If you read last week's post, you know that sleep has been an "issue" for me lately. Generally speaking, exhaustion has been my constant companion. At first, I chalked this up to the aforementioned backsliding on sleep hygiene. But...in my heart I knew there was more to the story. There always is. There is a popular metaphor about the frog...[ read more ]
The best preachers deliver the messages they most need themselves :). That's the principle behind this week's post...on sleep. I've definitely fallen off the wagon in this area of life and so perhaps by writing about healthy sleep habits, I will jump-start my own process back to the land of nod. According to the CDC, more than a third of...[ read more ]
We parent as well as we were parented. That can be a comforting or frightening statement...depending on our history. I remember when I first gave birth, I was determined to do this thing "right". This is how I had been trained to approach everything for 20 years. Certainly, this task - the most important one I'd ever tackle - demanded...[ read more ]
It's like having an uninvited house guest who contributes nothing, eats everything in the kitchen, occasionally damages the furniture and won't leave despite all attempts to kick him out. Eventually, resignation sets in and you begin trying to figure out how you're going to work around this vermin over the long-term. A chronic illness diagnosis (cancer, diabetes, arthritis, to name...[ read more ]
Some of us get excited about the new year. We see it as a new chapter in our books: a blank page, a clean slate. Others are so sick of the "new year, new you" grandiosity that emerges this time of year. We cast cynical eyes at the bright-eyed hopefuls...mentally calculating how long it will take them to fall back...[ read more ]
One of the greatest joys I have in my work is the privilege of helping clients piece the parts of themselves back together after a lifetime of brokenness. Sometimes we find ourselves limping through relationships, work situations or family responsibilities. It is typically problems in these areas that bring people into counseling. For far too many, it doesn't take long...[ read more ]
Last week, we discussed expressive therapy. This week, I wanted to discuss a related modality - adventure therapy! This form of therapy is also active and experiential and utilizes a similar focus on process. Clients engage in fun activities like ropes courses, rock climbing, kayaking, etc., in the presence of the therapist. In expressive therapy, I explained that the product...[ read more ]
"Expressive therapies". Maybe you've heard the term - it has certainly appeared in Phenix content before. However, you may not have clarity on what that means. So what is it exactly? It is the use of creative arts as a form of therapy. This can include art, music, dance, drama, etc. Unlike the formal practice of art however, expressive therapy...[ read more ]
As the weather finally changes here in central Florida, I have been reveling in the cooler temperatures. Saturday night brought our first backyard fire of the season. We've opened the windows and turned off the AC for days now. Every morning, I sit on the back patio to drink my coffee. As this change in weather has brought about changes...[ read more ]
At lunch with a friend today, we discussed our various stressors and life issues. She paused and remarked that there was something we had not considered. She went on to explain that she had to believe the larger context of what is happening in society today was taking its toll on our mental and emotional health. Immediately, I believed she...[ read more ]
