Depression

Therapist writing on a clipboard while listening to a patient

What Is Your Therapist Listening For?

Advice is cheap. Advice puts the onus on the listener and not the speaker. Advice is often a quick fix—a mere Band-Aid on a wound that needs more persistent care. I can usually detect someone’s frustration when, as their therapist, I pointedly do not offer advice. One of the skills therapists learn early in their

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People enjoying music

Music as Medicine: 3 Ways Your Favorite Tunes Improve Your Well-Being

She was frustrated by her immobility and chronic pain. In her mind, she felt like she could simply stand up and walk wherever she wanted. But in reality, her body was stuck in a wheelchair. “I’m in a funk,” she declared in my clinic office. “I don’t want to do anything anymore.” This sort of

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What Story Are You Telling Yourself?

We all have a victim story. Blame can be laid upon not only strangers, but frequently upon parents, partners, friends, teachers, coworkers, neighbors, and even the government for whatever situation brings discomfort.
As a therapist, many of the people I sit with have a story to tell. Often that story boils down to being victimized in some way.

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Thinking About Taking Antidepressants? 5 Tips You Should Know

If I had a nickel for every time someone struggling with depression told me they don’t “believe” in antidepressants… Let’s face it. Even with all of the information swirling around us about depression being an illness and not a weakness, even in our current and more progressive age of acknowledging how swiftly and how often

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4 Myths About Psychotherapy You Should Know Before You Go

Originally published on July 6, 2016 • By Alena Gerst, LCSW, RYT, GoodTherapy.org Topic Expert Contributor For many people, going to therapy is a hot-button issue. The idea somehow implies that a person in therapy is weak, unable to manage their problems, downright crazy, or just seeking attention. But regardless of where you live, you

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