Virtual therapy I see people in their offices. In parked cars. Sitting on their deck. With toddlers on their lap. Couples in their living rooms. Hiding in bathrooms for privacy. In locked bedrooms sitting in their bed. In various time zones and provinces. Sometimes, more often than you’d think, I only hear voices on the other line of the phone. … Read More
Trigger warning When you own a business you are “told” directly or indirectly…
Trigger warning ⚠️ When you own a business you are “told” directly or indirectly to stay silent on matters of political, religious or socially contentious issues. And this is especially true as a therapist because I don’t want to alienate anyone; I value diversity of human beliefs and I’m trained to keep my countertransference and biases in line. I can’t … Read More
May 1 May 1 is “National Physicians’ Day”. An opportunity to recognize the ext…
May 1 May 1 is “National Physicians’ Day”. An opportunity to recognize the extraordinary people who serve in the profession of medicine. The pandemic presented the most difficult of circumstances for those who have dedicated their lives to the health and well-being of others. The challenges mounted, the resources reduced and criticism grew towards all those who provide care when … Read More
Anxious thoughts. Anxious thoughts are powerful because they are automatic. To…
Anxious thoughts. Anxious thoughts are powerful because they are automatic. Total automatic asshole thoughts. Here’s 10 questions to ask yourself to help fight them off. 1) Is it “true”? 2) How do I know it’s true? 3) Is the anxious thought 100% true? (something less than 100% true is not true) 4) What’s the evidence against it being true? 5) … Read More
Weight I know it’s stupid… It shouldn’t matter…. I don’t know why this bothe…
Weight I know it’s stupid… It shouldn’t matter…. I don’t know why this bothers me so much…. I’m body positive, why do I care? It’s so trivial… But is it? When your life is predicated on daily and often moment to moment unwelcome and obtrusive thoughts about how you don’t measure up, are not enough, are a failure, have disappointed … Read More
Crisis Crisis is the mother of (re)invention of the self. You can’t go back af…
Crisis Crisis is the mother of (re)invention of the self. You can’t go back after a crisis because you are changed. But not necessarily for the worse. Did you know that personality is not set? In 2012 academics found as many participants as possible of a Scottish study conducted in 1947 on personality. At the time of the study, participants … Read More
Blue Monday. On Monday, January 17th we will have reached “Blue Monday”. The t…
Blue Monday. On Monday, January 17th we will have reached “Blue Monday”. The third Monday in January is dubbed the most depressing day of the year. A combination of post holiday reality, dark days and long nights, and colder weather prevail. Not to mention the holiday bills and the reality that most New Year’s resolutions don’t make it past this … Read More
Burnout. In the book “Down Girl: The Logic of Misogyny” by Kate Manne, a fasci…
Burnout. In the book “Down Girl: The Logic of Misogyny” by Kate Manne, a fascinating concept is introduced: Human Giver Syndrome. Human Giver Syndrome is the belief that some people (the givers) are supposed to exist to put all of their energy into creating comfort and success for other people, and to be attractive and available, physically and emotionally, at … Read More
More than a few chapters. In the story that is my life I’ve experienced many c…
More than a few chapters. In the story that is my life I’ve experienced many chapters. Like many of you, some chapters are pretty awful. I’ve survived: Childhood traumas Eating disorder Parentification Victimization Learning disability Poverty Relationship violence Emotional / psychological abuse Dysfunctional family patterns Where I’ve been is not where I am today. Those chapters will not define me. … Read More
Questions The questions I get, every day: 1) what’s wrong with me? 2) when w…
Questions The questions I get, every day: 1) what’s wrong with me? 2) when will I stop being this way? 3) does that make sense? 4) why am I like this? 5) is there something wrong with me? Answers: 1) you are a human having a human experience, the full range of emotions and responses to this jagged life. 2) … Read More