Overcoming Tough Problems with Kids: A Narrative Therapist’s Approach
A few months ago, I was confronted with an issue that no parent wants to tackle. My 3-year-old daughter became constipated, was scared to go to the bathroom, and subsequently began soiling her underpants. All this was occurring shortly after I’d given birth to our second child, and life was feeling very overwhelming for both of us. It was important to me that I preserve my daughter’s sense of self confidence, refrain from doing anything that would damage her future toileting rituals, and also find a quick solution to the problem. I was changing underpants as often as I was changing diapers,...
Read MoreBody Image
We hear this pairing of words stuck together so often that I don’t always know what it means anymore. Is it about what we perceive of our own body? Is it about how others perceive us? Is it about how we compare ourselves (or others) to a certain cultural body preference or norm? My guess is that all three of these play a big role in our construct of ‘body image’. Overcoming difficulties with ‘body image’ can be intricately wrapped up in numerous experiences and understandings of ourselves in the world. I have found in working with clients and within myself on this particular...
Read MorePhysical Pain… Emotional Pain – Opportunities for Change and Growth
Pain is a great communicator. It gets our attention, doesn’t let up, and helps us slow down and take stock of what might be causing the pain. Or we find ways to lessen the pain even if we don’t know why it’s there. All in all, it generally gets us to do something, and take notice, even if we don’t want to deal with it. It’s funny how our experience of pain changes depending upon what we know or believe about it. Our relationship with pain directly influences how we interpret pain. For example, when we go to the gym and work out for the first time in a while, we feel pain, often in places we...
Read MoreWhat’s Your “Holiday Story?”
For some, it may be about connecting with friends and family, eating hearty meals and treats, singing songs, or getting in touch with one’s spirituality. For others, it may be laced with groans and moans, trepidation, loneliness, frustration, angst, and bouts of depression and anxiety. Often both “stories” can somehow co-exist. I used to spend quite a bit of time worrying about the holiday season and what it would hold. With increased obligations, people really are in demand this time of year! With so much more on our plate (literally and figuratively) it’s easy to feel overloaded and...
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