• The Padded Room Hypothesis

    You wake up one morning. You are not feeling quite like yourself. Something is off. Your neurons fire in multiple directions, or you are hearing colors. You throw open your front door in what feels like an ecstasy-filled rage. Your clothing strewn across the front patio. Without any particular reason, you sprint down the sidewalk

    Read more →

  • Third Place Policy

    Third Place Policy

    The counseling profession emphasizes the importance of understanding the individual. I always was open to other points of view though to open up my horizons. I wanted subject matter that would complement this “individual” perspective but that did not stray too far from the study of people. After speaking to my undergraduate adviser, I took up

    Read more →

  • Exterminate Those ANTs

    Exterminate Those ANTs

    Living out in the woods as a child, I encountered critters. This included multiple infestations inside my own home. I had battles with eight foot snakes. An entire colony of bats lived in my chimney for three summers straight. I regularly spotted lizards basking in the sun on the carpet. I spent a weekend in

    Read more →

  • Adaptability of Self-Care

    You really think you have seen it all when you work in the mental health field. Once in a while, your clients like to remind you that you have not. The client of interest this time around was a 13-year-old adolescent male struggling with an extensive history of family conflict, abuse, and self-injurious behavior. He

    Read more →

  • War of Self

    War of Self

    The first half of 2018 was not kind to me. I lost my childhood home to foreclosure. I broke my ankle. I was in a pretty serious car accident in a vehicle I owned for less than two weeks. This is on top of normal everyday nonsense like finances, ongoing health issues, and family conflict.

    Read more →

  • Overcoming Suicide

    Overcoming Suicide

    It often takes a lot to push an individual to the ledge. Their toes curl around the edge gripping to one last bit of humanity. Looking downward at what seems to be the sole resolution to their present situation. What has always amazed me is the moment right before the leap. This is the moment

    Read more →

  • It Is Never The Answer

    It Is Never The Answer

    The topic of suicide prevention has once again become a focal point of discussion following two more celebrity suicides. RIP Katie Spade and Anthony Bourdain. Whenever I hear the news of another suicide whether it was a friend, family member, colleague, or a celebrity, I always stop and think about what could have been done

    Read more →

  • Down, But Not Out

    Down, But Not Out

    All I can say is depression is a bitch. Not the fun kind of bitch that makes snarky comments and everyone giggles. It is the Regina George of mental health. It knocked me on my ass about three or four weeks ago. It stood in the corner of the ring staring at me. It watched

    Read more →

  • Hindsight, Foresight, The Connection

    We live in a unique time period and one that the world has never seen before. If you feel like watching a movie tonight, you can pull up your Netflix or Hulu account without leaving your couch. If someone asks you for the latest score on the game, you pull out your phone and speak

    Read more →

  • Open the Door

    Open the Door

    I’ve seen a lot of shit. In both my personal and professional life, I have either heard, seen, or experienced unimaginable events good and bad. Therefore, I developed an uncanny ability to bounce back quickly. I often can brush off the event with ease or at least process what happened towards acceptance. It should come

    Read more →