Superdynamic

the view from a New direction

2008-06-24T12:55:00.000-07:00

I used to think that people did not want psychotherapy, or for that matter that they did not want any advice whatever because they didn't know what they were missing. They just didn't have the taste for it since they never tried.
Recent events have shown me that it is quite otherwise. I was in my own session the other day and suddenly realized that what I was telling my analyst was so personal and so threatening to my self-understanding that I could barely stand it. The difference between myself and a "random" person on the street is - I asked to be in treatment, I knowingly wanted to say what was difficult to say, and I trusted my analyst enough (based on experience) to try it.
Can you (or better, can I?) imagine how excruciating, unwarranted and dangerous any kind of psychotherapeutic advice may sound when it comes randomly, when it is not asked for?

This is a new lesson to me, although I still don't know how to respond to someone in pain. When a doctor sees a sick person or someone asks what to do about an ailment, is she obligated to respond? If so, what kind of remedy should she provide, should she advise treatment and follow up? Or should she investigate the cause of the illness with the person (provided that they both have time)? And does it depend on who are the doctor and the person in distress, how do they relate to each other?

These are some questions I'm thinking about...

What if it*s true?

2008-02-05T18:33:00.000-08:00

Dear b:

Thinking today that many people don't need or don't want psychoanalysis (psychodynamic psychotherapy). The funny thing is - it could probably help them, in fact I think it would. However, not everybody recognizes this way of being, not everyone looks to explore their personal world in order to improve their life.
Again - comes up the question, who is psychotherapy for?
I know many people that may become interested in this type of psychology, yet they do not take time to pursue it. Maybe because the space is not organized, maybe if there was enough attention and opportunity created early many more would be interested, take it as part of their life.
Sometimes I just want to say that I don't care if we don't touch everyone, nothing is supposed to affect every person. I actually think that local economies and culture are very important, so why should psychotherapy be any different?

We all need air, food, and water, and relationships, but what else is universal?

Who's in charge of the psychotherapy economy?

2008-02-03T17:21:00.000-08:00

Dear blogster:

The world challenge we have to take on today can be narrowed down to the following: what, who, and how are we going to change the structure of the economy/social world so that psychotherapy is more understood and better utilized? Let me try to write that again, how can we take a discipline that is on the further end of the social norm, and make it into something educational and accepted, such as math.
Forgive me for forcing this issue all the time, but there has to be a way to dig deep and make this a recognizeable thing. I mean there are always ways to make something interesting, to kind of dive in and create excitement and desire for a certain way of living. Think about all the commercials we see for some type of exotic vacation, what are they doing but encouraging a particular way to enjoy your money and free time. They are saying, "hey if you want to have a good time just hop online purchase a ticket and its carefree adventures from then on." What if we could create some type of ads for psychotherapy, how can we tap into the knowledge of marketers to take make this industry affordable, and accessible?
I get so angry when I realize how little outreach actually exists in the mental health field. There are literaly millions of people struggling with some aspects of their daily lives, which we can help them with! Doesn't that make you just want to light a fire under your own motivation and just get active =)

please, share your experiences suggestions and thoughts with me

what about Environment + personality types...

2008-01-19T08:54:00.000-08:00

Dear r(eader)

the post today is a complicated thought process, like the rest of them, that resides in my brain mostly and I communicate onto electronic paper-> therefore its accuracy may be dubious and is suspec to criticism and multi-dimensional correction.
that being said...

I've been thinking about the development of psychotherapy, and the tendency of its practicioners, "followers" and benefactors to be interested in all things psychological. In other words what I mean is - many people who go through therapy become therapists, or have already had some interested in psychology and the like studies. What does this suggest, are we treading on well-worn ground and do we not access the other populations that we so hope to reach [such as politicians, judges, school teachers, and many others].
I'd like to do a study, collecting the numbers of people from various social classes, settings, regions, professions, blood types, and other variables who come for and benefit from treatment.

For now, I'm just looking to meet up with some corporate executives who'd like treatment.
let me know

peace,

little criticisms

2008-01-15T15:03:00.000-08:00

Dear reader

I'd like to address in this issue something I recently learned.

I think it takes a special kind of situation, and a particular built-up strength or stamina, to handle criticism. Just think of it - someone tells you that you're doing something wrong and you have to respond to it. You can
1. ignore it
2. deny your error
3. submit to reparative action
4. contest the entire thing
5. you get the picture

So what comes next? If the person (boss, friend, lover,..) tells you something very large that incorporates many actions/thoughts/emotions -it is difficult to translate it into a cohesive thoughtful response. For example, it might take you a while to get around to realizing what happened if someone breaks up with you suddenly. On the other hand, if that someone says "Don't do that!" while you are driving on the wrong road side of the road, it's a bit easier to adjust.
What that adds up to is the following: depending on our state of mind, the person saying it, and
the situation our response is very different. In daily life this would mean that a person giving us a kind remark (with some reproach) would have a greater effect if we were ready to hear it - warmed up so to speak.
So my advice, or the recipe, is to give comments gently, in bite size pieces. That way your warm and caring attitude opens up the person (slowly) to receiving a comment or remark about something you'd like them to do differently.

that's it!

Meaning of Money

2008-01-11T13:08:00.000-08:00

Dear blog reader:

This week I would like to comment on a particular issue, which sits at the heart of much treatment debate, controversy, and lamentation.

