With sufficient support, you can find your way through the toughest of times. When I was in graduate school to become a clinical psychologist, I had the privilege to be mentored by Mary Kay, an amazingly skilled social worker with her MSW (Master of Social Work). <<Details in the stories … [Read more...] about Grief can coexist with other emotions like anger and hurt
Life after cancer treatment: Surviving cancer fundamentally changes who you are
You have to integrate what’s happened to you. When someone finishes their cancer treatment program successfully, their oncologist tells them they are free to go. Your doctors step away and tell you to get on with your life. You’ve been put through the wringer. Your doctors say you are on the other … [Read more...] about Life after cancer treatment: Surviving cancer fundamentally changes who you are
Workplace sexual assault: Meet with an employment lawyer
A female employee was raped by a senior executive at her firm. I am a psychologist in private practice. I recently talked to an employment lawyer because I needed to learn how best to support a client. She came forward with a complaint to her boss after a senior executive in Vancouver raped her. … [Read more...] about Workplace sexual assault: Meet with an employment lawyer
Holding her rapist accountable: One woman’s four year fight for justice
After years of persevering, one woman’s assailant received a two-year prison sentence plus a day. I am a Clinical Psychologist in private practice. I received permission from a client I worked with over several years to share her story. Shannon was raped by a member of her friend circle. She … [Read more...] about Holding her rapist accountable: One woman’s four year fight for justice
Workplace sexual harassment: One woman’s success story
It's possible to stop harassment. Gail had worked for ten years as a graphic designer for a multinational company. Her employer had had a sexual harassment policy in place as long as she had worked there, but she had been sexually harassed by her boss for over six years. All identifying details in … [Read more...] about Workplace sexual harassment: One woman’s success story
Emotionally hijacked? Effective ways to manage distress
Feel calmer immediately using these simple techniques. People use several different words to describe feeling distressed. They might say they feel emotionally hijacked, or triggered, or activated. They might say they have a lot of energy, or juice, in their system. They might say they are … [Read more...] about Emotionally hijacked? Effective ways to manage distress
You don’t have to forgive someone that harmed you
Some things are unforgivable. A client arrived at my office one morning singing the song, "Ding Dong. The Witch is Dead," a song from the Wizard of Oz. She told me that her mother-in-law had died two weeks before and that she had attended the funeral. And then she smiled and said that the song … [Read more...] about You don’t have to forgive someone that harmed you
Don’t let poor customer service impact you negatively
My brother a bad experience travelling on Christmas Day. He had a flight booked to Mexico. He hadn’t looked at an email that arrived the week before from the airline. Unbeknownst to him, his departure time had been moved forward from 1.30 pm to 7.00 am. … [Read more...] about Don’t let poor customer service impact you negatively
Injured? Put your supports in place
People need to put their "scaffolding" in place as quickly as possible, both physically and emotionally, when they find themselves injured. Whatever the injury, when people are incapacitated and unable to look after themselves, the sooner they can erect the physical and emotional scaffolding they … [Read more...] about Injured? Put your supports in place
The incidence of rape on university campuses
Dr. Jennifer Freyd, a Clinical Psychologist at the University of Oregon, spoke about the incidence of rape on university campuses at a trauma conference. She stated that approximately 20% of female university students will be vaginally raped on an American campus while completing a four-year degree. … [Read more...] about The incidence of rape on university campuses