Jon Reeves

(As always, none of the characters depicted here are actual patients of mine. These examples are composites intended to illustrate common human and relational patterns.) Imagine two friends. The first friend (let’s call him Jack) goes to an event that he knows his other friend would have enjoyed, but for various reasons didn’t invite him. The second friend (let’s call him Fred) finds out through the grapevine that Jack went and didn’t invite him. Neither man understands what’s about to unfold...

Your mind evolved to take care of your body, not the other way around. Most of us live in reverse. We care for our bodies in pursuit of long, healthy lifespans. We train our bodies to support our athletic hobbies. When you feel down, a therapist like me might encourage “behavioral activation” (think going for a walk) as a way for your body to help your psyche feel better. But…what if all of this is backwards? Why Mental Health is Physical You’re familiar with evolutionary theory, and Darwin’s...

This analogy emerged in a session recently and I thought some folks might find it useful. And it's not just that relationships are as important as breathing (though perhaps they are). In the body there are voluntary functions and there are involuntary functions. Voluntary functions are those that we consciously choose to do, and involuntary functions are those we automatically do. Clapping your hands is voluntary. Your heartbeat is involuntary. Interestingly, there are some functions that...