I think we have all heard of the shortage of money in regards to public funds for mental or physical health. There is always some bureaucrat stating that "we need to curtail spending," or "create sustainable treatment programs," or the worst "achieve cost-efficiency." One might think that on the outside looking in, it may make sense that spending money needlessly is a stupid endeavor. In fact, that has some validity.
However, when one also begins to examine the large amounts of money that is made from the health industry and then poorly redistributed, it is difficult to look at the same argument and not feel a bit nauseated. For example, heatlh insurance companies notoriously make very large profits from the healthcare industry and simultaneosly willingly provide petty sums for mild preventative treatment (to the nearly healthy) and carefully limited amounts the most exacerbated patients who can no longer be denied healthcare services.
The most upsetting part of this picture is that if the system goes under reorganization - it would be possible to provide better treatment at cheaper prices to a larger portion of the population. Of course this is difficult because there are so many points of view about treatment, health insurance, money allocation, etc.
If you dear reader are interested in learning about how to make treatment successful and how to teach others empathy all the while empowering them to work with oppressed populations - please read Tracy Kidder's Mountains Beyond Mountains.
The book is the story of Paul Farmer, an American doctor who has done much to encourage others to help the poor. He has done it by providing an excellent level of care to a very disadvantaged population -mostly through hard work and a devotion to making others around him realize this is possible.

So what is the point that I am belaboring: I think we need to make more effort to change the general viewpoint that mental health is unachievable, too expensive, or unworthy. In fact if enough of us make an effort to work with oppressed populations we can create pathways, beliefs, and points of attentions that others can focus on and elaborate over time.

anyway - just thinking out loud.
take action!

Life builds Life

2007-12-23T14:27:00.000-08:00

Hi:

I'd like to dedicate this message to a presentation I recently watched on TED.com. It involved two different researchers commenting on the biological/technological advances of the other species of this planet - in contrast to the moderate (sometimes magnificent) accomplishments of human beings.

The major point that I took home with me was this: life builds the requirements it needs to keep living. Everything on earth needs a place to dwell, to recreate, and to evolve. Beginning with the earliest life forms that originated 3.8 billions years ago, each one has fought to increase the "grazing space" for the entire community (sometimes killing the weakest and least evolved in the process), simply by the process of living. What we humans must ask ourselves - are we doing the same?

The way this transfers into the realm of psychotherapy is as follows. We therapists work everyday to create more space in the lives of our patients - more space to self-observe, to reevaluate, to continue to thrive. While doing this we are also creating a more reflective and relationship friendly environment in our communities, which hopefully adds to the complex society we live in, and increases our human ability to thrive and to evolve.

Neat and simple. What do you think?

Moving towards Relationships

2007-12-20T08:32:00.000-08:00

Dear reader:

have you heard of the Relational model? Did you know that psychotherapists (the psychodynamic ones at least) are often expecting that you enter into a 'relationship' with them so they can help you make progress in therapy? Does the whole relationship thing seem wierd to you?
This is a topic that I think is very relevant to our current social developmental stage. I think we are at the level where relationships are often considered in a sort of bit-by-bit way. We have "contacts", "online facebook friends," "coworkers," "business leads," et cetera. It is my idea that today we often think of our relationships as being time-limited, enclosed in specific circumstances, and not necessarily as broad multi-faceted and experienced with mixed feelings. Sure most of us have a variety of emotions and thoughts about the people we know, but do we consolidate and integrate these emotions and thoughts into cohesive complicated relationships with people?

I'm beginning to think of psychotherapy as a complicated relationship that teaches us about complicated relationships. In other words, helps us realize that the people, situations, and actions in our life are actually integrated experiences. Going to the "bar" is not just a fun experience with your friends, but an experience that consists of many components so much of which we may be unaware of and some which we may purposefully try to ignore.

I want to continue exploring this point of view - but I need more thinking.
The main idea today is - psychotherapy is a relationship, and that is what makes it good.

New Think

2007-12-11T11:51:00.000-08:00

Bloggers/spammers/readers

I've figured out another thing today, which may revolutionize (at least) my view of the universe. The human universe.

I've realized that everything in the brain is trained - the brain works like this: basically you take some really good ingredients [genetics, nutrients, *] which most all of us have, and then you teach this biomass to do something. Some of these skills you learn from your family, how to sit and talk, how to move around, how to look at people in the eye. Those skills. Then some things you pick up from friends and lovers, or just people on the street. OVERALL though your brain is always learning new ways of shuffling information of interpreting sensory data of operating in the world - both the inside world of your mind/body and the outside world of, well outside.

I do mean to make it so simple - because although the process is hard long term and quite invisible, it is happening and you can learn to trace it regulate it and change its course.
For example, you say you didn't learn what you wanted in your family. YOU wanted hangliding. Ok, so you taught yourself and your brain how to approach an instructor {hopefully} earn money to buy the equipment and then fly. Those easy steps can actually be measured, soon more accurately, in your brain of how you accomplished all that stuff. Otherwise how can we explain a singer like Anthony Kiedis going from rapping in his songs to developing a strong singing voice. He learned to do it, trained his body and his mind!!!!

take heed and learn out there

Always always and Always

2007-11-18T19:58:00.000-08:00

I wonder, all of the time, how do men and women and people in general make it through life without psychotherapy. I don't want to sound conceited or overly focused, or any of those other non fun things... but really. There are so many difficulties one experiences in life, that even if you had a good time in therapy and are pretty healthy, life if hard.
Does that mean some of us are more vulnerable to mental health problems/challenges/difficulties/conundrums. Or that some of us (like me?) just want some perfect reality. Just kidding.
Seriously though - people have been living for a long long, long time and yet there has only been therapy for the last 100 years or so. There must be other ways to get by, and maybe this is just one of the newer tools to make our lives better.

tired yet?

