USA Today 5:32 p.m. EST February 2, 2015 Growing up on the South Side of Chicago, it wasn’t exactly a forgone conclusion that I would go to college. Neither of my parents and hardly anyone in my neighborhood had gone beyond high school, and while my folks were determined to see me and my brother Craig get a good education, they weren’t exactly sure how to make that happen. I worked hard and got good grades, but I didn’t have much…
Excerpt from ‘Lucid Dreaming and Self-Realization’ in Psychology Today: How is lucid dreaming used as therapy? Let me give you an example. Back in the early 80s I was working on my Ph.D. dissertation. I’d done all my class work and I already had a topic, but I wasn’t actually writing it all up. I wasn’t actually completing the degree. My friend suggested, “Well, why don’t you work on your writer’s block in your dreams? I decided to give it…
Making it through drug rehab treatment is a major accomplishment. Nevertheless, despite hard-won gains, there is still more ground to be conquered even after completing the program. It really doesn’t matter if the person in recovery has been using one or several substances, whether or not alcohol was involved or even if their addiction was more under the heading of disordered behaviors, everyone who is working toward recovery from addiction benefits from a transitional period between completing rehab and re-entering…
“Coming out and living openly aren’t something you do once, or even for one year. It’s a journey that we make every single day of our lives. Every coming out experience is unique and must be navigated in the way most comfortable for the individual. Whether it’s for the first time ever or the first time today, coming out can be an arduous journey. It is also a brave decision to live openly and authentically.” Great Articles, Stories, and Resources…
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has made health insurance widely available. Insurance plans are now required to provide at least some coverage for mental health services, including therapy sessions. These changes will no doubt result in many more people being able to access needed care, perhaps for the first time in their lives. With this increased access to mental health coverage, you may wonder why anyone would choose to pay for therapy out-of-pocket. While paying privately for therapy may not…