Author: OPS
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The Problem with Positive Thinking
Many times I find my clients have incorporated the idea somewhere along the way that they need to be thinking more positively. While it holds understandable appeal, the problem with this strategy is that it is no more sustainable than thinking negatively. It rejects what is and attempts to replace it with what is preferred. Both negative…
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Is it Jealousy or Are You Just Hungry?
Are there times when you find yourself feeling resentful when you witness someone else’s good fortune? Do you become suspicious and possessive when someone you love shows affection for another? And if so, do you then beat yourself up for feeling this way? Jealousy is an emotion that arises out of an attitude of scarcity, deficit, or…
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The You Factor in Psychotherapy
Did you know that you are the most important factor in your therapy? It may seem surprising given the amount of time we spend searching for the right provider and the right therapy approach. However, research shows that around 55% of therapy outcome is related to extra-therapeutic factors such as client readiness for change, willingness,…
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Meditation as Desensitization
Research has shown that meditation can help with stress and anxiety. With the rise in war exposed veterans in the US needing treatment, studies are being conducted to see how mindfulness and meditation can help people dealing with trauma. When approached with a trauma sensitive lens, mindfulness and meditation can help expand our window of distress…
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How Meditation Helps
A growing body of research is showing that there are many physical and mental health benefits to practicing meditation. Mindfulness (vipassana) meditation is useful in managing pain and distressing mood states. According to the National Institute of Health’s National Center for Alternative and Complimentary Medicine (NCCAM) “there’s evidence that [meditation] may reduce blood pressure as well as symptoms…
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Healing After A Breakup
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in acceptance, breakups, couples, dating, grief, Grieving, loss, rejection, relationship, relationships, sadBreakups are an inevitable part of finding the right partner and although almost everyone gets through them successfully, the process can be very painful and difficult to manage. Everyone is different and we all have our own ways of grieving, but there are a few common elements that seem to help people heal faster after…
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Between Wisdom & Love
Maya Yoga asked me to write about some of the benefits of my personal yoga and meditation practice for their Inspiring Stories series. Below is an excerpt. Please click the link to read the post in its entirety: Tracy Ochester is a reputed psychologist who incorporates mindfulness training into her professional sessions. She is an…
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Why Mysore?
Mysore style practice is a specific way of learning Ashtanga Yoga as taught by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois in Mysore, India. It involves one-on-one instruction in a group format, but the class is not led by the teacher. Rather, students practice at their own pace and the teacher goes from student to student assisting each individually…
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Tips for Teens: Talking to Your Parents So They Will Listen
There are plenty of teenagers out there who feel like their parents don’t listen to them. It can seem hopeless – like they just don’t get it. If this sounds familiar to you, here are some tips about how to talk to parents so you are more likely to be heard. Regularly initiate communication with your parents – not just when you want…
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Managing Impulsive Behavior
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Do you or a loved one have a pattern of reacting quickly before really thinking things through, only to later experience regret or other unpleasant consequences? Impulsive behavior can include relatively minor annoyances like talking out of turn or jumping the gun to more serious problems like taking dangerous risks or acting out destructively on…