Talking to your aging parents about the physical and mental losses they are experiencing is not easy. This is often because your parents are used to being "the parent" in the relationship, and you are used to being the child. … [Read more...] about Switching roles: When elderly parents become dependent
Burnout: Overcommitted and overwhelmed
On occasion, a client will arrive at my office feeling completely overwhelmed. Together, we work to address this feeling as our first task so that the person can move to a place of calm. … [Read more...] about Burnout: Overcommitted and overwhelmed
When you know cocaine is a problem
I have had clients tell me that they have a problem with cocaine, but that they don’t have a problem with alcohol. They also tell me they would never use cocaine when they are sober, but that it is the alcohol that alters their judgement and so they only use cocaine when they drink. It is important … [Read more...] about When you know cocaine is a problem
Burnout: How to begin short-term medical leave
The process is pretty straight forward. New clients often arrive at my office in burnout. Sometimes I suggest they take short-term medical leave because they are so exhausted. Sometimes that leave lasts more than 12 weeks and transitions to long-term medical leave. … [Read more...] about Burnout: How to begin short-term medical leave
Burnout: What to do on short-term medical leave
Short-term medical leave can help you get back on your feet when you are exhausted, but only if you do what you need to do. Several of the clients I work with in my private practice as a psychologist take short-term medical leave from work because of burnout. Taking medical leave is sometimes … [Read more...] about Burnout: What to do on short-term medical leave
Fight, flight, attachment cry, freeze or submit: Adult responses to childhood trauma
Understand why you behave the way you do. A significant number of the clients I work with as a psychologist experienced developmental trauma, which means neglect, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, and/or physical abuse as children. In many cases, they were born into families where their parents did … [Read more...] about Fight, flight, attachment cry, freeze or submit: Adult responses to childhood trauma
Burnout: Not taking vacation
I often meet with people in my private practice that are experiencing burnout, but that cannot give themselves permission to take a vacation from their job to rest. … [Read more...] about Burnout: Not taking vacation
Burnout: Stigma of taking medical leave
Going on leave may harm your career in the short run. I often work with clients in my private practice as a psychologist that are experiencing burnout. Sometimes it is appropriate for these clients to take a medical leave -- also called disability leave or stress leave -- from their jobs so they … [Read more...] about Burnout: Stigma of taking medical leave
It’s painful when a pet dies
The experience of having a pet die can be difficult. When the death is anticipated, it is typically accompanied by grief during the lead up to the death. When the death it is sudden, the shock can feel overwhelming. Both anticipated and sudden deaths involve grief, which is most intense initially, … [Read more...] about It’s painful when a pet dies
Burnout: Learning from difficult experiences
I seldom have clients tell me that they learned valuable life lessons when things were going well. However, I have had many people tell me that they figured things out, and learned a lot about themselves and their values, when they went through a difficult period. This is often the case with clients … [Read more...] about Burnout: Learning from difficult experiences