=)

The wild river of psychoanalysis

2007-11-08T07:19:00.000-08:00

Dear blogger -

There is an interesting idea I've been contemplating for a while and I think I have enough relevant insight into to discuss it in this forum.
The idea is the multiple perspectives of psychotherapy. Since the age of Freud psychotherapy has been organized by concepts that hailed from various groups of people, or schools. In each group or category certain members agreed (or disagreed) about the types of concepts they were looking for in the human personality, and with these concepts in mind they pursued psychotherapeutic treatment of a person. In other words, when you know what you are looking for you can find it. This, in fact, is a major criticism of all the analytic/psychodynamic therapies. That the influence of the therapist's training is too strong on the outcome of the therapy. And probably one of the major motivations towards a "non-clinical" or at least "non-clinician" oriented manual based therapy of the modern age.
The new world idea is to take everything we have learned from the therapists systemize it and create one uniform system that works unanimously. How beautiful! The tough part it - you only have to visit one local chain store or restaurant to know that the fanciful messages, displays, and other hoopla don't really mean that much when the employees are rushing around carelessly and delivering perfectly planned but often poorly executed service. In other words although our nation seems determined to systematize and regulate every little thing, there are many wonderful elements of human life that cannot be contained in this way.
The other alternative is to continuously educate oneself, to know one's background and biases, and to always seek to improve one's education and point of view. Perhaps because that is such a tasking process that many of us would rather rely on these "okay-enough" national chains to do our bidding. I would like to say that there is nothing inherently wrong with chain businesses - many great things come from well organized systems (google is one example). However, the everpresent challenge is the molding and flexibility of these systems with the surrounding environment. You can see this in nature in ubiquity. Every species has a determined (genetically) life pattern that is then adapted to the circumstances. Over time the system itself changes (if you believe in evolution).
Same in psychotherapy, all the points of view that we now know are biased, are actually useful, as long as we are willing to apply them conscientiously and with care. Trusting that we are doing our best to be flexible, understanding, and self-aware!

wow, that was a lot of writing =)

Built on words

2007-11-02T08:04:00.000-07:00

Dear blog reader:
in this entry I would like to oultine, what I think, is a new revolutionary synthesization of ideas, actions, and all such business activity!!
In essence I have been asking myself recently - what is it that people have been trying to achieve through revolutions, destructions, creations of new things, and overall renaissance periods? Of course these ideas are complicated, forgive me for selecting one meaning and going with it >
I think the american population of today is often looking for self empowerment, self directed change, along with stability and comfort. In other words there are many people out there who are not satisfied with the social systems we live in. The world bank, the american economy, political regimes, these are all regulating systems that surround us. Not to say that they aren't helpful, of course. The point that I think many people consider is the rather strong resistance to change that all of these "conglomerates of actions and ideas" entail.
Since this is a blog about psychotherapy and related processess, I think it is relevant to consider how or why this change happens or doesn't happen. Aks yourself this question - if you have been doing something for a long time and it doesn't always work for you (in fact creates conflict with other groups and people) do you want to change the way you do it? The thing is, in an ideal world we all would -- everyone, I think, somewhere inside desires to have tranquility comradery etc. The tougher question is - if you have never seen it or experienced it how do you get there?
That my friends is the question/demand/and destiny of the superdynamic way of thinking!
(thats just a rough big grandiose way of saying this blog focuses on answering that question =)

later 0:)

dear reader

2007-10-27T12:50:00.001-07:00

I have chosen to try using Adsense on this website, so that I may make some revenue from advertised products related to psychology.
It was a long debate inside of me, whether or not I should commit to this program and what ramifications it may have no my web site.
The way I see it:
pros I'll probably want to write more since there is more incentive to develop the topics I discuss
cons you'll probably consider me a slightly hypocritical - I often talk about the dangers of supporting worldwide/local advertisements for organizations that often do things I personally do not approve of ( for example inadvertent destruction of the environment ).

However - there is a chance that this Adsense program may prove to be beneficial. Let's call this a test.
I mean after all, we are living in a complex world where we must deal everyday with people, ideas, and ideologies that we don't like, that do not make sense to us, and so on and so forth. The goal is, I think, to openly communicate with such people/ideas/ideologies to the greatest extent possible, to figure out whether we can arrive at a fruitful compromise.
In some ways - my decision is this type of communicative action in progress.

peace.

psychology up front

2007-10-20T06:06:00.000-07:00

As usual - I have spent some thought on the efficacy and method of action of psychotherapy.

I was hanging out with my friends lately and I noticed that some of them do not really recongize psychological issues the way my colleagues and I usually do. For example, most people I know that are not employed as psychotherapists think of psychology in some type of surface-like statements:

1. It affects how you think right?
2. You recognize colors and sounds with different parts of your brain.
3. It matters if you were the baby in the family.
4. "He/she is obsessive-compulsive, bi-polar, etc."
5. And on and on.

The interesting thing is that some of these opinions/ideas actually carry a bit of accuracy in them. Psychology does affect the way we think, and the brain has complicated ways to recognize colors and sound, and the experience of being the youngest sibling is also significant.
However, what I am really curious about is the fact that feelings, internal experience, and in-depth questioning of meaning and being are not usually considered under the headers of psychology.
Is this because of the way most of us learn about psych - in a university class that requires small psych experiments, magazines like Newsweek and Time, or the news? I strongly believe this is true - most people that have had exposure to the real depth of psychodynamic psychology can appreciate many more elements of this part of human existence.

I think what I'm really curious about - how can we make this kind of exposure more widespread - how can the knowledge that psychotherapists consider the bread and butter be more well known throughout the population. And perhaps more importantly - would this actually be beneficial, and is it more relevant/pressing than other types of knowledge - religion, science, etc?

