Who has a streak or main aspect of Sensitive? That friend, coworker, or relation of yours who loves doing familiar things, is mortified when they make a minor faux pas, is cautious and thoughtful, usually controlled-seeming? The one who performs admirably when prepared and briefed, worries quite a bit, took a few months to share private thoughts? Later you discover...[ read more ]
I am a self-rediscovered fan of a book and system I again ran into. It was from my earliest psychology days and written by John Oldham, M.D. and Lois Morris: The New Personality Self-Portrait. The book is a straightforward, realistic way to look at the personality styles, strengths, and challenges of individuals, while not getting into pathological aspects. Looking at...[ read more ]
I became fascinated by the documentary Room 237 a few years ago. It is a collection of interpretive perspectives on the Stanley Kubrick film, The Shining, narrated by cinephiles who are obsessed with it. Now, I hesitated on this post… The family in The Shining are snowed into a remote hotel and bad things begin to happen. Maybe not a...[ read more ]
[audio mp3="https://claremontpsychdoc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Dawn-Mockingbird.mp3"][/audio] Things are not always sweetness and light. We should acknowledge that. However, then we are still left with what we are and therefore must do. I awoke to this. It just kept going and doing its thing. I noticed (after transferring the recording) that it had not stopped for hours. No insistence on rose-colored, or doom-pronouncing, lenses. No distractions....[ read more ]
This was with Business Talk Radio; the link below simply refers you to their website to have a listen... https://businesstalkradio1.com/?s=christopher+michael
OK, these are the times that keep us awake at night, if we're not busily trying to prep and maintain for the crisis about us lately. Also, sometimes we don't need a crisis like this one to make it hard to sleep. Sometimes it's just hard. Improving sleep will improve health, including mental health, and immunity. Many of you might...[ read more ]
This is for your curiosity and information and is also a list to which I can hold myself! The more of these you get in your therapy or counseling sessions, the better overall. 1. The counseling setting is secure, comforting, and not too distracting. This forms a safe, shared space for two cooperating minds, not a space in which the...[ read more ]
A paradox in counseling and therapy? Many people talk about mental health symptoms or life problems as things to be cut out, like surgery. “X medication works for Y. This manualized counseling / behavioral mod treatment works, too. Just follow procedures.” Brings to mind the phrase about unwanted behavior, “Just cut it out.” In my opinion that does not work...[ read more ]
Do you have a professional or non-professional job to do that involves helping others who have been through a lot? If so… Do you frequently want to call in sick or pray that you will not be needed? Find yourself exhausted? Does work frequently, mentally, and emotionally intrude even when you are several hours out of work? Even though you...[ read more ]
Note: this post was originally written and placed on another website platform long before the current crisis with COVID-19. It has a recent publication date due to my change to a new web platform near that time. Please read in psychological terms and with understanding for this timing. -Dr. M During a training on compassion fatigue, I had a great...[ read more ]