East Bay Creative Therapy

11/26/2024

Below is a spiral relaxation exercise for coping with difficult emotions, adapted from Francine Shapiro. This is an interesting exercise to try when you’re struggling with some kind of hard feelings, such as frustration, shame, sadness, or anger.

Text from image: Envision the feeling as a spiral emanating out of your body. Then, identify whether the spiral is moving clockwise or counter-clockwise.

Once you have identified its direction, use your imagination to change the spiral to the opposite movement: clockwise to counter-clockwise, or vice versa.

Take a breath and notice if the emotion has shifted in any way.

10/29/2024

One of the ways I view the human psyche and work with clients of all ages is using IFS-informed parts work. This is an interesting NPR article that describes it well.

https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2024/10/25/nx-s1-5055753/parts-work-therapy-internal-family-systems-anxiety?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3-LKPjuvLF61R3Q-iDqMQeJo6jkACWsMyDMXXjOB-LXRSiqwTGP0uml6w_aem_qe46E7H1RvwF6w1tsy5UVA

'Parts work' or Internal Family Systems is a type of talk therapy that’s surged in popularity. Here’s how it works and how it can help with stress.

01/16/2024

I love this beautiful essay about the importance of an internalized sense of nurturance and loving acceptance, and how it can manifest in stuffed animals.

We publish articles around emotional education: calm, fulfilment, perspective and self-awareness. | On the Serious Role of Stuffed Animals — Read now