Each January, LifeWorks welcomes a cohort of graduate therapists into its Green House training program. These therapists spend 12 months on staff at LifeWorks, work with clients and focus on: Developing cultural competence and knowledge related to LGB, trans and genderqueer, non-monogamy and kink/BDSM Strengthening their identities as therapists and learning how to use their unique strengths in clinical relationships […] Read more “Welcome Green House Cohort 5!”
Tag: Identity
Podcasts & Blogs
This month’s Staff Favorites will feature a collection of blogs and podcasts that we follow that have inspired or transformed us in some way. Some of these podcasts are specific to therapy and mental health, while others are simply about being human and living in the world. As always, we look forward to hearing what […] Read more “Podcasts & Blogs”
New Leadership at LifeWorks
LifeWorks is proud to announce that Elizabeth (Betsy) Duke, Psy.D. has stepped into the role of Clinical Director and Danielle Carlson, LMFT, has taken on the role of Director of Training. We are super excited by the changes happening at LifeWorks. Betsy and Danielle are both highly competent clinicians who have been working with the LGBTQIA+, non-monogamy and kink/BDSM communities […] Read more “New Leadership at LifeWorks”
Becoming the Gateway
LifeWorks therapist, Brandon Haydon, submitted this quote from #virginiarosenberg for our reflection and yours. “Presence is a practice. At times, the work of presence is so deeply uncomfortable. And then there are these moments, these cellular sighs of relief, when we quit resistance. We exit fight/flight/freeze, and simply belong to the time we’re inhabiting. In […] Read more “Becoming the Gateway”
Constructing a Queer Life: On the Choice to Parent, or Be Child-Free
Many people grow up following a cultural life script: you go to school, get a job, marry your one true love and start a family. Happily Ever After! At least, that’s a common scenario many cultures, based on heteronormativity, have historically supported. But as many of us grow up, we realize that that version of […] Read more “Constructing a Queer Life: On the Choice to Parent, or Be Child-Free”
Polar Bear Nature
This morning, just like every other morning, I was out walking. But this morning it was a frigid 5 degrees, a temperature I long for all year. I know, for some, this is absolutely crazy! But for me, nothing makes me feel more, alive, more vital, one with nature. I absolutely love the feeling of […] Read more “Polar Bear Nature”
Winter Solstice: Knowing Yourself Through The Night
Happy Winter Solstice everyone! This centuries old celebration is one of the most meaningful days of the year to me. Ever since I was a small child, the inky nights of winter held a certain kind of spooky magic that enthralled me. Starting with the Fall Equinox, our literal time in light begins to decrease, […] Read more “Winter Solstice: Knowing Yourself Through The Night”
When We Go Inside Ourselves And Stay — Finding Still Center
Lisa Marks is a colleague and Process Work Diplomat who spends half her year in the Pacific Northwest and half the year in the upper Midwest. Where ever she is, she is strongly aligned with the environment and natural world — both within and without. We are pleased to re-post this essay at this time of […] Read more “When We Go Inside Ourselves And Stay — Finding Still Center”
How to React After Accidentally Misgendering Someone
This article was originally published in 2014 through the Q Center in Portland, OR. We are delighted to share it with you. Being misgendered can create an uncomfortable, embarrassing and even unsafe situation for many trans* individuals. There’s no doubt that when working toward creating or contributing to safer, more accessible spaces and services for […] Read more “How to React After Accidentally Misgendering Someone”
Children in Polyamorous Families, Part 4
In this fourth part of the series on children in polyamorous families I offer a sneak peek into my preliminary findings from my ongoing research on poly families with kids. Read more “Children in Polyamorous Families, Part 4”
More to Love: Polyamory in the Real World
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”
Interpersonal Boundaries: How Trauma Keeps Us Silent
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”
Your Best Friend Tells You They Are Kinky
So, your best friend tells you they are kinky and/or they practice BDSM (Bondage and Discipline [BD], Dominance and Submission [Ds], Sadism and Masochism [SM]). Whether it is your best friend, a sibling, parent, or child, you may want to be an ally, but simply don’t know what to do or say. Before you go […] Read more “Your Best Friend Tells You They Are Kinky”
Take Heart, Heroes
We vote with every moment, With every choice. With our attitudes we elect our reality and the world we yearn to share. We long for heroes to hold our hope and express our power, Our rage, our pain, our kindness, To make our struggle righteous, To champion our smallness. Yet, We are never larger than […] Read more “Take Heart, Heroes”
Finding Possibility
Umair Haque is a thought leader, consultant and author whose personal journey from the achievement and trappings of success to a devastating fatal diagnosis and beyond helped him find peace, happiness and a passion to give to others. Here is an excerpt from one of his reflections called The Sky in Us: Holding Possibility, an argument […] Read more “Finding Possibility”
Bad Dreams Have Meaning
In honor of the season, we are looking at things that scare or frighten us and why that is. Our colleague and process worker, David Bedrick, helps us understand how inner critics sometimes appear in bad dreams and how we can make use of the messages they bring. The following article originally appeared in Psychology […] Read more “Bad Dreams Have Meaning”
Winning the Battle with Inner Criticism
An inner critic can be thought of as an aspect of ourselves that holds the criticisms, disapproval, injunctions and complaints that we have internalized over time. When our inner critic is active, we get low and feel “less than”. Sometimes the voice of the inner critic is so convincing that we jump to the conclusion […] Read more “Winning the Battle with Inner Criticism”
8 Ways to Take Action Against Islamophobia
Prejudice, stereotyping, bias—however we understand these tendencies and attitudes, we can learn to identify, confront, wrestle with, accept, and change them within ourselves. Sometimes, however, doing so is possible only with great difficulty. Discrimination takes many forms, including harassment, bullying, hate speech, and scapegoating. Such behaviors put others at risk, cause harm and—at times—may even […] Read more “8 Ways to Take Action Against Islamophobia”
How To Be a LGBT Ally
This post originally appeared on the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) blog on October 5, 2105, in advance of National Coming Out Day. It was written by Hayley Miller, Senior Digital Media Associate. We think it contains valuable information for anyone wanting to become more affirming and supportive to LGBT friends and family members. For a […] Read more “How To Be a LGBT Ally”
The Long Haul
The following is an excerpt from a recently published article by Rami Henrich, that can be found in Elizabeth Sheff’s book, Stories from the Polycule: Real Life in Polyamorous Families. The first of its kind, this anthology collects stories and essays written by and about real people living in “polycules”: the networks between people in […] Read more “The Long Haul”