How Are You?

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How Are You?

You probably ask or are asked a version of this question multiple times a day.  You probably respond with “good” and don’t think twice.

Someone recently asked me what the key to good mental health was – they guessed maybe healthy relationships, good genetics, or perhaps spirituality.  I did have to stop and think for a second but then my answer was “it all starts with your feelings”.  I believe that understanding your emotions is the key to good mental health.

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What is DBT?

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What is DBT?

DBT stands for Dialectical Behavior Therapy.  Dialectic means two opposites can both be true.  For example, if a loved one did something that was hurtful to you, you can be angry with them, maybe even hate them, and still love them.  Balancing two things helps keep us from experiencing emotions in extremes.  Sometimes this is as simple as changing “OR” into “AND”. Instead of being happy OR sad, we can be happy AND sad.  It’s hard to stay calm when you’re thinking in extremes, and dialectics allow us to stay balanced by noticing two truths at once. 

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5 Ways Men Can Especially Benefit From Therapy

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5 Ways Men Can Especially Benefit From Therapy

When I get emails or phone calls from men who want to start therapy with me, I get giddy. I really do! I am so grateful that we seem to be on the upswing as a country where overall, more men are seeking therapy now than ever before. The stigma around folks seeking mental health treatment, especially men, is slowly disappearing and I want to be a contributing factor in that trend. In order to support my current male clients, and encourage more men to seek help, I am writing today about what you can expect from high quality mental healthcare and why treatment is important.

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4 Steps To Being More Sex-Positive

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4 Steps To Being More Sex-Positive

Before I dive into this blog post, I need to say a few things. Sex is a loaded topic – different folks have different sexual practices, beliefs, experiences. And, this really isn’t something we often talk about at the dinner table, right? Talking about sex involves sensitivity, vulnerability, compassion, and kindness. It is important to read/listen with an open mind, without defensiveness or moral judgment, and with the goal of understanding instead of convincing someone to change their feelings or beliefs.

I am going to write today about what it means to be sex-positive, and some things you can try to become more sex-positive.

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What is Beginners Mind?

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What is Beginners Mind?

Beginners Mind is one of seven principles within Mindfulness meditation practice and the most important according to prominent Zen authors. The other six principles are Letting Go, Acceptance, Non-Judgement, Non-Striving, and Trust. I will interchange the terms “principles” and “practice” throughout the blog because principles are practiced and practice involves principles. 

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