News and Insights

What is an addiction? An addiction is something that you are compelled to do and find it almost impossible to stop. I know this isn’t the clinical definition, but simply put this explains it. Not all addictions are bad. Addiction to exercise, a healthy diet, personal growth work, education, and helping out humanity are positive addictions. At the extreme, as in most things, even the great...

If you suffer from depression, it can be debilitating. No energy, no motivation, feeling helpless, hopeless, and worthless. Even when I was working with megastars in Malibu who was well known around the world, even they would feel this way. One day I was shocked when one told me, “I want what you have – your peace”. How do we get the peace we desire? How does energy come back? How does...

On May 1st, 2021 from 3:00 pm to 5:00 PM we are going to conduct an open discussion on the problems that confront you. Learn some innovative techniques, get some things off your chest, and get support from others that are on the call. This is a departure from the normal format Basic Steps Mental Health normally provides. On this day we go into the trenches with you, see what is going on in...

Years ago, I had the privilege of being in a comedy group that performed in some of the top clubs in Hollywood. We would take the negative expressions in society and create new positive twists on them. This morning I laughed thinking about March Madness, where the team I grew up with had an amazing win and of course “All Heaven broke loose!” Yes, I have been stung by the madness. It has shown...

The pandemic has wreaked havoc on our nation in many ways. Now the latest report is the devastation it has caused for our children. For a child to grow up normally, they need love and attention from their primary caregivers – usually their parents, they need to have fun, and they need their social needs met. Object Relations Theory states that all mental illness has its root in early childhood...

I am under the weather. Does the weather cast an evil spell, if so it got me. My body is a good guide to how I am treating myself and obviously, it is telling me to improve my efforts greatly. Oh, I kid myself believing that I get the exercise and proper diet each day, but deep down I know it is a lie. I love fast food and there are times I simply don’t work out. Now my lying to myself has...

Suicide. Not a pleasant subject but working in the Crisis field ten years ago and treating thousands that were suicidal makes me some kind of an expert, I guess. The facts are that if we don’t get a handle on depression, it can take you out. As a supervisor of interns, it is my job to help new therapists read the signs. Does the person have a desire to kill themselves, do they have a plan, is...

Basic Steps Mental Health is conducting another Zoom Meeting to help people get through the difficulties in their life through self-help tools. One in five people have problems that warrant serious treatment of which many cannot afford. We continue our series of free workshops to help people in our community learn self-help methods to counsel themselves through the difficulties they face. Many...

Rapunzel: “I’m afraid that my dream is going to come true tonight and then what?” Ryder: “Well that’s the good thing because when you achieve your dream you get to create a new one.” Here is some Disney wisdom to live by. Dreams are what make life so rich. Without you are faced with the same ol’ same ol’. Dreams, like goals, are essential because if you got into your car without a destination,...

When I graduated with my master’s degree at the University of Santa Monica, the famed surgeon Dr. Bernie Segal who wrote the book “Love, Medicine, and Miracles”, gave the commencement speech. He wished pain upon us all because with pain people are motivated to change. The same applies to anxiety. Anxiety is the mind’s way of getting our attention. Anxiety friend or foe? When you are in...