All in all - I think we have to keep on learning throughout our life, in many different subjects and settings. Deep psychology should be part of that learning.
right? =)

FReak oF natuRe

2007-10-04T13:07:00.000-07:00

Dear reader:-:

has it ever struck you that reading blogs is like reading someone's conscious public mind - I mean do most people write things that they are unconscious of, does the blog space permit information that is free-flowing and not full of restrictive filters which we all have to use to live day in day out?
I'm just curious, because to be honest with you, it seems that the blogosphere has encouraged more sharing of personal information, more public display of thoughts, fears, wishes, etc. But in what form are we reporting this information - do our pictures, stories, jokes, whatever, betray our intimate memories thoughts and fantasies? I sometimes think they do - and sometimes they dont.
I've been reading a good deal of psychotherapy blogs in the recent months, and what I have noticed are somewhat dry, though well written and informative, thoughts on paper. What does this mean about the online, text, email universe? Does it permit one access to another person's inner being?!

Maybe that is not the point, or that is not required in all communication. Surely this is true. However, does it not seem funny that even our most emberassing moments told on paper do not compare to the actual experience of the event. Maybe in some way the written communication serves as a better, more articulated version of story; or an elaboration of one side of what happened.
But in essence - can a real even ever be described accurately? The whole of human experience, which may include sight, sound, smell, taste, thought, emotion, bodily sensation, how can we convey this information to each other? A good deal of it is missed in casual conversation. However, when we focus our attention on it - much more can be revealed.

So my question to you faithful reader - what is it that we are trying to focus on in this blogspace? I sometimes think this is a private room where I can spill out the recent psychology-related thoughts I've been having. However, in truth, I hardly ever write the actual epiphonies that happen to me>> partly because they are hard to translate onto paper.
So what can I say for myself- well I think this is a nice forum to present some preliminary ideas, to get out my thoughts that some of you may comment on. I am not sure if this is a thought forum or a place to read one's ideas.

In either case, I'm happy that you are reading and travelling along with me.

much thanks, AfroBside

superdynamic funkalicious group learning

2007-08-30T17:44:00.000-07:00

what is it? how do we get started? and where is the possible destination?

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to understand the way others think? I mean really understand, ...so that you could talk to them without thinking, wow he/she is crazy! Or what about the vast differences in social groups such as business people, sociologists, you know random guys, and everyone else, has it ever come to mind that there is a reason people do not get a long?
What I'm trying to tell you is that psychoeducation could balance some of these things out.
what is psychoEd first of all : 1. learning that takes place outside of the therapy consulting room 2. interesting group work that helps people get a sense of their own feelings and how others influence them 3. fun projects that get you to think about other people and yourself in totally different ways 4. damn it, I can't think of another example.
I want to explain this further, but I'll have to think of ways to relate it to daily life. Let me get back to you for the definition...

Several new changes

2007-08-30T17:35:00.000-07:00

Dear reader: I have been thinking recently on the topics and subjects in this blog space, hoping to re vamp what has seemingly become a strange combination of ideas and personal thoughts. What I'd like to do is sort of start over, not entirely, but mostly in the way that this blog is structured. I want the topic to still be about psychotherapy - however with a focus on a larger scale of application. There is a terrific writer out there, Vamik D. Volkan, M.D., who has worked on very important global applications of psychotherapy and psychoanalysis (ask me if you want to read some of his stuff), and he has got me thinking about how I'd like to use my talents on a more national/regional scale. Volkan uses psychoanalytic ideas to understand and ease conflicts between large groups - such as whole societies or religious sects, whereas my goal is to use psychoeducation (more on this definition later) to power, educate, and overall balance the society that we live in - currently America {for me}.
What do you think? Of course, you agree. Yes, it is a good idea - thought it makes me want to ask, should we change the blog title? Maybe to something more original such as Funkaholistic Psychotherapy, or TotallYwhaliaciousThers (for therapists), or how about superdynamic funkalicious group learning. yea, i like that one.

;)

Only

2007-07-20T18:42:00.000-07:00

Tupac once said: "My only fear in life is reincarnation." Exactly what he meant I do not know, although I've been pondering the questions of fear and feeling alive. What do you think dear reader? It is worth is to experience as much as the world has to offer, or should we limit our field of vision to things that satisfy us, puzzle us, make us want to jump?
Sincerely, I've been reading some amazing literature lately and contemplating the whole thing. For example, One Hundred Years of Solitude is such a powerful book - the telling of many life stories all filled with horror, joy, laughter, love, sex, and a painful end. I only know from experience that every person's life is set within the parameters of where they grew up, what they learned from their parents, and what their environment and body had to offer. So what, right?
Well, my fear is - what if I don't experience everything enough? What if I don't get to do all the damnest things available on the Earth simply because I'm a human being with a limited energy, time, and ability. What if even with all my drive, commitment, and affection there are still things people and places that I will leave untouched!
I have made a solemn vow to really do everything that is available to me, realistically of course. I don't want fear to get in the way of things I should be doing, what I want to do. What about you fellow blogger? Are you interested in life?

always

2007-07-01T10:37:00.000-07:00

i've said this before, but what the heck..
the point of evolution is moving forward; that is what I aim to do as well.
psychotherapy is a way of thinking, a way of understanding. everything, constantly and off and on, moving, dancing, thinking, living. the powers of the world say that is the way (if you are curious read Stephen Hawking's A Brief History of Time). so we battle on, forever.

"I will survive"

2007-06-26T19:07:00.001-07:00

Do you think, dear readers, that our ideas can survive time and space?
I was just watching an episode of the Larry King Live show and the Beatles were on stage (Paul and Ringo). There was a time when these guys were kings of the world, in a way, massive influence, audience etc. They don't like exactly like that now - but they have made their impact.
What I'm wondering is, where is the impact of people live on? Is it on pages, in thoughts, on the internet, or whatever? It's funny to think about how much possibility humans have and how our influence varies depending on the medium.
I'd love to conceptualize this further into like a physics equation - how much energy and connection happens when I do something here, and how much of it gets felt by others when it is written/done in another medium. It is so interesting because now we can actually have better measurements so that we know more of our actions and the corresponding reactions.
It is as if the wolrd is becoming so integrated and so understood on the micro and macro scopic levels that we can actualyl detect, predict, change, choose, and do just about anything - but also being fully aware of actual human limitations.
What that begs is the question - I will survive, but how?

