We spend so much time trying to fit ourselves into a warped, sociocultural reality that it’s no wonder we have such high levels of depression and anxiety. We are born into families that nonverbally require us to fit in and we are conditioned by them in order to do so. Then we go to schools that require

I, like many women and nonbinary folx, keep thinking about Kamala Harris telling Vice President Mike Pence, “I’m speaking,” when he interrupted her during the recent vice-presidential debate. “I’m speaking” is a full sentence and

Outright refusing to denounce White supremacy can be likened to emotional neglect. In short, emotional neglect can be understood as a parent/caregiver’s failing to see and hear (and attunement at a deeper level, through empathic resonance)

In general, if you’re looking for self-care techniques due to political stress, I want to remind you it’s the business model of all media outlets – mainstream, alternative, independent, social media, whatever – to generate clicks and views.

How do ritual and ceremony relate to psychotherapy? Well, psychotherapy too, has aspects of both ritual and ceremony. In terms of ritual, the practices and applications are passed down from generations of practitioners and there is an initiation. The theoretical orientation of clinicians determines

Sex therapy isn’t just about sex – it’s about expression and pleasure and communication. Yes, I’ve worked with people experiencing vaginismus, erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, delayed ejaculation, hypo- and hyperarousal (to name a few), but ultimately what I care about is connecting the body and mind.

As an aside, everything from casual hook-up sex to committed monogamous has room for communication as a way to increase safety, pleasure, and fun. Pleasure and anxiety cannot coexist so remember when you are playing, if anxiety is up, voice it to your partner(s)

Lack of honesty and lack of connection (true connection and acknowledgment) of one’s desires can be traced back to a yearning to stay safe, to protect the constructed self.

How do you identify your boundaries? A good clue comes from feelings. Are you uncomfortable, resentful, stressed, anxious, or fearful? All signs that perhaps your boundaries have been crossed. When boundaries are set and adhered to,

Spending time alone is challenging for many people because it’s not a skill we are taught and there’s pressure in society to not be alone. Restaurants have tables for two, wedding invitations ask if you’re bringing a plus one, and for single folx, a recurring question is, “Are you dating anyone?”

This pandemic is giving us the opportunity to have that emotional revolution because there’s a shared vulnerability. Everyone is impacted by COVID-19 so it’s an easy question to ask someone, “How are you doing?” and encourage an authentic response.

Focusing is subtle and intricate. It has been applied widely in the fields of psychology, medicine, education, conflict resolution, parenting, and decision-making. Perhaps if Focusing was applied to politics, we would see some much-needed improvements in the U.S. in particular.

Mindfulness is a practice that can be applied to many areas of life, arguably all, from sex to driving, to washing the dishes to walking, and yes, even and especially, to eating. Mindfulness is the awareness that arises from

Perhaps I should back up and make sure we are all on the same page regarding sex and gender. Sex is biological. It is vulva. It is penis. It is scrotum. It is uterus. It is anatomy, the reproductive system and the secondary characteristics. Gender is expression of femaleness and maleness and everything in between.

You know you are embodied when you feel that pit in your stomach that says, “Stay away!” or “Move closer!” to a particular person, event ,or situation. While you have to be embodied to receive that message, whether you consciously listen

I’d like to talk about ecstatic dance, which should perhaps be called enstatic dance instead. Continue reading to find out why. First off, what does ecstasy mean? From a research standpoint, not much exists on the philosophical state of ecstasy.

When I think about the pandemic from the perspective of a marathon, it’s absolutely crucial that anyone in a healing/helping profession paces themselves, that they take breaks, and also that they say no. I’m here for the long run (literally), running a long race

In my work as a psychologist, I notice traditional talk therapy can be an intellectualized process, meaning the body isn’t involved much. When it comes to the unconscious, it’s much harder to access via the intellect although that can happen via free association, slips of the tongue, and dreamwork.

Historically, psychology as a field has heavily focused on the brain–and arguably, the mind as localized above the neckline–as being the way out in terms of psychological freedom. In the past, the field of psychology has overlooked the body and the role of spirituality.

Ultimately, when it comes to meeting in person again, there are multiple variables to keep in mind – the patient’s health, therapist’s health, state guidelines. These are not decisions to take lightly and will require multiple conversations with patients and other stakeholders.