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Showing posts from February, 2019

How to prevent relapse in recovery

We often hear that people enter therapy for recovery from addiction or repeating harmful patterns and heal temporarily. After staying clean for 2-3 months they again relapse into old behaviors. The main reason for the relapse is pseudo recovery. What this means is that sometimes in a fit of exasperation people decide that they want to change but the underlying issues are not fully fixed; hence when the inner pain from issues crops up again, the behaviors relapse. In order to have permanent recovery, the following steps will have to be taken a)        Hitting true bottom-There comes a day when a person decides they can’t live this way anymore and will do what it takes to change and then stay recovered. This is called true bottom. b)       Addressing underlying issues-All harmful behaviors stem from unhealed emotional wounds and emotional pain/adaptation from childhood. They must be resolved and fixed . c)        Staying away from stressors-There can be events and people a

Good therapy checklist

The following are main characteristics of good therapy and differentiate it from substandard one a)Good therapy is not friendship The therapist is supposed to be a person to understand you and where you’re coming from , spot your issues and suggest methods to change also hand holding while you change.They are supposed to point out when you’re backsliding and be direct with you.You are not supposed to get   so comfortable around a therapist the way you would around a friend that you stop taking them seriously. b)A good therapist does not over-promise or judge Many therapists claim to overhaul your entire life in a week and silently judge the client for any inherent foibles.Good therapists base micro-goals for clients on their current situation and create a safe space for them to open up without any judgement c) Good therapy models accurate timely feedback and   change is progressive There are people who spend years in therapy without making progress while ther

Stigma of going into therapy

“What will the neighbors think if they come to know I’m in therapy?” “I am suicidal but how can I go to a shrink?Nobody in m family ever has”. “What if my mother comes to know I am abusing weed if the therapist’s office calls?” “I am not crazy, why should I go a therapist?” “It is so darn costly to go to one.This will sort itself out on its own!” “I am good enough the way I am.So what if I’m addicted to porn and my marriage is falling apart , its not that lethal an addiction.I can stop anytime and don’t need that psychobabble”. These are some of the common reservations /stigmas/false stories one tells self before entering therapy. Therapy is not just for serious mental illness like schizophrenia or bipolar but is very useful in changing deeply ingrained patterns ,healing emotional wounds, understanding origin of trauma and healing it, stopping backsliding and leading an emotionally healthy life. Things therapy can help deal with include childhood emotional abuse,trau

Difference between coaching and therapy

LIFE COACH VS. THERAPIST One of the most common misconceptions about  life coaching  is that it is therapy in disguise — or, worse yet, therapy from an unlicensed practitioner. In reality, life coaching is truly its own unique service designed to help people   meet the outcomes that will bring them success and fulfillment, in   all areas of life. Here are some of the differences between life coaching and therapy, and a basic guide for when each service is appropriate. DEFINING TERMS: LIFE COACH VS. THERAPIST What is therapy? Therapy, is a long-term process in which a client works with a professional to diagnose and resolve and heal problematic beliefs, behaviors, relationship issues, feelings ,emotional wounds and buried trauma and sometimes physical responses. The idea behind therapy is to focus on past traumas and issues to change self-destructive habits, repair and improve relationships and work through painful feelings. In this sense, therapy focuses on the past and on int