Neuro Wellness Spa’s Post

Check out my contribution to this article about long distance relationships!

Close relationships are paramount to overall well-being.

Wonderful research! Relational depth —moments of profound connection and engagement between two people— is a humanistic–existential construct, showing preliminary association with psychological growth in psychotherapy. This research investigates the impact of relational depth, alongside relationship satisfaction and emotional intimacy, on subjective well-being in close relationships in the community. It confirms what we already know: that real, authentic, in-depth relationships are a strong indicator for our well-being. 😊 #health #wellbeing #connection #relationships #connectedness #authenticity #support #relationaldepth

Life in the adult lane can be exhilarating, but it can also be a rollercoaster of emotions and challenges. We juggle careers, relationships, families, and personal aspirations, all while navigating an ever-changing world. Sometimes, the weight of it all can feel overwhelming, leaving us questioning our resilience and seeking a path towards inner peace. #Adultpsychology #AdultTherapy #Mentalhealth #Therapy #wellness

Life in the adult lane can be exhilarating, but it can also be a rollercoaster of emotions and challenges. We juggle careers, relationships, families, and personal aspirations, all while navigating an ever-changing world. Sometimes, the weight of it all can feel overwhelming, leaving us questioning our resilience and seeking a path towards inner peace. #Adultpsychology #AdultTherapy #Mentalhealth #Therapy #wellness

How Does Free Association Work?Free association is typically performed in a therapy setting by first having the patient get into a relaxed position (sitting or lying down). It can be done with the eyes open or closed; although, most people find closing their eyes helpful to avoid surrounding distractions. The person then begins to talk, saying the first things that come to mind. There is no effort made to tell a linear story or shape the ideas that come to mind. The person spontaneously says his or her first thoughts without any concern for how painful, silly or illogical it might sound to the therapist.The therapist is listening to the patient's free association and trying to identify what, if any, thoughts or feelings might be repressed. Bringing these repressed feelings or thoughts to the surface might help the patient better understand the conflict they are experiencing. For example, the woman who 'loves' her colleagues but rarely engages with them may say things when free associating that she would never consciously admit to herself. She may say things such as, 'I have anxiety about my performance,' 'I encounter unrealistic expectation at the workplace' or 'I feel different from others.' The therapist takes note of these potentially repressed feelings and discusses them with the patient once the free association exercise is completed.The previously unconscious thoughts and feelings become conscious as they are discussed. This new awareness can be used to make deliberate changes in behavior. For example, once the woman is aware that she is feeling anxious about her performance, she could approach her boss and ask for feedback. This not only provides a reality check for her performance, which could lower her anxiety, but also increases her relational contact with colleagues, which was part of the original tension she was feeling. What happens during free association?Let’s say a client starts talking in therapy about the birthday cake he bought for his sister’s birthday that morning. Next, he remembers his cousin who died on his 12th birthday, after which event his family stopped throwing him parties. Maybe he mentions getting into a fight with his mother after visiting the bakeshop for his sister. Now he doesn’t feel up to the party he’s hosting for his sister later tonight.These free associations might lead him with his therapist to question the anger he may feel towards his cousin for dying, or towards his family for giving up his birthday celebrations. Outside of therapy, he might censor this anger, fearing it to be unfair or inappropriate.The goal of free association would be to release his anger in therapy. This would allow him to think and feel clearly about his sister’s party. And maybe plan a party for himself on his birthday.

Being a therapist in private practice has taught me some unique things. Some wonderful, others painful, but all meaningful nonetheless: 🌷 Taking the day at my pace - Slowing down has allowed me to show up more fully for both my clients and myself. After years of rushing through life, this shift has been refreshing (to my utter surprise). 🌷 The nitty-gritties of running a business - Well, it is tough. But even if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't choose anything else. Not only do I get to decide my working hours, leaves, and workload, but I also get to fully experience the ways a therapy relationship unfolds when things like finances, time, and outside therapy engagement are involved. 🌷 Networking is hard - As a selectively social person, I'd say I have become very intentional with whom I connect. It is hard to be consistent in the field without filling one's own cup - and one way I feel safe is through connection and really being 'seen'. As a professional, I am glad to have found supportive mentors and peers, but absolutely - always on the lookout for more opportunities to understand and be understood by a fellow professional. We need to find our ways of feeling safe and continue to practice them. 🌷 Alternate revenue sources can be a game-changer - I delivered a workshop on this with Mehr Lungani's Zarf Collective and I truly believe that investing time in other things has transformed the way I look at my practice. I realize I wholeheartedly love group work (I run Trauma Reading Circle and support groups) and would love more than a handful of that with my clinical work. Best part? I get to choose when and how. 🌷 The right training and support matter more than we think - Had I not been fortunate enough to have had a supportive educational environment during my Master's and a love for learning things that make my heart go 'wheeee', I know there would've been a struggle. My body responds strongly (now) when I feel connected - and I found that connection in Yalom, Richard Schwartz (the proponent of IFS), Erich Fromm, and psychodynamic work (taking my time with it these days). Another thing I learned was to take things slow with skill-building and prioritize my regulation and presence as a therapist. 🌷 To use my humanness to inform my therapist persona (and vice-versa), not take away from it: I used to believe that I didn't matter in the therapy room. It took me time to own that side of me and use it in my work. Our field is evolving constantly, and the sociopolitical climate of our country and the world at large demands that we become critical humans and therapists. We question and agitate and love. Nothing can exist without that messy, vulnerable humanness. That's only a part of what I wanted to share, maybe will share more in the future. What have your learnings been as a therapist in private practice? #privatepractice #psychotherapy

