Welcome to a space where inquiry, exploration, and discussion are encouraged and accepted from individuals from all walks of life. My intention with this site and future publications is to create an inclusive, compassionate community where all individuals from both sides of the mental health system are embraced as equals with inherent wisdom to teach and learn from […]Read Post ›
The Color Technique “People generally see what they look for, and hear what they listen for.” ~ Harper Lee This psychotherapy group proved to be quite challenging, it was the last one on a Wednesday afternoon and the patients seemed particularly lethargic and speechless. Sensing the group’s mindset, I decided to use the color meditation technique […]Read Post ›
Establishing a Hearing Voices group in an allopathic hospital requires a clinician to have an open mind and be able to think outside the medical model.
The medical model temporarily assists the pained other in a spiritual crisis. However, what assists the pained other is for the clinician to be present. In order to be present and practice ethical social work the clinician must be in contact and integrate the shadow self.
Sticks and Stones Can Break Your Bones and so Can Words Any type of illness has a biological, experiential, and social facet attached to it. It is society that ascribes meaning to a particular ailment. Even though there are many grassroots movements and governmental entities stipulating the contrary, some diagnoses carry a stigma influencing policies all […]Read Post ›
The Myth of the Wounded Healer as an Archetype According to Greek mythology, Chiron had a very solemn upbringing. He was born out-of-wedlock and of lust. Repulsed by his appearance, his mother rejected his existence, and also he was abandoned by his immortal father,the Titan, Kronos. Due to the abandonment by both of his parents, […]Read Post ›
This is the first podcast for The Art of Presence.
“No one cares how much you know, until they know how much you care” ― Theodore Roosevelt Following the work of Carl Rogers’ Person Centered psychotherapy, Dr. Geller and Dr. Greenburg (2012) discuss the concept of presence in the therapeutic encounter as one of the greatest gifts one person can give to another. Even […]Read Post ›
John is too distraught and anxious. He is incapable of taking out the trash, sort out his laundry, even decide what to wear. Frantically, the only time he picks up the phone is to call his cousin and let her, miles away, guide him on how to do the mundane activities he was once able to do. Plagued by the […]Read Post ›
The Art of Presence in Mental Health 