Peter Wilkins, LCSW

What a great quote: "In a society that profits from your self-doubt, liking yourself is a rebellious act."

What are triggers? - Peter Wilkins, LCSW

https://peterbwilkins.com/what-are-triggers/?fbclid=IwAR0uF5HV6bdyEn-BIuoVUkLdAF-komd0XXrphSfHx_CTvmB_KVcuF-lHA8k

What are triggers? - Peter Wilkins, LCSW By now, you have probably heard (or used) the term “trigger” in casual conversation to refer to a certain type of experience. But what exactly is meant by this term? A basic definition is this: a trigger is any form of stimulus that evokes recall of a painful or traumatic event. Most of the time...

What are triggers? - Peter Wilkins, LCSW

My latest article looks at situations that create overwhelming emotional responses.

What are triggers? - Peter Wilkins, LCSW By now, you have probably heard (or used) the term “trigger” in casual conversation to refer to a certain type of experience. But what exactly is meant by this term? A basic definition is this: a trigger is any form of stimulus that evokes recall of a painful or traumatic event. Most of the time...

"I worked very hard to be perfect. Well, there's nothing more boring than being perfect and when you try to be perfect, you're a little disconnected from reality... Be free, everyone. Free yourself. Get free. It's so much more fun. It's so empowering. Don't try to be like other people." - Cloris Leachman (R.I.P.)

Self-care during COVID and beyond - Peter Wilkins, LCSW

My latest article, "Self-care during COVID and beyond."

Self-care during COVID and beyond - Peter Wilkins, LCSW During my career as an individual therapist in Dallas, TX, I have noticed that many of my clients have something in common: they are kind, caring people, but they are not always very good at caring for themselves. Part of the reason for this is because they believe they are not as deserving of care....

Home page - Peter Wilkins, LCSW

Check out the new website!

Home page - Peter Wilkins, LCSW Default page content.

Your relationship with yourself

My latest post is about the most important human relationship you will ever have.

Your relationship with yourself There is no denying the importance of human relationships when it comes to our mental well-being. Humans are social creatures, and as recent events have made clear, most of us are not good at self-isolation. Our need to interact with others is built into our DNA. We strive to maintain relationships....

If we suddenly found ourselves able to think only in strictly factual terms, we would all have to get used to long stretches of inner silence.

Shedding the false identity

If you've every wondered about the "real you," this might be of interest.

Shedding the false identity Way back in 2012, I wrote an article called Our Sense of Identity versus Who We Rally Are. In it, I propose the concept that we often confuse our identity with various roles or circumstances we inhabit for a time, none of which is our true self. Now, I want to expand on that idea, particularly in re...

Hi, everyone. I am pleased to announce I now accept Optum Insurance in my practice.

Flood Of Calls And Texts To Crisis Hotlines Reflects Americans' Rising Anxiety

This is consistent with what I've seen in my practice - a huge spike in both anxiety and sadness.

Flood Of Calls And Texts To Crisis Hotlines Reflects Americans' Rising Anxiety People are calling crisis hotlines in greater numbers, complaining of more complex struggles. What these lines are seeing offers a window into the emotional struggles Americans face.

How To Get Therapy When You Can't Leave The House

How To Get Therapy When You Can't Leave The House Taking care of your mental health during the coronavirus pandemic is important, and it's still possible to get therapy even when you're staying at home. This episode gives information on making online therapy a little easier, low-cost therapy and free mental health hotlines to get you the help you n...

Mindfulness: an introduction

Here's my latest:

Mindfulness: an introduction You have most likely encountered the term mindfulness in popular culture by now. A quick book search for mindfulness on Amazon.com generated more than 50,000 hits. Titles include Practicing Mindfulness, The Miracle of Mindfulness, Mindfulness in Plain English, Mindfulness for Dummies, and Zen as F*c...

Teletherapy is available! Social distancing doesn't have to mean social isolation. Stay connected via a secure online telehealth platform. Message me for details, or to schedule a free initial consultation.

"Social distancing" doesn't have to mean social isolation! Staying connected is especially important right now. If you or someone you know is struggling with anxiety or depression, I offer face-to-face video therapy via the online teletherapy platform, Doxy.me. Message me to set up a free initial consultation. And don't forget to wash your hands! 😉

www.nami.org

Hello, folks,
During these uncertain times, it is understandable that many people are experiencing a great deal of anxiety. The situation isn't helped by the amount of disinformation that is circulating on social media. Fortunately, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has released a comprehensive list of resources and information. I will post a link at the bottom of this post.
Also, like many other therapists, I am continuing to maintain regular sessions with clients via online teletherapy platforms that enable video sessions. The platform I am using is called Doxy, and there are several others as well. Until very recently, caregivers were not allowed to use Skype or FaceTime to interact with patients because neither of those platforms were considered compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). However, as of yesterday (Tuesday, March 17), the Department of Health and Human Services relaxed their guidelines in light of the current crisis, and healthcare providers are now allowed to programs like Skype and FaceTime to communicate with patients.
From the HSS website: "Under this Notice, covered health care providers may use popular applications that allow for video chats, including Apple FaceTime, Facebook Messenger video chat, Google Hangouts video, or Skype, to provide telehealth without risk that OCR might seek to impose a penalty for noncompliance with the HIPAA Rules related to the good faith provision of telehealth during the COVID-19 nationwide public health emergency. Providers are encouraged to notify patients that these third-party applications potentially introduce privacy risks, and providers should enable all available encryption and privacy modes when using such applications."
During this time of "social distancing," remaining socially connected is more important than ever. If you are experiencing anxiety about the COVID-19 pandemic, I urge you to reach out to family, friends, and healthcare professionals who are supportive and able to help. We are all in this together.
Here's the link to the NAMI resource: https://www.nami.org/getattachment/About-NAMI/NAMI-News/2020/NAMI-Updates-on-the-Coronavirus/COVID-19-Updated-Guide-1.pdf?lang=en-US

www.nami.org

What happens in therapy

If you've ever wondered about what goes on in the course of therapy, my latest article will give you the basic idea.

