give to your children for the holidays, or their birthday, or any other occasion for giving the gift of experience, there are a few points worth remembering. Children's thinking tends to be focused on concrete objects. This style of thinking, combined with the onslaught of media advertisement, leads to children [...]
I sometimes hear parents lament about Kids and the Anti Work Ethic. I reflect on the wonderful lifestyle parents worked so hard to provide for their children, and how they may have inadvertently taught their children that they don’t have to work too hard to be entitled to the good life. Many sources are referring [...]
Looking at a surprisingly high credit card balance, people wish for willpower. After eating that extra piece of cake, people wish for more willpower. After spending so much time on-line that work projects suffer, people wish for self-control. There are many situations in our daily lives that would benefit from willpower and self-control. There certainly [...]
Violence and News Coverage is a very hot topic. I'm sure anyone would be able to answer the question of "where were you when 9/11 happened?". I actually happened to be getting ready for my own therapy appointment the morning that the Twin Towers were hit. As I drove by the lookout point in West [...]
Every day I hear TV and radio personalities complaining about how the politicians in this country have broken their promises. Another election is coming up and everyone is focusing again on campaign promises and what platform the next candidate will take. I wonder how often everyday promises are broken. The same man who complains that [...]
I loved the song with the refrain “Don’t text me back, pick up your phone”. Far too many young adults attempt to carry on a conversation through texting and end up with miscommunication and misunderstanding. Communication can be a complex and difficult proposition when we are face to face. How do you infer the intention [...]
Gestalt Therapy is an existential/experimental form of psychotherapy that emphasizes personal responsibility and focuses upon the individual's experience in the present moment, the therapist-client relationship, the environmental and social contexts of a person's life, and the self-regulating adjustments people make as a result of their overall situation. The objective of Gestalt therapy is to enable [...]
Substance Abuse Therapy is a useful tool. In many moments of despair, people often reach for a drink or a pill to ease their comfort. Unfortunately, this is how substance abuse and dependency problems incubate. What was once a social drink with friends, can easily transform into a daily habit - especially when someone is [...]
I think most people would agree that when you hear phrases such as "sexual abuse" and "rape", we are likely to think of men as perpetrators and women as victims or survivors. What we don't often hear about are the boys and men who have been victimized. Whether it's due to stigma, taboo, or feeling [...]