Shame is one of those words that elicits a strong visceral reaction from our body and mind. Probably just reading that one word you may have noticed yourself wanting to stop reading this blog (avoidance) or your stomach cringing (psychosomatic symptom expression). Shame is often associated with feelings and emotions we try to block from …
Both Sides of the Couch
What makes therapy difficult for so many people is this idea that you have to share some of your deepest and darkest secrets to a complete stranger. As someone who has sat both in the chair as the therapist and on the couch as the patient, I can tell you that I sincerely empathize with …
Types of Therapy
For some, going to therapy or counseling is an intimidating, and at times, scary process. We all have schemas of what a therapist’s office looks like or how he or she will act in the first initial encounter. One can imagine that there will be a bookshelf with lots of books on it; perhaps a …
Empathy that Cures
One of the key factors in any successful therapeutic relationship is the ability for the therapist to understand the patient; it is only then authentic safety and healing can occur. Regardless of one’s theoretical orientation or how one comes to understand psychopathology, this key ingredient makes the treatment effective. To gain a better understand of …
Dr. Alex Rowell 