Times of uncertainty often become powerful opportunities for growth. And yet, fear of uncertainty can freeze people in their tracks – they become hesitant to make decisions or take a step in any direction. So when clients get stuck, how can we help them move forward? In the video below Joan Borysenko, PhD describes specific […]
Why Uncertainty Is Not a Problem to Be Solved
At the risk of stating the obvious, uncertainty is one of the only “certains” in life. And often, it fuels the fire of anxiety, depression, and many of the other issues that are so common to the clients we see. But what if we had a different way to frame uncertainty, so that clients might […]
How to Help Clients Process Their Fears about World Events
When you look at the news, there’s pain and violence on every broadcast. But is this something we should help our clients process? Patrick Dougherty would say yes. And he has some clear, helpful guidelines for how to bring up difficult and divisive political and social issues in therapy. It’s one way we can help […]
A Simple Mindfulness Practice That Can Lower Anxiety
Some degree of fear and anxiety is inevitable in life. But for some people, these emotions can become truly debilitating, keeping them trapped in cycles that can lead to depression and even chronic pain. So how can we help patients better manage fear and anxiety when they come up? Below, you’ll find a simple exercise […]
Can Fear of Happiness Get in the Way of Healing?
Why is it so hard to get people to follow through on strategies that are good for them? Patient noncompliance can be one of the greatest roadblocks that keeps people from achieving their goals. And I recently came across some new research that might hold a clue to what holds some people back. You see, […]