Do You Know the Reasons to Volunteer?
Why do we bother to volunteer? What’s the pay off? We ask lots of “what’s in it for me” questions in other areas of our life.
Insights into the Guts and Sweat of Emotional Triggers
You and your dear one are discussing what to prepare for dinner. Suddenly your heart races and your fists clench. You are ready to fight, run or collapse. Your dearest is now the enemy! YIKES! You are now in the depth of an emotional trigger! Most of have been there! Repeatedly, when people ask, “What […]
Book Summary: Building Resilience with Appreciative Inquiry
When I attended a presentation by leadership trainer and author, Joan McArthur-Blair, the room was packed. The audience members were primarily career counselors. McArthur-Blair is the co-author (along with Jeanie Cockell) of the book, Building Resilience with Appreciative Inquiry: A Leadership Journey through Hope, Despair, and Forgiveness. I was pleased to buy a copy of […]
You Demonstrate Courage Every Day in Many Ways
I propose that we, that includes you, demonstrate courage every day in many ways. The meaning of courage is to feel anxious or scared but take positive action anyway. It’s easy to see courage in action from our esteemed role models. Mother Teresa tirelessly worked in the slums of Calcutta. Nelson Mandela spent years in […]
12 Ways to Create Meaning from Painful Situations
As a therapist, I witness people whose lives have fallen apart or have become unbearable to continue as is. I often hear the simple but dreadfully difficult question to answer, “Why?” People naturally long to create meaning from their emotional pain. Resilience is called upon when we face tough situations. We want to bounce back, […]
Increased Self-Care Needed if You are a Stressed Mother
Consider this thought “I need to provide self-care to the mother of my children.” We do our family no favor when we become a stressed mother. Our children need us at our best. To do that, we need to treat ourselves as if we are deserving and cherished. Indeed, most of us are! Mothers, whether […]
Mind Your Stress! Are You Frantic, Frenzied or Simply Fried?
“Stress is nothing more than a socially acceptable form of mental illness.” Richard Carlson The kids were fighting. The phone was ringing. There was no time for breakfast. I was going to be late for work. I ran out the door with the kids, my coffee, and a headache. That scenario is an example of […]
How to Deliver Useful Information When Giving Feedback
Psychologist, Marg Wolf trained many helping professionals, including me. We were interns in the ten-week domestic violence prevention program called, You are Not Alone. Marg provided clear and helpful feedback that made the process easy, doable, repeatable and empowering. Indeed, her performance feedback improved our skill levels! Not once did I experience criticism. I experienced […]
How Do You Answer, “Are You a Feminist?”
Feminism has had a resurgence! No one asked Meghan Markle, now the Duchess of Sussex, “Are you a feminist?” She had made it clear long before saying “I do” to Prince Harry. On her own page on the Royal website is the line, “I am proud to be a woman and a feminist.” The Ups […]
How to Manage Stress from 30 Seconds to a Lifetime!
Stress is basically a disconnection from the earth, a forgetting of the breath. Stress is an ignorant state. It believes that everything is an emergency. Nothing is that important. Just lie down.” Natalie Goldberg Stress Research Not long ago stress researchers made a significant discovery. We can reduce our distress and age indicators by attending […]
How to Prepare for Workplace Mental Illness
Teresa said, “Patricia, I would love to read some of your work on dealing with employees who are controlling, easily agitated and off the wall! It seems like my co-worker wants to get even with me for nothing. She starts yelling even if I dare to identify areas that could easily be improved. What are […]
Do You Care Too Much? Avoid Compassion Fatigue and Burn-out
The expectation that we can be immersed in suffering and loss daily and not be touched by it, is as unrealistic as expecting to walk through water and not get wet. Rachel Naomi Remen As a therapist, as well as, sometimes, family caregiver of those with disabilities, there have been times I needed to be […]