How Feeling Annoyed Can Actually Help You Be More Empathetic
To say “I wish I never felt [insert unpleasant feeling here]” is not only unrealistic, but limiting your ability for actual empathy. As a therapist/client/human/parent/boss/etc.(!!), you will inevitably feel frustrated by others because we are social, feeling, meaning-making creatures. If you were able to somehow inoculate yourself of annoyance or…
Mental Preparation for Backpacking (and Life!)
Before going on my first backpacking trip, I had no idea why anyone would want to carry so much stuff, for so many miles. My first day of hiking started out with a maladjusted backpack: my pack and straps were too loose, leaning the pack too far from my shoulders,…
The Role of Your Supervisor
Do you ever wonder what the purpose of supervision is, beyond a licensing requirement? There are models of counselor supervision that provide guidance on this, such as the Discrimination Model, which outlines three roles: 1. Teacher This role comes from a more practical approach, possibly reminding you of graduate classes.…
Book Notes: So Tell Me About the Last Time You Had Sex
Ian Kerner’s So Tell Me About the Last Time You Had Sex was such a fun and informative read! The author gives a vast survey of research on sex and sexual behaviors organized around a sex script. The idea goes that if two people (or just you, with yourself!) are…
Learning “In the Moment” for the Most Growth
While the term state-dependent learning may have originated in lab experiments with rats and medication, it actually holds some powerful wisdom for modern humans, especially when it comes to therapy. At its core, state-dependent learning is the idea that we’re more likely to remember and use a coping tool when…
Am I Doing Enough as a Counselor?
The Doubts That Come With Counseling How often do you end the day thinking, “Did I even accomplish anything? Was I even helpful?” Given how isolating and ambiguous our career can be, it’s easy to feel full of self-doubt, especially when we don’t always get immediate (or any!) gratification. This…
Good Therapy Center 