Ahh nahh

2007-06-23T11:06:00.000-07:00

We are ALL affected by feelings
-WHY no admit it?

the point is - everyone has memories, thoughts, and histories connected with feelings; they are lodged in our brain and permeate everything, even when we are not aware of them. everything is so very connected.
deduction- if we can understand how these influence we can all change our lives. think of every person that does not want to change, everyone that has hurt you, think of yourself. everything you have done, or not done. there are things about all of this matter that are influenced by our feelings. so WHY WHY WHY not understand them better, eh? =)
let me just say - we can change the world one person at a time.

peace

brain-based

2007-06-22T06:46:00.000-07:00

The brain, I think, is like the entire earth or even perhaps the solar system-universe in that it connects and reconnects, changes and stays stable, and adjusts for all type of environmental shifts. Think about it - every time something happens in your mind the different neurons, memories, and all else included (forgive my currently weak understanding of neorology) change. You think/feel differently depending on what is happening; In other words the brain is like a huge organ that allows us to adapt to so many settings - this is quite like the universe except much more fast paced.

no?

the New muddled World

2007-06-20T07:33:00.000-07:00

This week we are working on a new feature-->answering the questions of our dear readers. Please look at the post below; this is our first example:

Dear psychotherapy world;
I am confused- now that I'm finally working and making some money, I'm realizing that work is tough, demanding and changing. It's constantly on my mind and sometimes I get really nervous before I leave my house. Who knows what will happen and how I will feel.
Please help, Rancourously Confused, Somewhere in the USA

Dear Rancourously:

I can certaintly understand the pressures of work. It IS tough to go to work everyday and contribute something to the everchanging massivecomplex society that we currently live in. However, I beg you to consider this: while you are just beggining your work life and are facing some turbulance please be also aware that you are doing what you can with the means that are available. You are working, every decision you make has an impact, and you can be proud of the fact that with the little power you have now you are doing what you can. Please carry on this spirit and continue to thrive. Like Bob Marley said: "You can be loved"

We hope to hear more comments and concerns from our readers, and we thank Rancourously for being the brave first to open up this feature of goAnton.

goodbye

Mind you baby

2007-06-04T13:40:00.001-07:00

"Psychological mindedness"

where does it begin? what defines the continuum of this amazing quality? and What is it!?

in this little draft I'd like to define for myself, and anyone listening, the theory I've come to use to define this phenomenon.

first: it is the ability to think about stuff psychologically, in other words to consider something from the psychological perspective; in contrast to a religious, philosophical, mathematical, whatever else.
second: it is something that must be developed through education and training-even Freud took some time to fully develop his capacity to describe and think about things psychologically
on the neural level: I don't yet know this, can you fill me in?
lastly: when you develop this quality or meet someone who has developed it well, psychotherapy takes on an entirely different level. now you or this other person can consider things in the realm of psychology and define meanings, things, etc from this point of view. a nice and unique addition to human thinking abilities.

I've been thinking recently, what is the appeal of psychology over other disciplines. It certaintly isn't the oldest, doesn't explain everything, and is only applicable in certain safe and semi regulated environments. However, think of its power and its ability to change perception.
That is a big deal.

Thought Police

2007-05-30T11:48:00.000-07:00

I'm talking here about my own thought police, the thoughts in my mind that prevent me from doing certain stuff.

For instance I have a lot of ideas about expanding the world of the psychotherapist to other fields, business, athletics, musics, and others. However, what is preventing me from taking this futher?

Ideally I think psychotherapy should be incorporated into our lives. What we think and do effects us, same as what we eat influences the way our bodies work. In other words what thoughts we have and how we process information and feelings plays a huge role in determining our future actions and possibilities.

What would teaching all this stuff and incorporating it in modern culture induce::::?

The importance of Truth

2007-05-24T17:48:00.000-07:00

To be honest with you, I don't care much about politicians. Most of them annoy me--they are a large group of people who largly have never experienced psychotherapy and often are not aware of their own biases or pet ideologies. In fact, it's a bonus it seems in today's politics to be completely inarticulate and unaware, not to mention unidirectional, in picking your point of view and sticking to it.
However, the reason for this post is solely one--there is an important psychological component to all of it. What if we take these politicians to be our leaders, our thought police, our enlightening members of society, our leaders of spirit. Well, in that case I'm quite sure that we will no doubt find ourselves often lost, confused, in pain, and suffering. Sometimes we may also become stupidly rich and unthoughtful and learn to exercise little concern for other human beings. Hey, am I being biased? Tell me!
Mostly there is importance in leaders. Human psychology teaches us about modeling, it teaches us about great parenting, it teaches us about reciprical communication. It teaches us to listen!
Well, let me assure you that if you listen to today's political news these are not qualities that we often hear about or witness. And what of that? Well, if our leaders behave that way, do they pave the way for us to follow or do they encourage us to resist?! Or does it also depend on our personality?
All together what I'd like to say is that it's nice to hear a politician support your point of view. Makes you feel safe, kind of. It's like thinking, "wow somebody out there hears me and supports me." Wow woW wow Wow what a good feeling.
Listen to Dennis Kucinich

