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Will My Therapist Tell Me What to Do?
You might come to therapy to make a decision. Fair enough. Lots of people do. This is a warning that it may not go the way you think. A lot of folks think that therapists are experts that help advise people on what they should do, perhaps because they’re experts in living (and unfortunately I think some therapists believe this about themselves). However, there are good reasons why good therapists usually don’t give advice. First, it’s much better for you to take responsibili
Oct 173 min read


Greedy Algorithms and Mental Health
Algorithms are useful, but choose the right ones. Greedy algorithms are problem-solving approaches that choose the most locally optimal...
Sep 173 min read


The Warm Glow of Relationships
Relationships are like campfires: They keep us warm, safe, and help us find our way. tl;dr: Relationships have many functions but also...
Jul 14 min read


Self-Compassion Won't Keep You Down
Self-Compassion Won't Keep You from Flying There’s a myth about self-compassion, and therapy generally, that it takes away your...
Apr 302 min read


How to Mentally Prepare for Wildfire Season
tl;dr: accept and grieve, connect, take action Winter recedes and summer rushes our way. This means longer days, warmer weather, hiking...
Mar 193 min read


Make Room for Positive "Climate" Emotions
Summer Weather in Washington - Great in August, Concerning in February It’s winter in Seattle. That means it’s been dark and drizzly,...
Mar 82 min read


Some Thoughts on How to Stop Comparing Yourself to Others in College
Comparison is a natural tendency, especially in college, where you’re surrounded by peers striving for success. You’re trying to figure...
Jan 232 min read


How to Make the Most of Your Winter Break: A Guide for College Students
College Campus Takes a Winter Snooze Winter break is a time for rest. A time for celebration. For recharging. How can you make the most...
Dec 12, 20242 min read


Election Stress Survival Guide
Election season can be stressful. This election season is absolutely nerve racking for many, as folks wait with bated breath and hope...
Nov 4, 20243 min read


Therapy Approaches: Are You Bailing Water or Rebuilding the Boat?
tl;dr: There are different ways of approaching therapy. Sometimes you need to manage week to week happenings, sometimes you have the...
Oct 29, 20242 min read


What is the Unconscious?
Psychologists like me talk about the unconscious often, but what is it? The unconscious is the part of our mind that operates outside of...
Feb 5, 20244 min read


The "Best" Isn't Always the Best
Introduction Most of my patients use something called "the internet." It's a wonderful resource, mostly of memes and pet videos, but it...
Jun 28, 20233 min read


Your Problem Doesn't Need to be "Big Enough" for Therapy
Some people think they need to be in crisis to go to therapy. But actually, there are good reasons why someone with more manageable issues might speak with a therapist.
Jan 6, 20232 min read


Action is not the Antidote to Climate Anxiety
Photo by Marc St. Gil. “ Atlas Chemical Company belches smoke across pasture land in foreground. The plant is referred to as "Old Darky"...
Sep 23, 20224 min read


The Sound of Therapy: Ep 4 (Final Episode!)
Well...as explained in the first episode, this podcast was an experiment. It turned out to be a quite short one! The conversations were fun and I enjoyed trying something new, but a podcaster I am not. There may be more episodes in the future if the urge strikes, but we're hanging up the microphones for now. I am so glad to have spent the final episode with Emily Wood (https://www.emilywoodcounseling.com/) , discussing attachment theory. She is a generous guest, I believe h
Jun 14, 20211 min read


The Sound of Therapy: Ep 3
Hey there! Episode three is (and has been) live wherever you get your podcast episodes. In this episode we discuss psychedelic-assisted therapy with Emma Knighton (https://unitywithincounseling.com/). If you prefer to listen on iTunes, here's the link . If you prefer Spotify, here's that link . And you can listen to it right here in this webpage. As always, I hope you find this useful!
Jun 14, 20211 min read


The Sound of Therapy: Ep 2
Hello! Episode two is now live wherever you get your podcast episodes. In this episode we discuss insight-oriented therapy with Kendra Kirsonis (https://www.kendrakirsonis.com/). If you prefer to listen on iTunes, here's the link . If you prefer Spotify, here's that link . As always, I hope you find this useful.
Jan 12, 20211 min read


The Sound of Therapy: Ep 1
A photographer, who spends many hours driving across the western US, once gave me some advice about audio books: "always listen to a...
Jan 4, 20211 min read


What to do When Your Therapist Dies
A note before starting: This article is addressed to the friends, family, and presumably therapy clients who have mourned, or will mourn,...
Oct 26, 20206 min read


Don’t Diagnose Your Mental Health (Or Your Partner’s) During a Pandemic
Let me offer a similar warning: do not give yourself a mental health diagnosis during a pandemic.
Apr 7, 20203 min read
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