Most of us were raised in a culture where asking for help was not easy and could even feel downright terrifying! It takes a leap of faith to make that initial contact with a therapist and hope this person may be able to help mitigate the discomfort or pain we present with. People are told to “listen to their gut” or “trust their instincts” in finding a therapist to work with. A problem with that is, as a potential client coming in for help, the chances are the degree of pain

By definition, grief is a multi-faceted response to loss, particularly to the loss of someone or something to which a bond was formed. As therapists, we have the rare opportunity to learn from our clients, as our clients learn from us. Over the course of many years, I continue to bear witness to clients’ pain, whether it be buried, projected, internalized, or stuck. One thing remains the same; when it comes to the loss of one’s pet, there is nothing stuck about their deep and

Imagine for a moment how much healthier, happier, and safe our world would/could be if we all had a true and deep appreciation, respect, and acceptance of one another and our differences…. When people think of differences, the more obvious ones immediately come to mind, including race, ethnicity, religion, physical ability, or economic status. Then there are those differences not so obvious to the naked eye, such as sexual orientation, cultural beliefs, lessons learned early

Throughout our lives, we develop limiting and unhelpful thoughts, beliefs, habits, and ways of “being” in the world that become stored in our unconscious minds. These negative thoughts often result in self-sabotage and an inability to achieve our goals or break destructive/unhealthy habits. Clinical hypnotherapy serves to by-pass the conscious mind and speak directly to the unconscious, which is where these self-defeating beliefs live. Hypnosis is, basically, a natural “state

How often do we forget the fragile balance or imbalance between our emotions and physical ailments? You can see your PCP for headaches, muscle pain, or a rash and leave their office with nothing more than $150 dollars’ worth of creams, ointments, and prescriptions. It’s a delicate balance, however, as it can be equally unhelpful to be told “it must be stress” or “it’s simply in your head; get some rest, take some time off, and I’m sure you’ll be good as new.” As patients, esp

I was recently interviewed by a psychotherapist/author writing a piece on the initial contact made by potential clients looking for professional help. It was astonishing, as well as humbling, to be brought back to “the basics”… that initial call and just what that must feel like to the person putting through that call or email. My reason for sharing this is to remind all of us just how important that initial contact is, as well as the feelings and needs of the prospective cli