News and Notes

2007-05-22T10:12:00.000-07:00

Thats a title of a nice NPR news program; for today I'd like to borrow that title for my own blog. Because today's writings have much to do with both news and notes.
As I'm learning from my employment office there is much to be noted about the divide between dream and reality.
I am thinking about brief treatment, and its effects on the population that seeks psychotherapy. More specifically, what do treatment mandates have to do with pt mental health and chances for improvement. If a person cannot make a personal choice when and where to pursue psychotherapy and if the alloted time for treatment is limited by another third party, what role does that play in the pt's strive for autonomy; what role does it play in the relationship that exists between the therapist and pt--which at a certain time may be interrupted, questioned, examined, or otherwise by a company that may not know much about psychotherapy or the pt and therapist involved. What all this means to me is the importance of supporting oneself financially is ever more important. To clarify--one is an ideal state of financial health when one is knowledgeable about his or her money, where it's coming from and where it is going (children of course are not in this category). Getting aid from insurance to pay for psychotherapy is important and helpful, however depending on such systems may be dangerous and damaging.
The question I'd like to ask all of you: are there any ideas for how to afford psychotherapy?
Some I have thought of include Having a medical savings fund specifically for therapy treatment, investing early on in money 'vehicles' that are aimed specifically to access psychotherapy if needed, obtaining therapy early when treatment may be briefer.
Of course these are just temporary remedies that may be used in a our current economic climate. Why not fight for mental health parity instead?

That is the principal argument of this post and this blog- We cannot and should not simply accept the rules of the insurance companies; instead we must collaborate, negotiate, and sometimes fight to assure that individuals get the kind of treatment they need and deserve.

Also this is about the economy

"In the name of control"

2007-05-19T18:39:00.001-07:00

The world today is a complicated place. More co[m]pliCated than perhaps for all of the time that people have existed. WHY well maybe it's because we are all living together now and mixing all the cultures that have created their own separate ways of existing<--that's one complicated thing to organize in our mind.

I think sometimes about the psychological challenges of the real world, how varied it is, and how diverse the different ways of living are. I like to think personally that I have stuff figured out<> that I can live the way that things make sense to me.

Yet the other world keeps mixing it>>>I'm in D.C. Wash today and ?I see all the mansions that I can never afford and consider what that means to me.

Yet if I can live in my own mind universe (that's short for seeing the world only my way and ignoring everything else) I can imagine beeing happier. Is this a challenge for psychology or sociology--and Economics?

Basically; what I'm wondering dear friend is what do psychological problem solving skills get one in life? Is it the chance to see the world better and accomplish more, to give one the freedom from some kind of distant burndening memories/ or is it just a way to MAKE believe that things are good/well/ok.

PLZ don't take it as a question about me personally, this is just my message saying what does psychology mean to you?

P.S. I am promising now that in the near sometime future there will be some more interactive material on here--maybe like a fun survey or even an essay or how about an interview with a local psychologically inspired individual; whatever that means.

So many Dead words

2007-05-15T17:40:00.000-07:00

Recently, today in fact, I heard a telephone call that promised to put me in a sour mood ( at least temporarily). It was from Maryland, but I don't know anybody there. I picked up regardless and heard a recording say that I could be involved in a real time discussion with my local State Representative-an on air town hall meeting. Neat.
The discussion went on in this manner: a person presses the pound key to be put in a que to ask the Rep about things going on in this state. As the Rep answers questions everyone waits and listens. Quite a discussion! Jokes aside I'd like to point out the real dilemma here--the questions being asked were quite wonderful yet the responses nill and avoidant. Let me run a little demonstration of what happened.

Caller 1: You know I'm outraged Rep, the gas prices are so high. I paid $60 for a full tank. (He sounds like an elderly man from a "more controlled corporate irresponsibility" time). We should be asking where all the profits are going-to the oil industry of course! Why don't we ask them whats going on!
Rep: Yes, Bill (or whatever), I believe that is a true problem. I am a believer in alternative fuels. In fact there is a real future in bioDiesel, they got thousands of those cars in Europe and we don't have any. And plus alternative fuels are the way!
Caller 1: Ok, but that is probably years away (remember he is not so young) and doesn't even answer my question.
Rep: Oh no, many things are happening here in (such and such district).

enough? or want to hear about caller 2?

Caller 2: Ok Rep, I'd like to talk about terrorism and the threats to national security. (A young guy obviously "up and coming" so to speak). I work in an IT company and we are sending our servers overseas and they contain Visa and Mastercard files--isn't that dangerous? Why would we want other people to hang on to and control our accounts? (His voice is angry and clearly demands a response)

--the Rep doesn't answer the caller is mysteriously cut off and the Rep doesn't even mention this but goes on to the next person.

Caller 3: Dear Rep, I'm so and so and I really care about our economy. I know our cars aren't being imported overseas but perhaps that's because they are of cheaper quality.
Rep: Oh no, I know those Toyotas have a good name but in the last year or so our quality has really picked up. Customers are really liking the new American cars. (Is this bullshit or what, how can there be even enough time to test out the reliability of these vehicles?).

This is where I listened a little more and then hung up. Whats the use of when the guy is basically taking good questions and turning them into nil statements such as "Yes, and oh I have a bill, and you make a really good point." Do SOMETHING, why don't ya brother. Basically my question is: why isn't the Rep squaring up with companies, other politicians, and etc on important issues--if US cars suck (and some do) why don't we comment on them and ask whats going on rather than complain about Japanese imports. If fuel costs so much that some can't afford to drive to work, why not ask the 'record breaking profits' oil companies (u know who you are) to cut it out rather than create a whole new industry that's gonna take years (I'm all for alternative fuel).

Why not just acknowledge some human decency and admit that you can't do it all as a politician and you have to talk some tough talk. I do it all the time!

