Performance enhancement through EMDR therapy
Athletes are faced with various mental challenges like: staying focused on the next task and not being distracted by outside circumstances, being able to calm themselves down when upset or frustrated, performing on point at important times, etc. All of these challenges can cause high stress and at times freeze athletes who become unable to perform skills they once were able to do without a problem. If this sounds familiar to you then you might be interested in reading more about EMDR-PEP which is a psychological technique geared to help decreasing performance anxiety and increasing mental sports performance.
I am a trained EMDR therapist and able to support you in overcoming these challenges and reaching mental toughness.
Here is an article which provides more information about the EMDR protocol:
Free Mindfulness, Relaxation and Guided Imagery
Interventions and exercises used in therapy and counseling of anxiety, depression, trauma as well as sports mental health areas are mindfulness, relaxation and guided imagery. These interventions help a person to calm the restless mind, offer moments of relief from whatever is going on and allow a targeted focus of attention. The following 2 links provide websites which offer various free auditory and visual tools to help you sleep better, decrease your anxiety levels, help you ground yourself or just give you a break from a stressful day. Try it out and feel free to leave some feedback to let me know if this was helpful.
The wonder drugs to treat mental and physical illness!
There are two magical remedies for mental as well as physical health problems. The problem with these remedies is they are not in pill form so patients and clients are not as motivated to try them because they include work and behavioral changes. So, whoever is able to turn these two antidotes into pills will be a very wealthy person since every doctor is going to prescribe them. The remedies I am talking about are EXERCISE and HUMOR. To start the weekend off with some laughter I decided to have Will Ferrell take the lead in this video clip.
The evidence on EMDR in PTSD treatment
Have you heard about EMDR as treatment option for people suffering from PTSD and other trauma related anxiety disorders? EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It has shown to produce quick improvements for clients suffering from symptoms like flashbacks, hyperarousal, triggers that cause intense feelings of fear related to a traumatic event, etc. This article discusses some questions of controversy regrading EMDR answered by its founder Francine Shapiro herself. For more information feel free to visit my website.
How to bounce back from a sports injury
Being an athlete comes with a lot of sacrifices and blessings but one of the toughest things to overcome are injuries. Injuries don't just mean we have to take a break from the sport. They also mean a change of our daily routine, social interactions, a possible change of athletic goals, which often is accompanied by feelings of anxiety and some level of depression plus uncertainty about the future. While non-athletes in most cases know how to rest and give their body time to recover, athletes are a different breed. Often athletes do not not know how to take a break after an injury. Their brains, which are trained from a young age to ignore pain, play tricks on them by directing inner self-talk towards "I can play through this.", "It is not as bad.", "I have played through worse.". This mentality leads them to ignore the body's pain signals to stop and as a result causes more severe injuries.
I am guilty of training and playing through certain pains and injuries myself which resulted in a dislocation of my shoulder and various ankle sprains. Yes, I am one of those crazy athletes who competed with a broken bone justifying it through the irrational thought of "my team needs me to win". But, now being somehow wiser through experience, I appreciate this article which gives general guidelines on how to overcome injuries the healthy way. I wish I had more coaches, counselors, therapists, etc. who had taught me a balance between pushing oneself and listening to my body's signals.
PTSD and its generational effects.
Did you know that trauma can be transmitted over generations? This article in psychology today explains some of the reasons. EMDR therapy and other mental health treatments can help to stop this generational transmission process. Call today for more information.
Humor to fight off mental illness!
A short and funny video clip to start the weekend with laughter!!
Today, I decided to focus on humor. When depressed, anxious or struggling with other unpleasant emotions, one of the self-help skills which can create relief through the body releasing its own happy substances (endorphins) is humor. Therefore, I decided to link this post to an in my opinion quite funny commercial. Enjoy and have a great day. (click the arrow next to the title)
Practicing Self-Compassion When Struggling with Anxiety
"Tonglen" a breathing technique to reduce anxiety and increase self-compassion.
Anxiety seems to be one of the main mental health concerns of this century which can be observed at any age and in any economical class. Here is a new article by a writer who tries to offer some new tools to accept, live with and control the anxious mind. I especially love the suggestion of "tonglen".
Want to know if you have a mental disorder?
Take this test and find out. Share it and leave feedback.
(Please keep in mind the online test evaluates your subjective answers and shows tendencies. For an accurate diagnosis an in person evaluation is required.)
