ARTICLE: Harmonizing the Parts of us

By Sharon Gardner, MA, Marriage and Family Therapist, MFC 84533,

It can be pretty crazy-making when the various internal voices in our heads don’t agree with each other. Sometimes it’s obvious what’s happening, and sometimes not. When that happens there’s just an unidentifiable sense of discomfort. We’ve all got different … Continue reading →

ARTICLE: The Fourth Wave of Behaviorism: ACT, DBT and Nondual Wisdom

By Michael Baugh, LCSW, Founder and Supervisor, New Perpectives Center for Counseling

“Out of the One comes the Two. Out of the Two comes the Three.   Out of the Three comes the One as the Fourth.” — xiom of Maria Prophetessa[1] “The fourth wave knows itself as the ocean.” — Ram … Continue reading →

ARTICLE: Start-Up Stress and Anxiety

By Christine Hutchison, MA, Marriage and Family Therapy Intern,

San Francisco has some unique Mental Health needs… and I’m not even thinking about the guy on your bus this morning. We are a city of incredibly successful, innovative people, especially within the realm of software and technology. And, our … Continue reading →

ARTICLE: Acceptance and ACT

By Douglas Mitchell, MA, Marriage and Family Therapy Intern

If you are struggling with thoughts and emotions that are hard to control, then ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) may be helpful. ACT cleverly teaches you to first notice, then accept and even embrace your thoughts and feelings.  It helps … Continue reading →

BLOG POST: The Feeling of Feeling Good, Part 1, Examining the Nature of Wellbeing

By Giancarlo Scherillo, MA, Marriage and Family Therapist, MFC 87392,

How do we know if and when therapy is working for us? What is that sense of health and wellbeing that we are looking for? What does wellness actually look and feel like? While the answer can be very different … Continue reading →

ARTICLE: Depression as “Transphilic

By Marty Cooper, MFT, Supervisor, New Perspectives Center for Counseling

I’ve coined a new word, or rather, a new definition of a sort-of new word:  “Tansphilic”.  Meaning “loving of, having an affinity for, transformation” (from trans, “beyond,” and philic, “loving, affinity for”).  My contention here is that depression itself is … Continue reading →

BlOG POST: Therapy is a strange relationship

By Paul Howard, MA, Marriage and Family Therapist, MFC 83681,

When the going gets tough in life, though we may have close friends or family by our side, there are generally limits to what we feel comfortable confiding. These limits, arising from concerns about ourselves and our confidants, may cause … Continue reading →

BLOG POST: I Just Attended an Intensive Training with David Burns, MD

By Ginnie Hazlett, MA, Marriage and Family Therapy Intern

I just attended the David Burns CBT Intensive training and feel incredibly rejuvenated and inspired. It was eye-opening to hear him share stories of clients who had endured 15-20 years or more of unsuccessful therapy and were transformed within a … Continue reading →

BLOG POST: When words aren’t enough: Silence in therapy

By Christine Hutchison, MA, Marriage and Family Therapy Intern,

I’m going to go ahead and reveal a secret that therapists have: Sometimes we don’t know what to say. Are you surprised to hear that therapists, who spend all day talking to people, are sometimes stymied by language? After all, … Continue reading →

ARTICLE: A Biography of Joy

By Laurie Chandler, MA, Marriage and Family Therapist, MFC 86949,

People in distress don’t come into therapy to talk about feeling happy. Clients need someone to hear and see their pain. They need to know they are not alone. They want to develop insight and change behavior. They want relief. … Continue reading →