Body is something you need in order to stayon this planet and you only get one.And no matter which one you get, it will notbe satisfactory. It will not be beautifulenough, it will not be fast enough, it willnot keep on for days at a time, but willpull you down into a sleepy swamp anddemand… Read More Food Poem: Living in the Body by Joyce Sutphen
Three months ago I launched an online life-consulting practice: The Self-Curious Project. In this short time, I had at least 50 meaningful and honest conversations that taught me more than any academic program. So many questions worth exploring: how do I not feel anxious about moving far from home? how do I make friends and… Read More Invitation to “know thyself”
My father taught me how to eat breakfastthose mornings when it was my turn to helphim milk the cows. I loved rising up from the darkness and coming quietly downthe stairs while the others were still sleeping.I’d take a bowl from the cupboard, a spoon from the drawer, and slip into the pantrywhere he was… Read More Food Poem: Breakfast by Joyce Sutphen
Feeling rushed by obligations and buried in chaos? Morning space and time may help you set a confident pace for your day. Crafting mindful mornings is an art that needs intentional space for full expression. As a loss and life adjustment consultant trained in architecture and philosophy here is how I make room for my… Read More Making space for mindful time in 3 simple steps
The Beautiful Sandwich She could always makethe most beautiful sandwich.Laced swiss cheese: slicedcrossways, folded once.Ham in rolls like sleeping bags.Turkey piled like shirts.Tarragon. Oregano. Pepper.Herb dill mayonnaise the color ofskin. On top: the thin, wandering line ofmustardlike a contour on a mapin a thin, flat drawer.Or a single, lost vein.The poppyseeds hold on,for now. Placed… Read More Food Poem by Brad Ricca
The weeks leading up the U.S. election and following have been … uncomfortable. There is fear, distrust and hate all around. My readers know that I am a Muslim-immigrant South Asian woman married to a Caucasian man with two brown daughters and two white, working as a therapist in small community mental health facility in… Read More In Defense of Discomfort
Recently, the above uncertainty stirred things up in the therapy room a few times. As usual, I didn’t have the answer. How do I endure and balance the restlessness for more with a sense of innate worthiness and abundance? How do I know I’m doing enough? How do I know I am enough? Everything is… Read More Am I ambitious or never good enough?
The list below is meant to help social workers identify strategies to help clients overcome resistance to change. It could also be used as a way to self-check. Silence or minimal talking during sessions (Are you avoiding?) Engaging in intellectual talk by using technical terms/abstract concepts or asking questions of a social worker that are… Read More 7 Signs of Client Resistance to Change
I’m not sure how I started making these pancakes. My addiction to recipe, cooking shows, food writing makes sources difficult to trace. My daughter asked to learn how to make this when visiting on break from college. She made the pancakes pictured in this post. I’m a proud foodie mommy. We like the balance of… Read More Savory Corn Pancakes
As a therapist, I focus on presenting issues, the problems that compel a person to sit with me. Sure, I balance these functional impairments by looking for strengths and support. Still, the focus is on identifying and repairing damage, secondary and tertiary prevention. I came across a list of indicators for positive ego strength while… Read More Are you healthy (mentally)?