Parenting and Sports: The worst kid on the team
Challenges of parenting in sports and what to consider when the own child is the worst kid on the team.
When people become parents we often have high hopes for our children especially if they start participating and maybe even competing in a sport. We often know that there will be moments when our kid does not want to practice, does not get a long with the coach or a teammate. We also know that performances in sports may vary depending on the day and that these times usually pass. Often we want to encourage our children to practice harder and even spend money on private coaching lessons and other performance enhancing methods. Therefore, it hits hard when our children decide that they don't want to play the sport anymore. This article does an excellent job explaining the challenges of parenting in sports and what to consider when the own child is the worst kid on the team.
4 Ways to Support Someone with Depression
4 ways to support one with depression
When dealing with depression, one of the most important aspects to getting through it, is having a supportive partner or friends. While most people do not know what to do, here are some suggestions.
When dealing with depression, one of the most important aspects to getting through it, is having a supportive partner or friends. While most people do not know what to do, here are some suggestions stated in the article.
What is the cure for exceptional suffering?
This article discusses how understanding grief and loss as a universal experience, which is inevitable, and therefore, can lead to acceptance and some type of inner peace. The author incorporates a symbolic story to show how emotional suffering is part of the human existence. Accepting of this existence and possible finding meaning in life may allow a person to move on after a tragic loss.
This article discusses how understanding grief and loss as a universal experience, which is inevitable, can lead to acceptance and some type of inner peace. The author incorporates a symbolic story to show how emotional suffering is part of the human existence. Accepting of this existence and possible finding meaning in life may allow a person to move on after a tragic loss.
What is addiction?
A video explaining Gabor Mate's view on Addiction.
I love Gabor Mate's compassionate description of how he views addictions. While I do believe that there is a genetic component to it, I agree with him that addictions have their origins in hurt. Therefore, an addict who wants to stop will have to learn new skills to maybe endure and cope with the pain.
Over involved parents in sports
Over involved parents like P. Diddy in sports plus the consequences.
This week's news about P. Diddy being arrested for attacking his son's coach with a kettle bell due to not agreeing with his coaching methods, shows once more how well intentioned parents at times may create more problems for their kids. Especially in sports, children have to learn to fight and solve their own issues and reap the consequences for certain behaviors. Hard work and being pushed by good coaches is a foundation for success. Over involved parents can create a barrier for reaching success by not allowing the coach to do his job and stopping the children from pushing their own limits to get better.
Don't regret knowing the people that come into your life!
Good people give you happiness, bad ones give you experience,
the worst ones give you lessons and the best ones give you memories! - unknown
The power of thinking
The difference between a glass being half full or half empty seems to be a happy and fulfilled life.
I often ask my students and clients what they think is the difference between "a glass being half full or half empty". The answer is well written in this little article. Viewing a glass and maybe the world as half full shows a positive worldview, which in response can lead to a healthier plus happier way of living. In my therapy sessions I try to challenge a negative view of life plus thinking errors and support my clients in finding more balanced and positive ways to see the world.
Do I need therapy? quiz
Are you unsure if therapy is beneficial or right for you? Take this quick quiz, by John M. Grohol, Psy.D., which can help you to determine if seeing a therapist might be helpful for you.
What does a Marriage and Family Therapist do?
More than ones I have been asked what is a MFT (Marriage and Family Therapist)? How is it different from a Psychologist and Social worker? And what does a MFT do? I believe that this YouTube clip by Eli Karam, does a great job in answering all of these questions and more. Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists are not only able to help couples. We are trained in various different mental health issues and equipped to see children, individuals plus families in addition to couples. When listening to clients’ concerns we integrate the family dynamics and always keep the relationship aspect in mind.
Tips to help your marriage or couples therapy be fruitful.
Have you ever met with a marriage and family counselor? Were you satisfied with the outcome of therapy? This article written by an expert in the field gives simple tips on what to expect and do when seeking marriage and couples counseling. There is no quick and easy cure for whatever has caused you to seek help. It takes commitment and an honest look at oneself to strengthen the bond again and reach a more fulfilling relationship.
How anxiety influences your health
This article has been published in the Huffington post and describes the body's reactions to experiencing prolonged feeling of anxiety. I love the simple illustration which helps to understand why people with anxiety often have so many other physical and psychological complaints.