How to Fix Other People
I am sure that you know someone in need of help. 20% of the people in this country suffer from severe mental or substance-related problems–that’s one in five! It makes you think twice about getting behind the wheel of your vehicle. So how do we fix them? This is always a fun topic when teaching interns. Well, cutting to the chase, the answer is–we can’t. The truth is–the only person we can...Learn More
Overcoming Anxiety
It’s about time to talk about my battle with anxiety. Anxiety was thought of as a burden that everybody had to carry. I looked at it as the cross I had to bear for the rest of my life. As most of my friends did, I turned to drugs to numb my fears, but after years of doing so, I became a prisoner and felt there was no way out. Because of my drug use, my personality began to change. I became...Learn More
How to Take the Ultimate Care of Yourself
With the current atmosphere in this country, it is obvious that mental health is not prioritized. For years statistically, 20% of the people in this country suffer from mental health conditions that warrant serious treatment, however, in the last year, we’ve seen our numbers rise at an alarming rate. When we are experiencing more stress, the familiar issues have a way of intensifying. To...Learn More
Try These Psychological Tools
Do you know how to calm yourself naturally? We live in a fast-paced society and want quick results but the quick fix may not be that beneficial for you. I knew I was doing damage to myself when using substances, but somehow I forced myself to make a stand and fundamentally heal. To be honest, this was probably the greatest gift I ever gave to myself and I readily share what I have learned...Learn More
The Positives of Depression
When I graduated from the University of Santa Monica with my master’s degree in Counseling Psychology, the famous cancer surgeon Dr. Bernie Siegel was our graduate speaker. I still remember the speech vividly because he wished pain upon us all. In explaining this, Dr. Siegel stated that pain can be an incredible motivator. Our university taught us to see problems as a blessing for...Learn More
Managing a Crisis
When situations are too much to handle, it is natural to feel overwhelmed, shut down, panic, and regress to a childish state. If you ever have felt like this before you are not alone – one out of five people suffer from conditions that warrant serious treatment, but how many actually get the help they need? I worked at the first Mental Health Urgent Care center in this country, where...Learn More
Have You Avoided Therapy for Years?
Years ago I saw a billboard that said “We cater to dental chickens.” Did chickens have teeth? I was confused. I asked a friend, who laughed at me. Of course, this was in my substance use years, but as my mind cleared, all I did was laugh at myself. I was going to title this article, “Catering to Therapy Chickens,” but knowing my state of mind back then I decided to play it straight. If...Learn More
Obligation – Stay or Go
Are we so entrenched in societal rules that we’ve lost track of our own well-being? For many people, they have married a person because it was the correct thing to do. Then they will remain in the relationship because of the children, and will see the signs that their partner is abusive, but if they ended the relationship what would other people think? I ask people how long in the...Learn More
How to Obtain Mental Health
Obtaining mental health shouldn’t be a secret. Everyone should be entitled to experience peace, joy, laughter, hope, and love. Just because you may feel you had the perfect upbringing and the perfect life doesn’t guarantee happiness. Happiness takes work on a daily basis it is not simply given to you. Since the late 1800s the practice of Psychology has tried to assist people in living...Learn More