What happens in therapy People who come to therapy for the first time often aren’t quite sure what to expect from the process. They are curious and sometimes a bit anxious. Perhaps their knowledge of therapy comes from scenes in movies or on TV, which usually involves someone lying on a couch while a bespectacled therapi...

Changing Your Diet Can Help Tamp Down Depression, Boost Mood

Food for thought...yuk, yuk.

npr.org Depression symptoms dropped significantly in a group of young adults who ate a Mediterranean-style diet for three weeks. It's the latest study to show that food can influence mental health.

Hi, everyone. I'm happy to announce that I now accept Medicare in my practice. Here's to your good mental health!

Four Types of Grief Nobody Told You About

I come from a school of thought that holds that most therapy boils down to grief work. Here's a good article on four types of grief that might not be recognized as such.

psychologytoday.com And why it’s important that we call them grief.

Too good not to share.

The ego’s need to judge

Yet another blog post comes zipping off the press...
http://peterbwilkins.com/the-egos-need-to-judge

peterbwilkins.com For the last 2,500 years or so, prophets and sages have admonished us to refrain from judging others. Here’s what a few of them have said:

The Dreaming Moon, an Ebook by Peter Wilkins

What do therapists do in their time off? Well, in my case, I wrote a novel. Here it is.
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/799300

smashwords.com The Dreaming Moon is a story of adventure, spiritual awakening, and forbidden love on a distant world that held the secret of Earth's survival... or its destruction.

Hi everyone. I'm glad to announce that I now accept Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO and BCBS Medicare Advantage PPO in my practice.

I've talked to a lot of people who won't engage in anything fun unless there is a purpose behind it. They have been taught that fun is frivolous unless there is some higher purpose. But here is a competing belief to consider: the purpose of having fun is to have fun, and it doesn't require anything else. Fun is its own reward. So have fun.

Exiting the psychologically abusive relationship

Hello, everyone. Check out my newest post, which regards the process of getting out of a psychologically abusive relationship.
http://peterbwilkins.com/exiting-the-psychologically-abusive-relationship

peterbwilkins.com There are a lot of different problems people face that might compel them to seek the help of a therapist. Among the most common are depression, anxiety, substance abuse, grief, low self-esteem, and relationship issues, plus a few more. When it comes to relationship issues, one problem that is fairly...

Self-inflicted pain

At long last, a new post:
http://peterbwilkins.com/self-inflicted-pain

peterbwilkins.com During the time I worked as a therapist on a trauma unit of a psychiatric hospital in Dallas, I saw a fair number of patients who were “cutters.” These were individuals that would carve on their bodies with sharp objects from time to time. When I first encountered this behavior, I was completely mys...

On being mad at God

Hi, everyone. My latest post is about a problem that I frequently encounter in my practice. Check it out.

peterbwilkins.com Some years ago, I was called as a witness in a case involving the alleged sexual abuse of a 15-year-old girl. I had been providing individual therapy to the girl, who stated she had been sexually abused by her uncle. With the consent of the girl and her family, I agreed to testify and to submit my c…

A Commitment to Reality

Hello, everyone. I'm happy to report that my website is back online, thanks to my good friend, Scott Freshour. And to celebrate, here's a new(ish) blog.

peterbwilkins.com There is a semi-famous quote from M. Scott Peck, psychiatrist and author of the best-seller The Road Less Traveled, that goes like this: “Mental health is a commitment to reality at all costs.” That’s a pretty succinct little definition, and one worth thinking about. If it is true that mental health…

Shopping for a car

Okay, folks, let's try this again.

peterbwilkins.com During my time as a therapist, I have helped a lot of people deal with the pain they feel that comes from the ending of a serious relationship. Quite a few of my clients have gone through a breakup with their significant other not long after starting therapy. Needless to say, this is usu…

Shopping for a car

At long last, a new blog post.

peterbwilkins.com During my time as a therapist, I have helped a lot of people deal with the pain they feel that comes from the ending of a serious relationship. Quite a few of my clients have gone through a breakup with their significant other not long after starting therapy. Needless to say, this is usu…

It is difficult, if not impossible, to simplify something by adding to it. Simplicity is achieved by subtraction, not addition. So, if you would like to simplify your life (or your mind), you might begin by asking what you can get rid of.

Study Finds Majority Of Non-Shark-Related Fears Completely Unjustified

A bit of humor that also happens to be mostly true.

theonion.com ROCKVILLE, MD—A study released Tuesday by the National Institute for Mental Health confirmed that the vast majority of Americans’ anxieties and phobias have no logical grounding in reality, aside from those related to being attacked in open wa...

The importance of critical thinking

Hello, everyone. Check out my latest blog, which regards the importance of critical thinking. It's called "The importance of critical thinking," oddly enough.

peterbwilkins.com Most of us, in the course of our lives, have met a person or persons who will “believe anything you tell them.” These are people who are susceptible to hoaxes and scams, and they are often easy prey for con artists. We might describe them as gullible, or even stupid, if we are feeling unkind. Howeve...

Middle ground

Hello, everyone. My latest blog is about finding balance between extremes - something we could all use.

peterbwilkins.com