Diane Martori, LCSW

10/19/2022

Finally back in office! It’s been two and a half years since I’ve seen clients in person and I’m so happy to offer sessions IRL once again. Come see me Wednesdays in midtown!

03/04/2022

Feeling helpless has been a major theme in sessions lately. When the world seems to be on fire and there’s only so much we can do, how do we reconcile this helpless feeling? Here are some things that clients and I have discussed this week:

*We can be informed AND have boundaries around our media consumption.

*We can help where we can AND we can rest and restore.

*We can be where we are. We can make impacts in our communities, within our groups, or even with strangers. We may never know the ripple effects that our actions have on the world.

*We can manage our minds. We can choose thoughts that foster compassion. We can choose emotional expressions that are creative. We can practice mindfulness or meditation so that our minds may be more focused and still.

*We can pray, practice Metta, perform a ritual, dedicate a yoga practice. We can channel our energy to those who are suffering. We can offer the power of our words in saying “may all beings be happy and free.”

10/06/2021

Our stories about ourselves, others, and the world are a reflection of who we are in this moment - all of our thoughts, experiences, choices, and circumstances that have led us to be who we are right now. Discovering our stories allows us to discover ourselves and choose if that is, in fact, who we want to be.

01/31/2021

If you’re looking for your next good book this snow-stormy week, these are some of my favorite recent reads!

Focusing by Eugene T. Gendlin, PhD, explains the simple steps behind the focusing technique which allow us to tap into greater self-awareness and change the way thoughts and emotions are held within the body.

The Body Is Not An Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love by Sonya Renee Taylor “offers radical self-love as the balm to heal the wounds” that result from systems of oppression which seek to divide ourselves from our bodies and others.

The Wild Edge of Sorrow by Francis Weller provides poetic guidance for how to navigate loss and sorrow as we grieve so that we may find healing and peace.

Self Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself by Kristin Neff gives us practical exercises and insights on how to move away from self-criticism and toward self-understanding.

Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find-and Keep-Love by Amir Levine and Rachel S.F. Heller dives into Attachment Theory with clarity and ease. Using this framework allows us to better understand ourselves and our needs in relationships.

12/16/2020

Being and doing are different states. The goal is to shift easily between them rather than getting stuck in one or the other. In “doing” mode, we are in the past or future, in short term survival, running on autopilot, reactionary. In “being” mode, we are present, seeing the long term view, intentional, creative, and responsive.

12/09/2020

11/23/2020

Research shows that gratitude has many physical and psychological benefits. Having a regular gratitude practice can lead to improved sleep, increased self-esteem, reduced stress, better relationships, and greater resilience.

Some ideas to get started:
*Daily journaling of 3 things you feel grateful for.
*A gratitude jar: write down something you’re grateful for on a slip of paper and put one in the jar each day.
*Keep a rock or other small object in your pocket and name one thing you’re grateful for each time you touch it.
*Use your senses - name one thing you’re grateful for that you can see, hear, touch, taste and smell.
*Write a note of gratitude to someone you love.

Remember to pause for a few moments to allow the feeling of gratitude to fill your heart and mind! 🙏

11/02/2020

As we go into this week, remember: you and you alone have the power over your thoughts, your attitude, your mind

10/26/2020

10/26/2020

Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

10/26/2020

Starting a new journey! Thankful to all those who made this possible. Thankful to all of you who are following along.