When Dr. Jim Hopper, Ph.D. associate teacher at Harvard Medical School and recognized expert on psychological trauma speaks of differential encoding during traumatic experiences, he confirms –like countless other experts in the field of trauma– what Dr. Christine Blasey Ford courageously attested in her testimony. The aspects of the alleged [at the day of this … Continued
I love this video! In less than 25 minutes we learn how millions of years of evolution have created our elegantly designed nervous system which permits us, along with our other mammalian friends, to discharge our excess stress and pain, if we let it. Witnessing how Ray, this courageous Marine profoundly afflicted by PTSD begins … Continued
When was the last time you looked deeply into the eyes of someone you care about, someone you cherish, someone you date… your lover – partner – husband – wife? What would it be like to treat yourself to such an intimate experience? Who comes to mind when you think of doing this simple exercise? … Continued
Couples who are secure together intrinsically know that they can both depend on each other. Such couples thrive because they know their partner has their back. They are not trapped in the false mindset promoting total independence from each other, a belief that is rooted in the fear of being co-dependent on each other. They … Continued
Healthy stress forces us to overcome challenges that can help better our lives: going back to school for a career we want; putting ourselves on the frontline when part of us would rather sit in the bleachers instead of risking falling on our knees; interviewing for a dream job or an acting role we really … Continued
How many times have we heard or told ourselves that because something happened a long time ago we should be over it, or not be affected by it? If you are like most people, you might be experiencing embarrassment, guilt, or worse shame for still being troubled by events which happened long ago. While the feelings … Continued
When partners physically acknowledge their significant other throughout the day —especially when they leave and reunite with each other— their relationship benefits a lot. It is through physical proximity, touch, eye gazing, relaxed facial expressions, smiling, the reassuring and comforting prosody of our partner’s voice that we know, from an internal experience, that we are … Continued
Many of the conflicts couples face are rooted in the experience of not being valued, cared for, and loved. This leaves partners not feeling secure in their relationship. As loving as our actions may be, if our partner does not experience them us as such, overtime s/he will be –to use Gary Chapman’s language– left … Continued
Hello Dear Psychotherapist Colleagues, Last year, I heard a lot of my colleagues talk about the power of Brainspotting. While tentatively curious, I asked a certified Brainspotting colleague to do a session with her. The depth of the work convinced me that Brainspotting allowed for very deep subcortical work –where traumas are held and deep long lasting healing takes … Continued
Here is a concept that could help set a positive tone for this coming year, and make it a much better one for you and your loved ones. Dr. Rick Hanson, Ph.D., author of the book “Hardwiring Happiness” teaches us about the neurological structures of our brains so that we can increase the quality of … Continued