What triggers the freeze response? We tend to think of traumatic events, but according to Peter Levine, PhD, that’s not always the case. Even a perceived threat can be enough for a client to get stuck in a frozen state. So how can we help clients who are stuck in the freeze response to move […]
Reporting in on the COVID-19 donations . . .
A couple months back, I promised to give away 100% of what we took in from the Working with Fear program . . . . . . and send it all to organizations responding to the COVID-19 crisis. Now it’s time to report in on where the money went. But first, a little behind the […]
A Story for Clients Stuck in Worry and “What Ifs”
There are times when a client can get stuck in “what if” scenarios and worry about the future. And when that happens, it stifles their ability to think clearly and approach their problems with wisdom and creativity. But there’s a very succinct, engaging story that’s popular in Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) that can help clients see […]
When a COVID-19 Worker Struggles to Connect with Their Partner
When a soldier comes home from war, the return to civilian life can be extremely challenging. It can feel easier to share openly and deeply with fellow soldiers who know the same battlefield experience than with a spouse. Now during the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals in hard-hit areas have been compared to warzones. And for some […]
When Staying Neutral Isn’t the Best Approach
We’ve been trained to stay neutral in sessions with clients. But is this always possible, or even desirable? Well, Miguel Gallardo, PsyD had a case in which a client made racist comments. So then the question becomes, how do you handle this while still maintaining the therapeutic alliance? Find out in the video below. He’ll […]
Working with the Trauma of Racism
Racism can be deeply traumatic. And for one teenager who was repeatedly experiencing racism, it was triggering a freeze response. So how did Thema Bryant, PhD work with her? She’ll share her approach in the video below. Thema will also explain the difference between traditional trauma therapy and liberation therapy, and why liberation therapy can […]
Addressing White Privilege in a Session
A little while back, Pat Ogden, PhD was talking about resentment, and she made a key distinction. You see, there’s resentment that stems from an event that is now over. But then there’s resentment fueled by something that’s ongoing – like systemic oppression. So how does this impact the way she works, particularly with members […]
Moving from Cultural Competence to Antiracism
We’ve all heard about cultural competence in clinical practice. And while it’s important, it’s also not enough. So today, Thema Bryant-Davis, PhD will get into some first steps in becoming an antiracist practitioner. Click here for full transcript Dr. Bryant-Davis: So, it’s important to know that white therapists can be anti-racist therapists. […]
The Same Pandemic, Vastly Different Experiences
While we’re all going through the same pandemic, it’s affecting everybody in very different ways. So below, Thema Bryant-Davis, PhD will get into some of those differences. She’ll also share what to keep in mind when conducting online sessions with clients who are at risk of violence at home, and why some clients from marginalized […]
Working in an NYC Hospital During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Most of us haven’t been inside a COVID-19 ward, and it’s hard to fathom what frontline medical workers are experiencing every day. That’s why I want to share this video with Danielle Ofri, MD, PhD with you. Danielle is an attending physician at Bellevue Hospital in New York, and she’s worked with COVID-19 patients at […]