Category: Psychotherapy Articles

Estimated: 2 minutes to read

Loving Bravely – Book Review

Posted:
Danielle Carlson, LMFT

Clients are often interested in ways that they can do their own self-awareness and relationship work outside of their weekly hour of therapy. A great way to do this is by reading books that help you explore your inner experience and the relationships in your life.

With that in mind, I am really excited to share with you all a book that I had the pleasure to help create with it’s author Dr. Alexandra Solomon. The book is Loving Bravely: 20 Lessons of Self-Discovery to Help You Get the Love You Want. Read more “Loving Bravely – Book Review”

Estimated: 1 minute to read

10 Things Happy Couples Do Differently

Posted:
Kent Julian

[soliloquy id=”6983″] Kent Julian is a professional speaker and business owner.  This slide show is an adaptation of his original post on his website, Live It Forward. Photo Credits: Photo 1 – A Smile Shared by Chi Tranter via Flickr CC CC BY 2.0 Photo 2 – couple by bambe1964 via Flickr CC BY-ND 2.0 Photo […] Read more “10 Things Happy Couples Do Differently”

Estimated: 5 minutes to read

Children in Polyamorous Families Part 3

Posted:
Eli Sheff, Ph.D., CASA, CSE

This is the third in a series of blogs on children in polyamorous families. The first looked at the age dependent experiences of children in polyamorous families and why they appear to be doing so well, and the second detailed the advantages and disadvantages these children identified in poly family life. Third in the series, this blog explains four strategies these kids use to deal with the disadvantages found in poly family life, including blending in, being careful who they told about their families, avoiding the issue completely, and negotiating with parents. Read more “Children in Polyamorous Families Part 3”

Estimated: 5 minutes to read

How to Establish Sexual Values

Posted:
Melissa Fritchle, LMFT

This post was published by Sexology International, and can be found here. When it comes to sex and sexuality, everyone has an opinion. Some affix their ideas to a personal or political agenda; others use convenient generalizations to further less noble pursuits—to encourage people to buy pretty French lingerie or pricey sports cars, for example. […] Read more “How to Establish Sexual Values”

Estimated: 7 minutes to read

Children in Polyamorous Families Part 2

Posted:
Eli Sheff, Ph.D., CASA, CSE

In the first part of this series on children in polyamorous families, I explained how these kids have age-dependent experiences and why they appear to be doing so well in general. This second blog in the series details the advantages and disadvantages that children report in my study of polyamorous families. Advantages Children and young […] Read more “Children in Polyamorous Families Part 2”

Estimated: 4 minutes to read

Assertive Communication 101: Finding Your Assertive Voice

Posted:
Morgan Concepcion, LCPC

I am passionate about interpersonal boundaries, and in order to have good boundaries, you need to tell others about them!  Assertive communication is crucial to being able to set, clarify, and defend your boundaries and their consequences in relationships.  I’m also motivated to write due to how many times I talk about this topic in therapy […] Read more “Assertive Communication 101: Finding Your Assertive Voice”

Estimated: 8 minutes to read

Children in Polyamorous Families Part 1

Posted:
Eli Sheff, Ph.D., CASA, CSE

Eli Sheff is considered a leading expert on polyamorous families with children. The following is the first in a series of five articles she wrote for Psychology Today about children in poly families. As public awareness of polyamorous families has risen over the past 20 years, so has concern over their impact on children. In order to […] Read more “Children in Polyamorous Families Part 1”

Estimated: 6 minutes to read

The Conflict with Conflict in Polyam Relationships

Posted:
Cindy Trawinski, Psy.D., Dipl. PW

Ever had conflict? Most people have had more conflict than they care to recall. Conflict is important to everyone and every relationship but when you are in a multi-partnered relationship good conflict skills become even more critical. On May 6, 2017, Rami Henrich, LCSW and I presented a workshop on applying the principle of deep […] Read more “The Conflict with Conflict in Polyam Relationships”

Estimated: 7 minutes to read

More to Love: Polyamory in the Real World

Posted:
Cindy Trawinski, Psy.D., Dipl. PW

On May 30, 2017, LifeWorks partner Rami Henrich, LCSW was part of an interview for Chicago Tonight which aired on Chicago’s PBS station WTTW regarding polyamorous relationships.  In the on air interview, Rami shares her experience of being in a polyamorous relationship for over 34 years.  She is joined in the interview by Caroline Kearns of Chicago Polyamory Connection […] Read more “More to Love: Polyamory in the Real World”

Estimated: 8 minutes to read

Shaming Methods in Popular Psychology

Posted:
David Bedrick, J.D., Dipl. PW

David Bedrick, J.D., Dipl. PW, is a speaker, counselor, attorney, and teacher.  He is the author of the acclaimed Talking Back to Dr. Phil: Alternatives to Mainstream Psychology and the forthcoming title Revisioning Activism: Bringing Depth, Dialogue, and Diversity to Individual and Social Change (Belly Song Press, 2017). The following article is posted with permission from David Bedrick, J.D., Dipl. PW. […] Read more “Shaming Methods in Popular Psychology”

