The Problem of Suffering
“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not […]
Why Mindfulness Matters
Are you sick of the word “mindfulness” yet? You’re not alone. The word has become so overused in the media and society in general in the past ten years that it’s in danger of losing meaning altogether. On top of that, the definitions of what exactly mindfulness is vary so widely that it’s just plain […]
What’s Working?
When trying to approach an issue in life, especially when the issue is anxiety or depression, it’s often useful to ask ourselves, “What have I tried in the past to solve this issue, for how long, and has it worked?” Often, the answer will be that we’ve tried the same approach for longer than we […]
The Struggle Switch
There are some psychological patterns that come up in nearly every therapy session, with every client, because we ALL experience them. One that tops this list is our tendency to want to push away difficult thoughts and feelings. We don’t want to feel what we feel and often engage in a struggle against our thoughts […]
Meditation 101
“Meditation is a matter of slow and steady experience. It is not a cure. It is not a set of moral values. It is not a religion. It is a way– a way to be fully present, a way to be genuinely who we are, a way to look deeply at the nature of things, […]
Ten Tips for Getting Better Sleep Naturally
We’re well into fall now…the trees are losing their leaves, the wind is blowing and it’s time to cozy up. Fall is a beautiful time and a season of letting go but it can also be a time of restlessness. School and work are in full swing and everyone senses the holidays coming. It’s a […]
Mindfulness for Anxiety
Are you wondering if mindfulness and meditation really help with anxiety? The short answer is, yes. There’s now a solid body of research demonstrating the effectiveness of mindfulness and meditation techniques for anxiety. There are many very specific techniques from mindfulness and meditation that can help calm anxiety and can help you cope even when […]
The Power of Routine
As summer winds down and fall begins, there is a lot of talk in the therapy room about how grateful many of my clients are about getting back into a routine. In summer, we often enjoy letting go of our usual routine and schedules a bit and that can be freeing. But when we live […]
Questions to Ask When Looking for a Therapist, Counselor or Psychologist in Des Moines
Questions to ask when looking for a therapist, counselor or psychologist in Des Moines So you’ve finally identified a therapist in Des Moines that you think might be a good fit for you but you can’t know for sure until you talk to them. Sure, you can read their website or Psychology Today profile but […]
How to Find a Therapist in Des Moines, Iowa
The famous Raygun t-shirt for Des Moines says “Des Moines, Hell Yes!” But my clients tell me that when it comes to finding a therapist here it’s more like “Des Moines, HELP Yes!” The difficulty of finding a therapist in Des Moines is similar to the difficulty of finding someone in any small to midsize […]