<a href="https://www.thoughtsfromatherapist.com" target="_self" rel="home" aria-current="page">Thoughts from a Therapist

The Dialectic of Courage

March 28, 2025

Courage exists on a spectrum and requires balance, as both underdevelopment and overdevelopment can lead to issues. It is a crucial emotional capacity that influences actions in response to fear. The challenge lies in deciding when to act courageously or heed fear, depending on individual responsibilities and the potential consequences of those choices.
Analysis vs Observation

March 27, 2025

This post contrasts sensation analysis with simple observation. Analysis categorizes and deducts, often distancing us from direct experience. In contrast, observation focuses on present sensations without interpretation, enhancing immediacy and allowing feelings to exist without justification. This shift can reduce reactivity and clarify experiential understanding beyond academic reasoning.
Interventions in Relational Counseling

March 26, 2025

Relational therapy utilizes various acronym-based models to guide therapists. It emphasizes the importance of integrating different theoretical approaches for effective interventions, highlighting key intervention styles, including behavioral, pragmatic, structural, and more. These styles collectively support system needs and adaptability, allowing therapists to fluidly adapt techniques based on clients’ evolving dynamics.
Anxiety as a Signal of Misalignment

March 25, 2025

Existential anxiety signals misalignment between our lives and core values. Rather than aiming to eliminate it, we should interpret anxiety as a message indicating areas where change is needed. By acknowledging it, we can address disconnection and seek environments that align with our true selves, allowing for fulfillment and integrity.
Can Democracy Survive Without Truth?

March 13, 2025

Title: The Truth & Accountability Oath: A New Standard for Presidential Candidates Introduction: Can Democracy Survive Without Truth? The time to address this pressing issue is now. This post will engage in the Dialectic found between our desire to control misinformation and to protect free speech. There is tension, and we must be brave enough…
The ‘List’ – Goal creation in couples counseling

June 18, 2019

The content discusses challenges couples face in therapy regarding task delegation and list-making. It highlights how differing perceptions of responsibility can lead to burnout and resentment. The distinction between list addiction and task completion is crucial, affecting goal-setting in therapy. Interventions vary based on individuals’ relationships with responsibilities.
“Control Yourself!” Who is being asked to control who?

May 16, 2019

The post discusses the complex relationship between community, cultural expectations, and personal control over emotions and behavior. It highlights how control is often an illusion, as individuals struggle to manage their responses to external stimuli. It also explores spiritual insights on identity and the paradox of trying to control suffering, advocating for acceptance instead.
Teenagers and Anxiety

October 1, 2018

This post discusses anxiety in teenagers, characterizing it as psychological fear tied to self-concept and future uncertainties. Solutions include mindfulness, fostering intimate communication, and setting concrete goals, all of which can alleviate anxiety and promote emotional growth. The post emphasizes understanding the unique challenges teens face during development.