I am pleased to share with you this informative article about the new paradigm of trauma treatment using Polyvagal Theory. I was interviewed for the article by my friend and colleague, Chiara Viscomi, M.A.: "Trauma, in greater and lesser forms, is one of the most challenging aspects of the human experience. It could be a [...]
Anger and its relatives, frustration, rage, and annoyance, are highly misunderstood and stigmatized. It’s hard to find examples in our society of healthy anger. Is there even such a thing? Part of the confusion around anger comes from how, in general, men and women are conditioned and socialized differently. Men are trained by parents and [...]
Like many of you, I am deeply disturbed by what is happening on our planet. The destruction of Nature, the exploitation of people and animals, and the rampant use of violence all weigh heavily on my heart. It pains me to see forests being slashed and children going hungry, especially when it is so obvious [...]
The good news of the last decade of brain research can be summed up in one word: “neuroplasticity.” “Neuro” refers to nerve cells that make up your brain and nervous system and “plasticity” refers to the fact that the connections between these cells can CHANGE and GROW. What determines whether they change and grow? Experience. [...]
As a child, counsellor Swarn Leung was always very interested in helping others. “I wanted to be a nurse or a teacher in Ethiopia. When I was fifteen I watched a movie about Gandhi that inspired me very deeply. I was amazed that an ordinary man could have such a profound impact in the world." [...]
“I just want to be ME!” These words are music to my ears. As a counsellor, one of my greatest joys is helping people to live more authentic lives. What gets in the way? Why is it so hard to just be oneself? To understand why we sometimes wear masks, hide our real feelings, and [...]
“Get over it!” “Move on.” “Don’t look back.” These are some of the words of advice commonly heard by someone who is depressed, anxious, and/or suffering from trauma. Though well-intended, this advice is impossible to follow for someone who is in such a state. Why? Normally we process information from the bottom up: the sensations [...]
In May we honour and celebrate our mothers, the women who gave us life. To be a mother means to give unconditionally, and to do an infinite number of tasks that usually remain unacknowledged. So on Mother’s Day, we take time to appreciate the countless sacrifices our mothers made for us. Your relationship with your [...]
How do we develop a sense of self? There are three main ways that a child’s sense of self is “awakened” by the caregiver: through a loving eye gaze, a gentle voice, and a caring touch, all of which are attuned to the present needs of the child. The child receives the sensory perceptions in [...]
I think of transpersonal psychology as a response to what is missing in Western psychology: an acknowledgement of the sacred, the spiritual, the mystery, the unknown, and the unknowable. Transpersonal psychology does not limit itself to these areas, but rather attempts to study and understand the entire range of human experience, from the pathological, to [...]
