When I was training to become a therapist, I knew that I did not want to work with children. I had a heart for the elderly and hurting adults, but I was afraid to work with children because I knew they would break my heart; I knew I would shed tears and perhaps not be…
If you were asked, “have you ever experienced anxiety?”, what would you say? “Yes, daily”, “Sometimes”, or “No, never”? The reality is that more people suffer from anxiety than are actually admitting. Unfortunately, anxiety can cause such confusion, that individuals feel trapped and unable to express their symptoms to others for fear of being judged…
I have lost count of how many people are terrified that I am going to think or determine that they are “crazy”. It became so frequent that I started to blame my job title. Many people think that only “crazy” people go see a therapist, or at the very least, only “people with something wrong…
By Benjamin Marr, M.A., M.B.C. Dedication I dedicate this article to my mother, who always encouraged me to use my assets, although they had their limitations due to my disabilities. She motivated me to use my remaining skills to develop my intellect to an even higher level, never to perceive myself as handicapped (“cap-in-hand”), but…
With the expansion of various technologies, there is an expansion of information. This information and who is passing it on can have an effect on the equilibrium of the self. Some content can be considered as inappropriate such as fake news which has a roll on effect on behaviour if not considered effectively. A good…
Standing up for yourself conversationally is needed in this day and age if faced with a person of a forceful manner. Invading peoples personal space with upfront aggression is over time a form of bullying. Bullying in a psychological way or a physical way can also cause harm. If you are in the position of being…
Engulfed by a Storm Those who have never been in a domestic violence situation are often perplexed as to how intelligent people become trapped and why they remain with someone who is abusive. In an effort to help provide clarity let us consider the dynamics of the following story: Imagine as if you are…
As a psychotherapist, I’m in the business of hearing how people, especially women, talk about their bodies using hateful and disparaging terms. They aren’t alone. I’ve done the same myself, and so I know how hard it can be to make peace with our imperfect bodies (are they ever anything else?) let alone feel loving…
As a psychotherapist, I often meet individuals, couples and families who at first describe the relationships that matter the most in their lives as ‘very close’, ‘tight’, and supportive. But later, after understanding the issues that brought them to my office, I view them more as insular systems that nurture – or even demand –…
Many kids, despite what they say, really enjoy school. They like seeing their friends, their teachers and learning. However, some kids are not as excited and even worried about going to school. Many of these kids have been bullied and they are afraid of being bullied again this year. October is National Bully Awareness month…