On October 3, 2018, I’ll be opening a new office at 235 E. Ponce de Leon Avenue, Suite 108, Decatur, GA 30030. The main entrance is on Ponce de Leon; parking is in the back and is accessible off Sycamore, directly across from the Decatur Recreational Center. Looking forward to seeing you! Call 404.518.0828 for an appointment.
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Nurturing Happiness and Transforming Suffering
Happiness is a common goal! Suffering is something we want to avoid. Travel is one thing that makes me happy.
This was a feature article from “Journeys of the Spirit,” a group that plans trips all over the world. I went on one to Cambodia and one to Peru. Check them out. And enjoy this article by one of my favorite authors, Thich Nhat Hanh.
Practices for Nurturing Happiness
Looking for a Social Work career?
Have you every wondered what a Social Worker career looks like? Let me share some insights into my career path with you.
I am currently have three different clinical hats: a Consultant for the Georgia Department of Corrections at Lee Arrendale State Prison for Women where I work as a psychotherapist and trainer, a small business owner of a private practice located in downtown Decatur, GA, where I provide psychotherapy for adults, individually and as couples, and a supervisor for social workers who are working toward their clinical license. (more…)
Person-centered Therapy
Person-Centered Process: The Soul of Therapeutic Change
Therapists are professionally curious. We use our curiosity in Person-centered Therapy to explore the contradiction between the image we get through a client’s self-assessment of their problem and our experience of the person in front of us. Our goal is to know the whole person.
What is Mental Health?
What is Mental Health?
Many people ask me, “What is mental health?” This is a questionnaire that I use both to answer that question and to help clients set goals for their work with me. Someone who is considered mentally healthy is (more…)
Increase Your Happiness
Recently, I read Hardwired for Happiness by Rick Hanson, PhD. Since happiness is a key component to mental health, I think his tips can benefit us all.
He says when we feel included, appreciated, and cared about, we have a sense of ease, and feel cheerful and confidant. These feelings are attached to our three core needs for safety, satisfaction and connection. In order to meet those needs and attain peace, contentment, and love, we work to avoid harm, approach rewards, and attach to others.
Unfortunately, our brains are hardwired to go for the negative to help us survive. Focusing on the negative becomes a habit. So what do we do?
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How do I find a friend?
In group the other day, a member said, “How do I find a friend?” She was “desperate” for friends. As she shared her history, she admitted that she gets into a friendship, is used and abused, and leaves reluctantly, disappointed. The cycle happens over and over again. (more…)
Writing a Sympathy Card
Writing a sympathy card can be a very difficult task. I remember a time when I felt tongue-tied and was afraid to say the wrong thing. I worried over it so long that I didn’t send the card.
Later, when I was in an accident and out of work for a number of months, I realized the importance of cards! Each time I received a sympathy card, I felt connected to the sender. It felt so good to know that they thought of me and took time to write a note and/or purchase a card to send. I actually kept all the cards and go back to them periodically. I posted a couple of them on the bulletin board by my desk as a little reminder of the importance of connection and community, especially during times of loss. (more…)
Assertiveness
Assertiveness – What does it mean? When we’re asked to do something for or with someone, we respond. If we do it assertively, we directly express our positive and/or negative feelings in a way that communicates “I care about you and me.”.. (more…)
Broken Record Technique
The Broken Record Technique comes in handy when someone is trying to convince you to do something that you don’t want to do. Here are two examples of how it can be used. The first one just repeats your answer over and over again. The second example uses the Broken Record Technique of agreeing with the parts that are true, with the odds, and/or with the right to differ. (more…)