Thoughts on Life

Category: Counseling

  • I’m Not Crazy I’m Just A Little Unwell

    I know, right now you can’t tell… Thanks Rob Thomas for fantastic lyrics. I want to take some time to talk about cognition (aka how we think). There are big scary things that affect cognition like dementia or cancer, but there are also a bunch of smaller (though not lesser) things that when combined also…

  • Family Matters – Not Just a SitCom

    Did I do thaaaat? – Steve Urkel So if like me you loved watching Steve Urkel and Laura Winslow and all their antics, you’ll be familiar with the theme of this post. However, I’m going to focus on the title of the show rather than the content of the show… Family matters. And family matters…

  • Narrative Therapy – Lessons from Alexander Hamilton

    Who lives who dies who tells your story – Hamilton Lin Manuel Miranda’s second epic musical Hamilton is the perfect example of the use of narrative therapy that this post almost writes itself. But, for the sake of actually writing it I’ll explain. Narrative therapy focuses on what it sounds like – our brains focus…

  • Gestalt – It’s ALL THAT

    Ready Yet? Get Set. It’s All That! OHHH Oh Ohhh – This is ALL THAT … then jam out to TLC singing the catchiest theme song of my childhood from Nickelodeon’s All That. I’ll wait. This post is primarily for therapists and counselors, but if you receive support from a therapist or counselor this could…

  • Both / And – Dialectics and Duality

    I feel like I’ve just gotten to the end of High School Musical and realized, yes Troy Bolton, you can be both a basketball player and a singer. Basically everybody from that Status Quo song – the guy who bakes, the girl who dances, and the skater dude who plays the cello (which was my…

  • On Your Marks, Get Set, BAKE! – A note on positive coping.

    (Great British Baking Show anyone?) Ever have something going on where you just don’t know what to do but know you need to do something? This can either be caused by stress, anxiety, or some other trigger. So what do we do about it? Do something – anything – to get that extra energy/feeling out…

  • Sun-Kissed, Fried, or Extra Crispy – Let’s talk about Burnout

    Disclaimer: I’m specifically writing to those in helping professions, but the content can be helpful to anyone feeling a little charred around the edges. Can you tell I used to lifeguard outside all summer for 8 years? Let’s just say I am no stranger to all varieties of the effects of solar radiation. More often…

  • A Note on Blank Slates – with help from the Avett Brothers

    The Avett Brothers wrote a beautiful song “Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promises” and it goes as follows There’s a darkness upon me that’s flooded in lightIn the fine print they tell me what’s wrong and what’s rightAnd it comes in black and it comes in whiteAnd I’m frightened by those that don’t see…

  • Everybody Hates Me And Other Fairly Stupid Tales.

    If anybody else had the distinct privilege of reading The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon Scieszka as a child, then you understand the reference in the title of this post. If not, allow me to expand your literary horizons. This children’s book includes many “fairy-tale” like stories that are branded…

  • How to talk about Grief

    (In which Harry is dangling by his legs from a troll’s grip) Harry Potter: “Do Something!” Ron Weasley” “What?” Harry Potter: “Anything!” – Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone I’ve had folks recently express a desire to learn “just what to say” to folks who are grieving. There seems to be some concern about how…