Recovery – The 12 Steps Of Spiritual Psychology
I started working at a 12 Step facility 32 years ago – trying to heal the world. I soon discovered that the approach wasn’t working. Too many clients were relapsing and returning to our facility, all saying they were going to do the program better this time. Was it them or was it the program? In graduate school, suddenly I was exposed to something different, more, “in the trenches,” where...Learn More
Treatment the Way You Always Wanted
At the end of each week, our clients talk about what they learned. This gives us good feedback and the opportunity to make changes. It’s also important to see things through the eyes of the customer. If you’ve been in the industry long enough, you realize that therapy isn’t a cookie-cutter approach. Clients are unique and bring into treatment the sum of their experiences. What works for me...Learn More
On Your Mark, Get Set, Go…
If you weren’t aware of it by now, you are the only person who is going to heal you. You might think that your parents, your partner, a friend, the government, your Higher Power, or even your therapist is going to heal you – but that isn’t true. The only person that has ultimate control is you and that is the person who has the ability to do so. We put so much faith in doctors, and doctors...Learn More
Relapse, The Honest Truth
The elite recovery facilities often boast of having a 97% success rates or higher. How can this be verified? If I advertised that we had such a high success rate, it would be a lie. Nationwide people new to recovery have a 60% relapse rate in the first year. What is important is for these people is to catch their slips quickly, learn from them, and keep on pushing forward. Why do people...Learn More
Teaching New Therapists
Since 2008, I have enjoyed teaching new therapists how to do therapy. In this article, I will share information on how to get over the initial hurdles in this industry to create the proper atmosphere to not only survive but thrive as a counselor. The elements of therapy I’ve found to be the most effective are easy to learn and are helpful to fall back on when you get overwhelmed. Trust me,...Learn More
Relationship 101
To be blunt, our relationships are in chaos because we’re in chaos. Since mental health has not been a priority in school, this is probably the reason so many relationships are suffering. Until people are taught the tools to keep their emotions in check, relationships will suffer. Not knowing the proper tools, instead of focusing on cooperation, couples focus on competition. Another problem...Learn More
The Big Issue
Visiting my best friend, he asked what the biggest issue in my life was. Not being used to taking on the role of the client was refreshing, and my answer surprised him – fear, I told him. Fear of my body, the pains, would I get over ailments, would I die. The other was fear of finances and preparing for retirement. Also, fears in my relationship – would unresolved issues remain or...Learn More
Creating a Strong Inner Foundation
We are only as strong as our emotional make-up. If it crumbles, we go into a crisis. For eleven years I worked at the first Mental Health Urgent Care Center, seeing over 7,000 people there, before moving up to this area to run a clinic. At the crisis center, problems, too difficult to deal with, caused problems ranging from manic episodes, psychosis, suicidal ideation, and above all –...Learn MoreAdvise for Budding Counselors
If you have chosen to be a counselor – fasten your seatbelt, because every issue you have ever had will be triggered. This is the good news, because as you process through the wounds of your past, it makes it easier to help others. And here is where we start – taking an honest look at yourself tops the list of the most important items to address when you are starting out in this field. You...Learn More