Psychotherapy Talk

Articles and discussions about mental health, psychotherapy and relationships.

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Psychotherapy Talk turned 9 today!

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Earth Day, Everyday, Environment, Life

All the photos are of endangered species. Nature BY HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW “As a fond mother, when the day is o’er,    Leads by the hand her little child to bed,    Half willing, half reluctant to be led,    And leave his broken playthings on the floor, Still gazing at them through the open door,    Nor wholly reassured and comforted    By promises of others in their stead,    Which, though…

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Poetic Messages for This Troubled World

This morning, I came across this obscure poet, Peter Burn (c. 1755–1788). His works include “Night and Other Poems,” “Voices of Nature,” and “Poems,” but I could not find them. However, here are a few poems that I find to be calming in this troubled and tumultuous time: Kindness by Peter Burn Show kindness to others! Treat all men as brothers, Whatever their station, whatever betide; All envy…

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Family Roles in Addiction

Self-medication involves taking substances, such as drugs, supplements, or home remedies, to address symptoms of a medical or mental health problem without consulting a doctor. Part of the problem with addiction is that the individual is unaware that they are attempting to self-medicate. “The priority of any addict is to anaesthetize the pain of living to ease the passage of day with some…

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Do You Worry a Lot?

I grew up in a family of worriers. As I remember it, my grandmother, who is my mother’s mother, was the person who worried the most. She imagined disasters happening everywhere. I remember how one night when I was a boy, my older brother was out on a date with the girl. It was the middle of the night, and I was asleep. I woke up to the sound of my mother and grandmother pacing back and forth in…

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Diagnosing Psychological Disorders: Challenges and Considerations

“I’m a bipolar disorder.” “I’m a schizophrenic.” “I’m a depressive.” “I’m a borderline.” Unfortunately, these are a few examples of how psychiatric and psychology clients define themselves after they receive a diagnosis. Sadly, and in my experience, there were always some staff members in psychiatric settings who defined their clients. During my forty years of experience working in mental health,…

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Embrace Life

I was out walking my little dog, Nikki, and we both enjoyed a bright, sunny morning with perfect temperatures. The trees were sprouting leaves, and birds were heard chirping nearby. The morning reminded me of a poem I had just read last night entitled “The Summer Day” by the late poet laureate Mary Oliver. I hope you find this as inspiring as I do: Poem 133: The Summer Day, by Mary Oliver. “Who…

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An Uncertain and Anxious World

“Have patience with everything that remains unsolved in your heart. …live in the question.” ― Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet “The mistake is thinking that there can be an antidote to the uncertainty.” ― David Levithan, The Lover’s Dictionary “The future is uncertain… but this uncertainty is at the very heart of human creativity.” ~ Ilya Prigogine “We live in uncertain times when it…

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Authenticity, "BE"

Shakespeare on authenticity:  “This above all, to thine own self be true, and it must follow as the night the day, thou canst be false to any man.” “Truth is truth to the end of reckoning.” Mary Sarton, “We have to dare to be ourselves, however frightening or strange that may prove to be.” Carl Jung, “The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.” Charles Taylor’s “The Ethics of…

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Existence

Ayin and Bardo are concepts from Jewish mysticism and Tibetan Buddhism, respectively, offering profound insights into reality and the human experience of existence. While originating from distinct spiritual traditions, both concepts explore themes of emptiness, transition, and the potential for transformation. Ayin, the concept in Jewish mysticism, specifically within the context of Kabbalah, is…

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The Effects of Childhood Trauma on Adults and How it's Treated

I have heard a large number of people hopelessly complain that they had early trauma in their childhood and that they were in psychotherapy. Still, there is no way they could heal such scars. Indeed, childhood trauma has such a profound impact on a person’s life that it can completely change human emotional, psychological, and social development even years later. Physical, emotional, and sexual…

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The Impact of Technology on Society

Technology has become an integral part of modern human society, shaping and influencing various aspects of our lives. From communication to transportation, healthcare to entertainment, technology has revolutionized the way we live, work, and interact with the world around us. This essay delves into the significant impact of technology on human society, exploring both its positive and negative…

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Men, Women and Dysfunctional Relating

Case Vignette (fictionalized), “When the couple entered therapy, they were clearly alienated and angry. There was little doubt that they were headed for divorce. The husband was silent and brooding, and the wife was seething with sarcasm and resentment. They had been married for twenty years, had two kids, and were financially secure. From the outside, most people would have said they were a…

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ADHD and Emotional Dysregulation

  I have included links to Additude online magazine for those interested. There are several links below from the magazine and the link to the full magazine at the end of this essay. “ADHD brains develop differently than neurotypical brains. In the adolescent years, this may mean explain increased risk for motor vehicle accidents, medication diversion, substance abuse, academic setbacks, and…

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Toxic Families that Scapegoat

Toxic Families: Navigating the Challenges of Being a Family Scapegoat “My friend, you are not alone. No matter what you’ve suffered, the abuse was not your fault. You didn’t cause someone to hurt you. Not as an innocent child, teenager, nor as an adult. Let that sink in. It’s not your fault.”― Dana Arcuri, Soul Cry: Releasing & Healing the Wounds of Trauma. “Ending the toxic cycle within your own…

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Love

Holidays should be a time of unity and love. Love Poems: “How Do I Love Thee?” _ Elizabeth Barrett Browning “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of being and ideal grace. I love thee to the level of every day’s Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light. I love thee freely, as men strive…

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The Tragedy of Dementia

The reader needs to understand that many of the symptoms of dementia must be considered because we all occasionally misplace things like our keys, iPhones, eyeglasses, and other such items. The key word here is occasional.  During my career in mental health, I had a few clients who developed dementia. All of them were older. In two of the cases, the clients got lost on the way to my office after…

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