This blog is meant to point out that psychology happens everywhere. When this politician is not addressing the points of the view of the callers, not even aswering them in fact, that speaks a lot about the type of democracy we live in. How can one's mind stay motivated to the landscape around if the people 'responsible' for some of our livelihood aren't even talking normally?
Where do politicians come from and what do they do for us, I want to know!
[acknowledgment--some politicians are good, and many are good hearted people, so to speak, but why not be more honest, does it take too much time? Image at top is from republicansareidiots.com]

This Video (street psychology)

2007-05-13T10:33:00.000-07:00

In this excerpt a few friends of mine, in an undisclosed location, are making a street protest-discussion on the topic of music, psychology, and freedom. They make some very important points--such as why shouldn't we be free to express ourselves wherever we want? I think this is one of the defining features of civilizations, how much freedom of expression there really is. Notably in this video some people very much enjoy spontaneous fun and creativity while others have different boundaries, either defined by personal values/ideas or by ideas that originate in other cultures, such as that of department stores and corporate associations.

Long (good) article

2007-05-12T17:47:00.000-07:00

Alan Karbelnig, Ph.D.
National Psychologist, May/June 2007

Hopefully signaling the peak of an epidemic of excessive
self-protection, many psychologists now sport recorded voicemail
messages that advise callers to hang up and dial 911 in case of
medical emergency. Such warnings presumably inform unwitting callers
that psychologists cannot provide emergency medical services. These
911 outgoing messages must be proliferating out of fear that
psychologists could be sued by someone who expected to find cardiac
defibrillation, gastric lavage, suturing, or other emergency medical
procedures at the end of psychologists' phone lines. Failing to do
so, these psychologists fear, callers could become injured in some
fashion and then sue them for negligence.

Yet no such legal, ethical, or commonsensical protective
standard for psychologists exists. At their best, such outgoing
voicemail greetings reveal ignorance of the basic striving for
self-reliance that underlies and unifies all the varied
psychotherapeutic approaches; at their worst, these greetings insult,
demean, or confuse callers. They reveal blatant psychologist
self-protection, not concern for patient welfare.

Working to increase personal empowerment is one of the most
basic foundations underlying all psychotherapeutic approaches, from
the most cognitive-behavioral to the most psychoanalytic. Individuals
experiencing psychological symptoms disrupting the academic,
occupational, or social realms of their lives seek the assistance of
mental health professionals to reduce their discomfort and increase
their functionality. They select psychologists who then, utilizing
one method or another, work to increase their autonomy and
self-reliance.

Consumers of psychotherapeutic services obviously differ in
terms of level of impairment: The most disturbed may be acutely
psychotic or suicidal. They could have marked cognitive and
intellectual impairments. They may require a high level of external
structure, including direct support and guidance, environmental
manipulation, psychotropic medication, and even psychiatric
hospitalization. The least disturbed, in contrast, may seek
psychotherapy solely out of a desire for personal growth. However –
and this is where, again, all psychotherapies overlap with one another
– all forms of psychological treatment work to increase the capacity
for independent functioning. Patients need to be met at their unique
developmental levels. But all psychotherapeutic approaches
nonetheless work to increase their capacities for independent
functioning, regardless of their presenting status.

By offering on their outgoing voicemail messages information
most three-year-olds have already mastered, psychologists send their
callers a most counter-therapeutic message. They communicate numerous
anti-autonomous, anti-self-reliant ideas, including that these
callers: 1. lack sufficient intelligence to call 911 directly if they
are having a medical emergency; 2. lack sufficient judgment to make
such a discrimination before calling; 3. lack sufficient autonomy that
they would need psychologists to advise them of such information; and
4. are functioning at such a low cognitive and social level that their
very capacity to operate a telephone, to call anyone, is questionable.

Psychologists with these outgoing messages of course also
communicate about themselves. These messages suggest, first and
foremost, that they hold these potentially degrading beliefs about
their callers. They also reveal a certain grandiosity, specifically
the belief that they are medical professionals (or firefighters or
police) when, in fact, they are not.2

If callers were prone to anger, they might feel outraged at
being treated in such a demeaning fashion. If they were prone to
feeling insecure, they might receive the recording as a further sign
of their own inadequacy. If they were in fact feeling suicidal, they
might reasonably reach the conclusion that the psychologist would
impulsively transfer them to a medical professional if their
self-destructive feelings intensified. If they were psychotic, the
911 warning could well elicit confusion, i.e. do I need to call 911
now that worms are eating away at my internal organs?

Why, other than for protection against a wildly remote lawsuit,
would psychologists believe they need to offer such an option? It
would be difficult to find an individual, even an intellectually
compromised one, who would expect to receive emergency medical
treatment from psychologists. If psychologists feel compelled to warn
callers that they are not emergency room physicians, then should they
also inform callers that they are not lawyers, accountants,
veterinarians, or insurance sales people? Could psychologists be sued
because a caller was hoping for legal advice and instead received an
interpretation, or was hoping for financial advice and instead
received empathy? One wonders where this absurdity will stop.

These 911 voicemail warnings communicate inadequacy, not
self-reliance. They condescend rather than empower. They create
distance and formality rather than openness and acceptance. In short,
they contradict every basic, foundational aspect of psychological
practice regardless of theoretical orientation. As such, they should
be immediately discontinued by all psychologists that use them.