Estimated: 6 minutes to read

What Basson’s Sexual Response Cycle Teaches Us About Sexuality

Posted:
Jo Flannery, AMFT, MA

The following article has been adapted from “Taking a Closer Look at Basson’s Model of the Sexual Response Cycle,” Jo Flannery’s article for Sexology International. It has been edited from its original format. To read the original article, click here. There is no one reason people choose to have sex. Rather, human beings become aroused […] Read more “What Basson’s Sexual Response Cycle Teaches Us About Sexuality”

Estimated: 9 minutes to read

How to Create Fulfilling Relationships After Experiences of Abuse

Posted:
Nyati Evers, MAPW

We are pleased to share this article by our friend and colleague, Niyati Evers, MAPW, and diplomate in Process Work. Niyati is a sex-positive therapist with Alchemy of Eros, a Portland, Oregon-based professional counseling services organization that seeks to create a welcoming, non-judgmental space where people can explore issues around relationships, intimacy, power, passion, desire, […] Read more “How to Create Fulfilling Relationships After Experiences of Abuse”

Estimated: 8 minutes to read

Anam Cara: Soul Lessons From Anxiety & Panic

Posted:
Elizabeth Duke, Psy.D.

There is a phrase in Gaelic, anam cara, which means “soul friend.” According to the Anam Cara Therapy Center in California, anam cara is: A teacher, companion or spiritual guide … where consciousness is dulled, distant or blind, its presence grows faint and vanishes. Therefore awareness which brings integration and healing, is one of the […] Read more “Anam Cara: Soul Lessons From Anxiety & Panic”

Estimated: 7 minutes to read

Interpersonal Boundaries: How Trauma Keeps Us Silent

Posted:
Morgan Concepcion, LCPC

What are personal boundaries? Personal boundaries are what separate us from other people and things and help us form a distinct identity. Boundaries help us protect ourselves. Boundaries help define what belongs to you and what belongs to someone else. Boundaries can define what is “ok” and what is “not ok.” Boundaries help others know […] Read more “Interpersonal Boundaries: How Trauma Keeps Us Silent”

Estimated: 1 minute to read

Connecting with Personal Power After Abuse, Trauma, or Marginalization

Posted:
Julie Diamond, Ph.D.

Why do some people abuse power while others don’t? That question is at the core of POWER: A USER’S GUIDE, the latest book by coach, facilitator, educator, and author Julie Diamond, Ph.D. As its title suggests, Power: A User’s Guide is a how-to manual for anybody—parent, boss, teacher, politician, social activist—for whom wielding authority justly […] Read more “Connecting with Personal Power After Abuse, Trauma, or Marginalization”

Estimated: 7 minutes to read

Refueling: A Guide for Self-Care

Posted:
Elizabeth Duke, Psy.D.

As a therapist, I focus on self-care a lot because I think it’s a vital life skill that no one really teaches us to do for ourselves.   Self-care allows us to have emotional energy to respond thoughtfully to life’s bumps and obstacles instead of reacting without awareness. That reservoir of emotional energy gives us […] Read more “Refueling: A Guide for Self-Care”

Estimated: 4 minutes to read

Caring in Uncertain Times

Posted:
Jacqueline Boyd

We are pleased to share this post by Jacqueline Boyd from The Care Plan.  Jacqueline is a tireless advocate for healthcare needs of the elderly and LGBTQ+ community providing guidance and planning for her clients.  by Jacqueline Boyd “How will changes to the Affordable Care Act affect my insurance coverage?” “Will my 85-year-old parent be […] Read more “Caring in Uncertain Times”

Estimated: 1 minute to read

How Therapists Can Keep from Misusing their Power

Posted:
Julie Diamond, Ph.D.

Why do we sometimes misuse power even when we know better?  That question is at the core of POWER: A USER’S GUIDE, the latest book by coach, facilitator, educator, and author Julie Diamond, Ph.D. In this video, Julie speaks with LifeWorks’ Cindy Trawinski about power dynamics in therapeutic relationships, as well as how therapists can […] Read more “How Therapists Can Keep from Misusing their Power”

Estimated: 1 minute to read

The Distinction between Personal and Positional Power

Posted:
Julie Diamond, Ph.D.

Why is learning about “personal” versus “positional” power so important? That question is at the core of POWER: A USER’S GUIDE, the latest book by coach, facilitator, educator, and author Julie Diamond, Ph.D. As its title suggests, Power: A User’s Guide is a how-to manual for anybody—parent, boss, teacher, politician, social activist—for whom wielding authority […] Read more “The Distinction between Personal and Positional Power”