Alex Houseknecht, MA, TLLP

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Grand Rapids, MI
Alex Houseknecht, MA, TLLP

I am a therapist working in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and am an affiliate of River City Psychological Services. I am currently completing a Ph.D.

in Counseling Psychology at Western Michigan University.

08/03/2020

A reflection on the tension we can feel between the part of ourselves that wants to get better, and the part that seems to ruin everything.

Is it possible to be opposed, to be two things at the same time? I ask this question when I sit with others, though I’m sure it’s because my attention is drawn to my own internal landscape. Clients are often surprised when I pay so much respect to the ways they have sabotaged their lives. I ofte...

07/20/2020

This week I examine the unrelenting "force" of trauma. In my work with survivors and exploration of the literature, I am increasingly struck by the dis-integrating movement of traumatization. Is trauma simply a consequence of the perpetration of violence, or something that moves beyond any individual act of harm?

As I reflect on the phenomenon of trauma, I am continually struck by its appearance as a force, a dis-integrating movement through identity and relationships. Much like a shockwave, it is released and explodes outward, reverberating through individual lives and communities. In terms of semiotics, I....

07/14/2020

This month's Resource Spotlight is PGLAG, a grassroots organization with local chapters supporting LGBTQ+ individuals and their families.

Every month I highlight a helpful resource. PFLAG is a grassroots organization focused on supporting le***an, gay, bisexual, transgender, and q***r (LGBTQ+) people, their parents and families, and allies. There is a large network of chapters throughout the U.S., including one in the Holland/Lakeshor...

07/07/2020

In this week's post I argue that the loss of self is a significant aspect of therapeutic learning. Gaining insight is not solely a process of advancement, we always leave a construction of the self behind.

One aspect of therapeutic learning that can often go unnoticed is the loss of self that occurs in the process of change. I use the term “therapeutic learning” to reflect my growing understanding of the therapeutic process as a developmental process. In other words, the clinician focuses more on ...

06/17/2020

This is the second part of a three part series on sexual abuse and embodiment. Here I look more closely at the definition and function of embodiment.

This is the second of three posts on sexual abuse and embodiment. You can read the first post here. Embodiment is the act of moving inward, into the context of the body. In order to better understand how and why this might be realized, embodiment can be conceptualized as the process of recovery. Her...

06/08/2020

For this month's Resource Spotlight I recommend March, the graphic novel trilogy written by Congressman John Lewis. These graphic novels outline Lewis' involvement in the civil rights movement, and provide an essential historical backdrop for the protests occurring today.

Every month I highlight a helpful resource. The March trilogy is a series of graphic novels written by renowned civil rights activist Congressman John Lewis. March is an illustrated documentation of John Lewis’ experiences as a leader in the civil rights movement. These experiences are presented i...

06/02/2020

This month I'm sharing a brief, three-part series about sexual abuse and embodiment. This first post explores dehumanization and perversion, and provides a framework to better understand the significance of embodiment.

This is the first of three posts on sexual abuse and embodiment. Sexual abuse is fundamentally an act of oppression. The dynamics of sexual abuse are complex, but two concepts I will explore here include dehumanization and perversion. The interplay of these two constructs is significant in understan...

05/19/2020

In this week's post I briefly examine both the difficulties and reasons for identifying past abuse when engaging in the therapeutic process.

Many on the path of recovery are at this moment asking themselves an important question: “Was I abused?” The answer to this question might seem apparent. If you were abused, wouldn’t you know this from the moment it occurred? But this question ends up being far more difficult to address than w...

05/11/2020

Our Trans Loved Ones is a great, free resource for family and friends of folks who are transgender and gender expansive. This publication answers many common questions and provides tips for supporting trans people throughout all phases of life.

Every month I highlight a helpful resource. This month’s resource is the publication “Our Trans Loved Ones: Questions and Answers for Parents, Family, and Friends of People Who Are Transgender and Gender Expansive.” This publication is produced by PFLAG, which was founded in 1972 with “the s...

05/04/2020

This week I share a brief, personal story about an experience of shame and forgiveness.

A few years ago, I received a phone call from a dear friend who lived in a different area of the country. He left a message and, in a typical manner, I decided I would wait until a more convenient time to call him back. I reasoned that I was busy and would want to have space for a longer conversatio...

04/27/2020

Once a month I summarize a recent study that I think is interesting or important. This month, Black university women's understanding of sexual violence.

‘No One...Saves Black Girls’: Black University Women’s Understanding of Sexual Violence - Nelson O. O. Zounlome, Y. Joel Wong, Elyssa M. Klann, Jessica L. David, and Nat J. Stephens How do Students of Color at predominantly White institutions (PWIs) understand sexual violence* and campus sexua...

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http://www.alexhouseknecht.com/

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