I remember the woman standing behind me, gently sobbing as I gave my deposition. I can’t recall a single detail of her face, but the sound of her anguish is as fresh as if it happened yesterday. The attorneys’ questions brought me back to the night, almost a year earlier, that my ambulance ...read more
When You’re Not, You’re Not
A lot of professional Facebook posts talk about what an individual or business does and why they do it better than everyone else. This one, however, is a bit different. I’m writing about what I don’t do as a therapist. Curious? Then read on… 1. I'm not Judge Judy. My role isn't to decide the ...read more
When “Addict” Becomes a Bad Word
“You’re an addict,” the rehab counselor says firmly as she locks eyes with her young client. “And what’s more, you will always be an addict for as long as you live.” Factually, her advice is correct. Addiction is a chronic disorder. But does labeling a person “addict” do more harm than ...read more
There’s Nothing Funny About SAD
It can come over you like a cold snap, when the outside takes on an icy stillness and colors seem to fade into gloomy greyscale. That’s how some describe the onset of seasonal affective disorder—SAD for short—which is a form of major depression that tends to kick in when seasons change, most ...read more
Do We Inadvertently Stigmatize Mental Health?
I recently read an article explaining different forms of “mental illness”. It described a myriad of conditions from schizophrenia, to major depression, to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD for short). My one concern was the author’s use of the word "illness". On the medical side, that term ...read more