After having a listen to some great work by Dr Darren Morton in the recent Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine webinar over lunch, it was great to observe how important the 'common factors' are in psychology and mental health management for people. The common factors are those that aren't inherently specific or hard skill-based. They look at alliance, empathy, the therapist's innate style and the ability to adapt to cultures and other factors. These ranks much more importantly than did particular or 'specific factors' which include particular ingredients, adherence, treatment modalities used and technical competence. Paper from: https://lnkd.in/g43wunG8

Hi everyone, now that National Counsellors’ Day has come to an end it is time to put some renewed energy back into our work here at CTUK. In particular we are going to be focusing a lot on The Digital Therapy Project. We’re not sure if everyone knows but CTUK has been a part of The Digital Therapy Project since it’s inception, led by the brilliant Dr Elizabeth Cotton from Surviving Work. For those of you who aren’t aware of what the project is we have shared a little information below, and in the coming weeks we will be providing further information as to the specific involvement of CTUK and how the project aligns with our ethos and aims - as well as how you can get more involved. As always, we are happy to answer any questions in the comments section. We hope you’re all having a lovely start to the week. Maria 😊 INFO 👇🏼 Question - How are digital tools being used to provide and receive therapy today? The Digital Therapy Project seeks to understand experiences of teletherapy, online therapy platforms, and digital mental health tools from the perspectives of therapists and consumers/users of these technologies. We are interested in any digital tools that you consider to be therapeutic including mindfulness and wellbeing apps, mental health chatbots, text based support, teletherapy with/as a therapist in private practice or via an online therapy platform. Anything you consider to be therapeutic we are interested in. We are a group of researchers, practitioners, and academics from UK and US research institutions and professional networks of therapists seeking to answer how people are using digital tools for their mental health. WHO ARE WE? The Digital Therapy Project - Research Team We are a collaborative group of academics, researchers, mental health practitioners and advocates seeking to understand how therapy is changing: Dr. Elizabeth Cotton | University of Leicester and Surviving Work (UK) Dr. Pauline Whelan | University of Manchester (UK) Dr. Knut Laaser | Stirling University (UK) Dr. Linda Michaels | Psychotherapy Action Network PsiAN (US) Maria Albertsen | Director of Counsellors Together UK (UK) Dr. Livia Garofalo | Data & Society Research Institute (US) You can find links to each individuals work here: https://lnkd.in/ep_pvFFC The results from the first survery will be available mid 2024. (P.S. if you missed the 2024 National Counsellors’ Day Conference on Saturday then the recordings will be available soon. These are free in the CTUK Members Club area/Onlinevents CPD Platform and will be available to buy soon for £19.99 if you’re not a member of either of these.) Dr Elizabeth Cotton

Targeted at work? Therapy can help. If work leaves you feeling stressed, anxious, and depressed from false accusations, sabotage, exclusion, and other intimidating, threatening, and demeaning behaviors, you may experience triggering from childhood trauma as part of the workplace abuse. If you felt unheard and unseen as a child, workplace abuse may bring up past pain. In a safe environment, you can begin to process childhood trauma as it relates to current harm while you understand systems that enable workplace abuse. There is hope. As you begin to feel heard and understood, you will start to gain clarity on your situation, your past, your needs, and your values. Leaning into your personal power and future while processing your work situation and your childhood will increase your confidence and bring more joy into your life. Interested in therapy and in Massachusetts? Email Labyrinth Psychological Services at wehelpyouout@labyrinthpsych.com or call them at (508) 797-7110. Sessions are offered through $40 (or sliding scale) telehealth sessions and require Massachusetts residency. In another state? Find a therapist who specializes in trauma: https://lnkd.in/ggJFT_F