I rarely raise my voice. Usually, if I do, it is when I am driving alone in my car (okay, with others too) and someone cuts me off in traffic. You can probably guess where I am going with this. I raised my voice this week. Only for a minute…but it happened. I felt so helpless and trapped and believed Read more…
I am an avid reader. I enjoy reading books for enjoyment as well as books related to my clinical practice or the courses that I am enrolled in as a doctoral student. Right now, I am reading a book that, to say it succinctly, is enlightening. The book is about couple relationships. Some may marvel/shriek at the thought of a Read more…
There have been many conversations on this blog about changing selves and growth. Many factors contribute to change: environment, people, travel, pain, and emotions in general. But the focus has largely centered on the individual self and not as much on how change affects relationships as a result. I’m very aware of my own fluid change and shifting identity and Read more…
In previous posts, I have mentioned Karen Armstrong’s book Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life. In it, she discusses the importance of compassion. She suggests that, while everyone has the intrinsic ability to be compassionate, we must work hard to expand our capacity for it. While reading, I have been trying to pay attention to my own level of compassion. When does Read more…
The act of listening seems so simple to do. All it takes is being quiet while another person talks, right? As an intern therapist, it’s what I signed up to do for a living, but I have quickly learned real listening is more than just being present and actually takes effort. When I think about certain times I’ve “listened,” I Read more…
