Procrastination.. that nagging feeling that I should be doing “work” right now, but I can’t bring myself to do it… and even though I’m “hanging out” and should enjoy not working, I can’t enjoy it… because I think I SHOULD be working right now… and there’s a self-loathing feeling that comes along with that.
Change, desirable or not, can make you feel disoriented, outside the bounds of your competency, and grieving the good that was lost. What might help you deal with the consequences of change? What might help you attain a new sense of equilibrium?
Unless you’ve taken a part in it, you may feel that psychotherapy is one of the least understood professions: Two people meet regularly to talk and “magic happens.” How is that talk different than a talk you might have with a friend? What sets the two relationships apart and gives psychotherapy an edge in its healing power?
I have been working as a licensed clinical psychologist in San Diego for almost 20 years, and throughout those years, I have often interacted and collaborated with other kinds of healing clinicians, such as clinical social workers, and licensed marriage and family therapists. It seems that particularly in the last several years though, life coaches, who provide services that could be perceived as aligned with my profession, have been springing up like mushrooms. Given the apparent increase in the number of life coaches, it raises the question of whether they are interchangeable with psychologists (and other mental health providers). In other words, when you struggle emotionally or mentally, should you seek out a coach or a psychologist, and what are the differences?
I have been practicing as a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in San Diego for close to 20 years. Over the years, people sometimes mistakenly have referred to me as “a psychiatrist,” or asked me whether I can prescribe medications, like a medical doctor. What is the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist after all? In what ways do they overlap and in what ways are they different?
San Diego is buzzing with activities, and you yourself are busy moving through life tasks day in and day out. You’ve realized that you need support and help and that you can’t put it off anymore: It is time to enroll in therapy! You’ve identified what you want to work on and marked some of the characteristics of the San Diego therapist who might be a good match for you (see here). You’ve looked through one or more search engines and now have a short list with several potential therapists that you’re ready to reach out to. BUT you are not sure how to select the perfect therapist for you among them. I am here to help you with that! I generated a list of questions that you can use when talking with a therapist for the first time.
Every now and then I hear that just 30 to 40 years ago, living in San Diego used to be much more “manageable.” With its gorgeous beaches, only a handful of growing neighborhoods, and perfect weather, it was a dream city to settle in. Sadly (for some), those days are long gone. Nowadays San Diego is a metropolis with traffic that is sometimes like that of LA! Living in a metropolis undoubtedly adds to everyone’s stress level: The pace is fast, the competition is steep (try renting a room or buying a house!). To ease the stress, to learn some helpful coping skills, and to receive support, you may wish turn to therapy. But how would you find the right therapist for you in a big city like San Diego?