Is this popular self-help book worth giving a f*ck about?
I am a self-professed, unashamed self-help book junkie.
There, I said it.
I read my first self-help book when I was 16. I didn’t fully realize at the time, but this was my introduction to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy–now a therapeutic approach I use with most clients. I’ve been hooked ever since. Continue reading “Self-Help Book Review: The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck by Sarah Knight”
What is your best life worth to you?
Let’s be honest — sometimes it can be hard to pay for therapy.
How often do you tell your friend or co-worker the following: “I’m going to the gym today,” “I got a pedicure,” “I went to church/spiritual practice this weekend,” “I had all day to myself to relax,” or “I took a sick day.”
We say this daily to friends, acquaintances, coworkers, and store clerks without batting an eye. Continue reading “The Value of Therapy”
Don’t believe everything you think.
“I am so worthless. I suck at everything, especially my job, relationships, keeping my car clean and letting my nail polish dry before I leave the house.”
Does this feel familiar? Your mind spewing at you an endless litany of ways you fall short in life? What can you do when this is happening? Continue reading “3 Ways To Put Your Brain In Its Place”
****
Arianna Smith, MA, LPC
If you are in recovery for an eating disorder, you probably know that it takes constant accountability and support to stay on track. But what if you only attend therapy once or twice a week? How can you be held accountable and receive support in between? Continue reading “The Only App You Need If You Are In Recovery For An Eating Disorder (And It’s Free!)”
Every time I see a magazine showcasing how to “get a bikini body in 4 weeks” or lose weight for summer, I want to burn it. Not just hold a lighter to the edge, but to create a magnificent bonfire of body-shaming magazines and calmly watch them go up in flames.
Does this fantasy seem extreme? Perhaps the imagery is, but the sentiment is not. I am continually outraged how our society, culture, and media tells us only certain types of bodies (generally thin, cis-gender, and white) are allowed to be seen and showcased. Body-shaming media perpetuates the kind of toxicity which breeds low self-esteem, body image issues and disordered eating in our population. Unfortunately, the messages amplify in months leading up to summer. Continue reading “4 Ways To Have A Body Positive (or Body Neutral) Summer”
April was an extraordinary month. For two very different reasons.
To start, the month was filled with an unusual amount of family visits. Given that most of my immediate family and relatives reside in other states (Alaska, Florida) or countries (Europe, New Zealand), the ability to have all my weekends this month filled with family time was truly glorious and unprecedented. Continue reading “The Gift of Illness”
I want to share with you one of my all-time favorite poems.
After you read this, I encourage you to ask yourself: Continue reading “Which Chapter Are You?”
*Disclaimer: I want to emphasis that any kind of romantic relationship and/or sexual contact between a therapist and client is unethical, illegal and should be reported to the Grievance Board of the state the therapist practices in, if any misconduct occurs. I draw the parallel between dating and finding a therapist to bring some humor and levity to the sometimes frustrating task of finding a therapist.
Finding a good therapist, like finding a romantic partner, is not always easy.
However, in both cases, finding ‘the right one’ has a huge pay off when it comes to your overall sanity and well-being.
Surprisingly, there are many similarities between the initial stages of dating and finding a good therapist. If you have ever gone through the modern dating process in the United States, you may already have some of the skills needed to find a good therapist. (See, all those tedious coffee dates with strangers really did benefit your mental health!) Continue reading “How Finding a Therapist Can Feel Like Dating*”
Arianna Smith, LPC, IFS Certified Therapist 