The last time I had to stay home sick it occurred to me that people might be interested in some of what happens behind the scenes from the therapist’s perspective. Here’s a play-by-play: Early Saturday morning: Wake up in the wee hours of the morning with a fever. Feel miserable. Hope that I will feel…
Author Archives: cindy
Seven Ways to Use Your Smartphone to Improve Your Mental Health
Nobody taught me anything about using smartphones when I was in graduate school in the late ’90s. But I’ve counseled a lot of clients since then and found a lot of ways smartphones can be used to support mental health. Here are my top seven. Give yourself supportive messages when you need them. If you…
A Tip for Reducing Anxiety
I recently wrote about how I coped with anxiety when on an airplane trip. On the flight home, I tried another coping strategy that might be helpful for you. I know that airplanes and fear are linked in my brain so when I am on a plane I get scared. There are lots of ways…
How A Therapist Deals With Anxiety
Here I am, on an airplane, dealing with anxiety. I do not like airplane travel. I get scared that the plane will crash. But since I’m on a plane anyhow, I thought this would be a good opportunity to write about how I deal with anxiety. When I feel anxious I want to avoid whatever…
A Message for Survivors
A message for survivors of sexual assault, rape and abuse Dear ones, There are not a lot of things that are more triggering of trauma responses than witnessing something like the trauma you survived played out on a national scale in the media. If you are having a hard time right now, it makes sense….
Four Things I Say to Couples
Couples come to therapy usually because they are frustrated with something about each other. Here are some things I often tell them. It is always possible that your partner will change. Over the course of a long-term relationship, many changes happen. But it is not wise to count on it. Your partner might not change…