Awareness-Oriented Psychotherapy and Psychodynamic Coaching

05/18/2023

The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change--Carl Rogers

05/16/2023

Positive psychology focuses on promoting positivity, self-empowerment, and encouraging us to embrace a more optimistic mindset., but sometimes, the pressure to be positive can be overwhelming.

We're all human, and it's completely normal to experience a range of emotions, including the not-so-pleasant ones. Constant expectations to suppress negative feelings can leave us feeling invalidated and guilty for not living up to the "positive" ideal.

Moreover, positive psychology might inadvertently dismiss or downplay the real challenges we face. Only by acknowledging and addressing our can we truly understand and resolve underlying issues.

It's okay to embrace a balanced perspective that acknowledges both the positive and negative aspects of life. It's okay to have bad days, feel negative emotions, and face challenges head-on. Embracing our full range of emotions and addressing the root causes of our struggles can lead to more authentic growth and resilience.

It's not about being positive all the time, but about finding a healthy balance that allows us to navigate life's highs and lows with awareness and self-compassion.

Combining the insight of psychoanalysis with the compassion of Buddhist psychology, I offer psychotherapy grounded in both reflection and presence.

05/06/2023

The great child psychologist Donald Winnicott often talked about the value of play for children and adults. According to Winnicott, play is a powerful tool for accessing our authentic, creative selves. When we play, we can tap into a less-defended part of our personality and connect with our true selves. In fact, Winnicott believed that therapy occurs in the overlap between the play areas of the patient and therapist.
Whether it's through creative activities like painting or drawing, taking an improv class, or just allowing yourself to be more playful in your daily interactions, experiment with giving yourself permission to play. Especially during difficult times, playfulness can help us access that part of our selves that connects to joy and wonder.

01/06/2023

It's not always easy when we are experiencing suffering, trauma, or anxiety, but sometimes focusing on giving others a positive experience can actually help us feel better ourselves

01/01/2023

What a wonderful idea! If you don't want to do a physical jar, consider keeping a note on your computer or phone and add to it each week...

Love this idea!
http://www.coupons4utah.com/

12/27/2022

What if you Could Free Yourself from New Year's Resolutions?

It’s that time of year again! People are starting to talk about their lofty goals and New Year’s resolutions. But the truth is, New Year’s resolutions can be stressful, aren´t always effective, and we may feel like failures if we can´t follow through.

Instead, Consider Choosing a Word of the Year.

Resolutions come and go, but what if we took the opportunity this year to address the real questions of our lives: What kind of life do I want to live? What kind of person do I want to be?

Choose a word that aligns with your intentions and goals. One that will inspire you every day all year long.

Your word can help guide and support you in making choices and help you focus on what matters most. Based on your word, you can ask yourself questions like: Should I say yes to this invitation? What should I do for vacation? How might I approach this conflict? Does this decision move me closer to the life I want to live or help me be the person I want to be?

Some Words you Might Consider:

Adventure
Discipline
Simplify
Creativity
Action
Connection
Movement
Health
Serenity
Flourish
Excitement
Fun
Gratitude
Grace

I´m still thinking about my Word. What about you? Have you chosen a word for 2023? Share it here if you like!

12/15/2022

A good reminder of how important it can be to step away and let other people solve their own problems (unless they specifically ask for help, and even then, only if we're comfortable with it)

To paraphrase Melody Beattie, taking care of other people’s problems and responsibilities can lead to exhaustion, frustration, and disempowerment for both parties. Even worse, we can then feel angry at the other person and sorry for ourselves.

12/12/2022

Yay for little wins!

10/31/2022

10/03/2022

Sending some your way today and every day.

08/06/2022

".. if we can let go of the idea of, My life was like that and I want to go back to that moment, I want to go back to that way, then we can live this present moment... and live it fully. This moment that’s brand new is all yours. No one is taking anything from you. There’s nothing missing; it’s brand new" Rebecca Li

As our world consistently changes, Rebecca Li explains how we can feel true freedom when we learn to live every moment as a new experience.