Called up to the Big Leagues

Good news. 51 weeks and 19 blogs after Being in Therapy started I got a lucky call from the Bigs - as far as the psychology mass-market goes. I submitted a pitch to Psychology Today to write this blog for their site, and their editor gave me the green light last week. So, I'm packing my bags at Blogger and pitching my tent at PT. With any luck, I'll use the opportunity to write consistently, get my book proposal together and move on toward publication in due time.

This blog played a big role. As part of my proposal, I sent a link to BIT and based on these writings they invited me into the fold. I'm grateful for this space, the readers and the comments (the ones that weren't solicitations). It's ironic that the week I decided to add consistency and structure to this blog, I was invited to PT. Ironic? Providential? The power of positive thinking? I don't have a clue. I'm just happy it happened.

So come on over and take a look. I have every intention of continuing my quest of empowering clients to get the most out of therapy. Just more frequently, to a larger audience.

Thanks for everything. Come pay me a visit.

Sincerely,

The Insighter

New Project

I'm taking on a project. I'd like to write a book helping clients get the most out of therapy. It will cover the same areas I've written about in this blog, and much more.

Understanding my own needs to stay motivated and make this a managable project, I'm going to attempt to write the draft here, in 52 (or so) weekly installments. Below I have a list of proposed topics; areas I've found important for a healthy, productive course of therapy. I plan to tackle one each week.

If there are any readers out there, please take a look at the list and let me know if there's anything you'd add or subtract. I'd appreciate it! Then, starting next week, I get rolling on this book.

Here's my proposed outline -

Intro: Keys to being in therapy

Preparation
Authenticity
Relationship
Risk

52 Chapters

Before Getting Started
Beginnings
Rules
Roles
Attitude
Resistance
Transference
Money
Symptoms
Resources
Liabilities
Core Issues
Family of Origin
Mom
Dad
Siblings
Friends
Lovers
Family of Choice
Self
Role Models
Heroes
Intimacy
Solitude
Creativity
Adaptability
Ritual
Habit
Organization
Affiliation
Communication
Authority
Motivation
Worst Day
Best Day
Regrets
Accomplishments
Body
Mind
Spirit
Soul
Emotions
Sad
Mad
Glad
Afraid
Love
Sex
Daydreams
Fantasies
Dreams
Endings

Therapist-Accomplice?

First, take a look at this article.

Then, if you're the brainy type, take a crack at this book.

I love it. From a human interest blog in Self Magazine to hardcore psychiatric discourse, the message is the same: human beings need to feel their emotions.

Of course, we don't want to. We use distractions and defenses and addictions to stay away from feeling the pain. And what happens if we don't let ourselves feel the pain? More problems - physical, relational, emotional, even occupational can result. Scroll down a few blogs - I wrote my thoughts on the importance of emotional release a few months ago.

But here's what really strikes me about the issues mentioned in the article and book: if the crime is the avoidance of emotion, the accomplice is my very own mental health profession. Psychiatrists, psychologists and other therapists who encounter significant emotion in their patients and jump to medicate the problem. As if emotion is the problem.

In the case of true depression, medication is a valuable tool to help regulate neurotransmitters, elevate mood and help the afflicted become more receptive to psychotherapy. In the case of "normal" grief, stress, sadness, anger, anxiety, excess energy, low energy, self-esteem issues, relationship issues, life changes, etc., medication serves only to mask, inhibit or postpone a natural emotional process.

It makes me wonder why this is. Are the drug companies so powerful and influential that mental health professionals have been brainwashed into prescribing an antidote to every uncomfortable feeling? Does society preach a sermon of "feel no pain" as a desirable and achievable goal? Or are my fellow therapists uncomfortable sitting with emotion, so they medicate it to make their job less stressful? Or is it something else?

Human Development

Here's a little something I found and thought I'd spread around:

AUTOBIOGRAPHY IN FIVE SHORT CHAPTERS
by Portia Nelson

I
I walk down the street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk I fall in. I am lost ... I am helpless. It isn't my fault. It takes me forever to find a way out.

II
I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I pretend I don't see it. I fall in again. I can't believe I am in the same place but, it isn't my fault. It still takes a long time to get out.

III
I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I see it is there. I still fall in ... it's a habit. my eyes are open I know where I am. It is my fault. I get out immediately.

IV
I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I walk around it.

V
I walk down another street.