Raising emotionally healthy teens is crucial in a world where there is no lack of things to create stress. Rates of anxiety and depression are skyrocketing, which presents a unique challenge for today’s parents. On Wednesday, September 26th from 11:30 – 12:30 I’ll be at Johns Creek High School to talk about the number one thing that can contribute to your child’s inner and outer success.
Introducing Long-Distance Counseling
I am pleased to announce that in order to provide more flexibility for my clients, I have added telephonic counseling as an available service. An initial in-person evaluation is required, and this method of counseling may or may not be appropriate depending upon the particular issues you would like to address. Please contact me for more information.
Learning How to Suffer Smarter
Psychiatrist Carl Jung said, “Neurosis is always a substitute for legitimate suffering.” He was describing the process by which we develop dysfunctional behaviors as a way to avoid emotional pain, yet seem to wind up in far more torment and confusion than when we originally started. Instead of solving one problem we often simply add another. The true problem is one of unrealistic expectations; that a life well-lived can somehow be accomplished without difficulty or discomfort.
The Problem Is Fear, Not Confusion
The first thing people often say to me when we begin a session is, “I’m confused.” They then may proceed, with razor-sharp clarity, to articulate their feelings, thoughts, and circumstances. With great sophistication and ability to connect cause and effect they will outline their own problematic patterns of behavior, why they are concerned about a relationship, or what decisions they believe they should make. After these impressive and startlingly astute perceptions so many people will then slump in their seat, defeated, and say, “But I’m so confused.” Confusion becomes the self-constructed yet hollow wall that prevents them from moving forward.
You’re Just As Weird As The Next Guy
Wanting an answer to the question “Am I normal?” propels a lot of people to walk into my office. It’s my favorite question in the world to answer because the majority of the time I can respond with, “Yeah, pretty much as normal as the next guy,” and you can literally watch the anxiety melt off people’s faces. Seeing that sigh of relief is unquestionably one of the most awesome things about my job. I’ve also learned that whether or not we are “normal” is not a particularly useful question. The important thing to ask ourselves is whether or not there are any negative consequences to what we perceive to be “abnormal”.