Substantial change in relationship

2007-04-26T19:37:00.000-07:00

Dear blog reader,
I am not quite sure about the type of content that I will eventually choose to include in this blog, i.e. the parameters aren't yet clear. However, today I've decided to write about my supervisor since I consider this to be an important area of psychotherapy.
During my employment at the agency that offered me a student internship, I found myself constantly struggling between the role that I wanted to be in (student, intern, fun loving guy, therapist) and the role that the agency required me to be (guy who maintains compliance with Medicaid, guy who makes sure agency bills are paid). To the agency all is secondary to survival; actual treatment included. Now what could be wrong with survival? one might inquire. Nothing, to the regular eye. Although it does raise the question--will we ever get past the surviving stage and reach normal peaceful life, the realm where therapy can be more easily accomplished? I don't mean that all people must love each other and all that blah. I do mean that the agency must get to the point of realizing--hey, how are we going to make money so that our clients can get the therapy they need?
The important questions are those that ask, if the current situation doesn't work, what are we going to do to change it. That is a fundamental concept of ego psychology (as far as I know), so why don't we address it? That brings me to my point about my supervisor.
Don't get me wrong, I love this woman. She, on the inside is a wonderful person. Smart, funny, playful. An attractive young woman who can do a lot with her capable personality. There is one tiny problem, she's a difficult person to work with! I've teased myself and asked enough questions to realize that I'm not the only person to think so. My supervisor wants to have supervision, she wants to know that things are going her way all the time! I know this may sound vague and unrealistic (even as description), however I assure you that some of it is true.
She really ponders up many ways to get people to pay attention to how she thinks stuff should be done--manipulation, "punishment," you name it! I mean she's not that bad once in a while, but really much of the time she is.
So the question I'd like to ask you dear reader, why doesn't she change. Does she not see her thoughts/behavior as a problem? Does my agency not realize that what is going on isnt working? I don't know, maybe nobody ever raised any steam and came in screaming. Though I have planned to on many drives to work!
Well, what I've been doing is touching on the subject with her slowly and nudging her in the right direction (haha), hoping she'll realize and change her ways. With her I think it's possible, the agency as a whole though that is another difficult question.

2 ideas

2007-04-24T10:57:00.000-07:00

The first is: I like social work, but I'm beginning to understand the difficulties I've had with liking it. For instance, social workers care about everything, I mean this it the profession that aims to improve not only interpersonal factors (friendships, marriages, bla bla) but also social factors (stop wars, improve legal rights, make the economy more fair). Imagine what being a social worker entails then! You gotta do all that, not make a lot of money, and still go home at night and live the rest of your life. What a dream, right?! I am just kidding, it is a cool profession. However, why don't we adjust it a little bit while we're here. I definitely want to do away with this attitude of not doing interpretations, for example. (Interpretations are the therapist's explanations to the client of realistic causes and understandings of what she is feeling and how she is living; longer explanation to follow in another post). What do social workers often say about this tool/function: we don't use it, we don't need it, our job is to help the person, not interpret to them what is going on. Basically, at least in my experience, we are supposed to help improve the situation without ever getting down to solving the original problem. Labor unions are a good example, what do they accomplish--better wages and rights for workers. Good idea, however standing up for yourself isn't the whole picture. What about improving the economy in such a way that people won't have to be a part of labor unions, we all deserve respect so why not stress that and aim for that change rather than rest at the point we are at now. (I realize this too can be elaborated on forever). My basic point is: let's really do something, let's define how we want to help people and actually do it, be active. Rather than enforce this 'field of caring' that is often helpless because of the forces around it. Change the forces!

Idea 2: I almost totally forgot, now I remember. This is about my earlier message on therapy not being for everyone. Or is it? Or is it not? I think therapy should be an adjunctive practice for some people. You're doing your job and things are great however there is that little part of you that peaks out once in a while and throws off your day. Come to therapy, hopefully we can figure it out, you're not sick and it will only help you!

Changed perspective

2007-04-22T18:47:00.000-07:00

I've recently experienced a peculiar new understanding of psychotherapy and it's meaning to me changed. Just to give the reader a little bit of perspective, I like many of us, have been accustomed to speaking my mind in a manner that would suggest that what I had to say just made sense and could be useful to everyone without further adjustment. (Ha ha)
Recently, as my friendships and understanding of people expanded, I began to consider that my way of making sense of the universe differed widely from that of others. What could this mean? Would other people's perspectives make just as much sense as mine in this reality we cohabit? I guess so, because I've recently realized that my suggestions and ideas don't make sense or work for everyone. Big deal, right? It is to me (pun unintended) since this may mean that psychotherapy as I know it is not just an objective tool that can be beneficial for everyone. What will be the result of this expanded thinking I'm not sure, however I am humbled to a more realistic place for the time being.
By the way, check out this definition of psychotherapy I found online (google define):

Psychotherapy is a set of techniques intended to cure or improve psychological and behavioral problems in humans. The commonest form of psychotherapy is direct personal contact between therapist and patient, mainly in the form of talking. Because sensitive topics are often discussed during psychotherapy, therapists are expected, and usually legally bound, to respect patient privacy and client confidentiality.

Presentation

2007-04-22T12:44:00.000-07:00

Come to the symposium on psychotherapy held by AAPCSW (American Association for Psychoanalysis in Clinical Social Work) in Ann Arbor.
Presenters will be current graduate students; discussion with senior clinicians to follow. Interesting topics include: recent views on 2 influential analytic theories and the experience of psychodynamic social work graduate school.

I will be one of the presenters. All are welcome.

10:30 Brunch 11:15 – 1:30 Symposium Papers and Discussion
At the home of Karen Baker 2008 Carhart Avenue Ann Arbor, MI 48104

New open blog discussion

2007-04-21T19:13:00.000-07:00

Hi, the goal of this blog is to discuss psychotherapy and everything related to it. Literature, practice, clinical discussions, questions about seeking therapy, etc. If you have an interest in psychotherapy and would like to get to know more about it, share ideas, or just chat, please feel free to post on here.
I'd like this site to be a discussion of multiple points of view. Join in!