This month, Susan Deane is reading (actually, listening, using Audible), Reconciliation by Thich Nhat Hanh.  She's finding it to be one of the best informative pieces on how to practice mindfulness, and why we should practice mindfulness.

Being mindful is one of the first steps in resolving, or "reconciling" painful emotions - pulling them up from the unconscious mind into the conscious mind, and doing the work to let go for the sake of our own inner peace and well being.  Holding on to painful emotions only hurts our own self at the end of the day.  Doing this keeps us from living fully in the present moment and being able to experience something new, and perhaps something much more wonderful than the traumas from our past.

But, it is "normal" to get stuck in living the traumas of our past.  It is a biological protective mechanism.&n ...

The 12 Days of Psychotherapy

A new Christmas carol for our time
Posted Dec 10, 2015
by Tina Gilbertson LPC, DCC
Originally posted on Psychology Today

Verse 1

On the first day of therapy, my therapist gave to me
some insight in-to my psyche.

Verse 2

On the second day ...

The holidays.  What a carefree and relaxing time of the year!  Right?  Not always. 

It seems the joy and glam of the holidays I felt as a child slowly dissipated once I became an adult and now have the duties of decorating, cooking, cleaning, entertaining, shopping and gift-giving.  I was like, “Wait… the turkey doesn’t magically appear on the table?  The elves didn’t put up the tree?  My family wasn’t getting along every minute?  My presents were bought with actual money!?”  Goodbye wonderful holiday cheer, hello stressful event that I will now be a part of!   The holidays, while fun, can create negative emotions, such as anxiety, frustration, loneliness, and annoyance. Perfectionism comes out, people-pleasing sets in and fear of not doing enough begins.

Are you able to bring the joy back into the holidays without all that emotional mess?  The answer is y ...