This article is written for new therapists entering the field. In supervising interns on how to conduct therapy, I find that my first challenge is getting students out of the habit of following an agenda instead of simply being with the client, filled with hope. It can be viewed as helping them toss their education to the side and leading with their heart. Oh, they will know the correct...Learn More
While I was in graduate school and learning the Spiritual Psychology approach, we all knew that what we were being exposed to was something extra special. The fact that a portion of the students were flying in from all over the world to attend may have clued me in on this when I began the coursework. We would meet once a month for three days, practice the new skills we were learning from one...Learn More
In Graduate School we were taught to take care of our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs simultaneously in order for the change to stick. If we only focused on improving ourselves physically, for example, weight loss, then it will also impact the underlying mental and emotional levels causing us to be unstable and usually, we’d slide back into the same physical condition. This is...Learn More
Twenty-seven years in the industry and I am still learning that heart-centered listening is the best way to treat people. After thousands upon thousands of sessions, I often hear the same things, but I feel it is ultimately important to simply listen with a full heart.
I teach my interns how important it is to not fix people. If we were to do this, they would be dependent on us. When you help...Learn More
Listen to Dr. Scott Alpert’s Mental Health Minute HERE:
Compassionate Care is Always Available
There are many more tools and strategies you can use in your pursuit of happiness. Here is where we come in. Contact us at Basic Steps Mental Health and let us support and educate you on this journey back to your loving heart center. Imagine living a heart-centered life, regardless of what is...Learn More
Have you ever had thoughts that go around and around in your head? If so, get ready to learn some innovative tools to rid yourself of them. Repetitive thoughts are basically unprocessed issues that the mind wants to resolve. To resolve them, there are a few strategies that may be of great help.
There is nothing worse than trying to go to sleep and being tortured by what you did, what you...Learn More
Take the next few minutes to take the following mental health test. It will let you know how you are currently doing in your life. Please answer as honestly as you can. Now is not the time to lie to yourself.
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Physical Health
Energy Level
Level of Daily Exercise
Amount of Sleep
Diet
Positive...Learn More
I need to make a confession. This is an exciting time to be a therapist. I used to work at the first Mental Health Urgent Care center in the country and I am reminded of all the mayhem that went on there, with how busy our business has become. Yes, we are going through a time of epic change globally and how are you surviving?
It is easy to get caught up in making ourselves right and others...Learn More
According to Object Relations Therapy, all mental illness has its roots in early childhood experiences. If your family was dysfunctional, there are great odds that this was passed down to you. Do your relationships mirror the relationship your parents had? Do you fight? Do you avoid any confrontations? Is it important for you to be right? Do you have to be in control? Are you always...Learn More
Are you addicted to being right? Is it important for you to win? It is important to understand that when one person is right or wins, another person is wrong and loses. Having to be right and win all of the time is the downfall of meaningful relationships. We refer to these as Transactional relationships. In Transactional relationships failure is eminent.
Transactional Relationships
For many...Learn More