Any Piece of Media Can Be a CBT Intervention

I have talked before about what “makes” an activity have therapeutic value and how this description grows and changes over time. As I have said many times, in therapy sessions, I am not there to make a certain intervention happen; rather, my job is to take whatever happens and make that thing therapeutic. This isContinue reading “Any Piece of Media Can Be a CBT Intervention”

PESI Presents: Trauma-Informed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Children & Adolescents

Friends, I am pleased and excited to announce that PESI has scheduled me to present my newest continuing education course on April 29, 2022! Sign up now for Trauma-Informed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Children and Adolescents. Discover how to integrate cognitive behavioral interventions and techniques with a client-centered and trauma-informed approach. Learn the underlying philosophyContinue reading “PESI Presents: Trauma-Informed Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Children & Adolescents”

Evidence-Based Treatment and Clinical Flexibility

I want to talk today about a frustration that I have with rigid adherence to manualized and “evidence-based” treatment approaches in psychotherapy. Clients often ask me about medication options for their diagnosis. Although I don’t prescribe, for many, I am the first person they talk to when they are considering psychotropic medication, so I giveContinue reading “Evidence-Based Treatment and Clinical Flexibility”

The Ultimatum: Michael Scott Does DBT

In honor of The Office leaving Netflix (US) last night, I spent a lot of yesterday afternoon marathoning. (I have to say, though, the Super Fan episodes on Peacock make me feel like I’m watching for the first time again!) Choosing a favorite episode of The Office is like choosing a favorite child; I justContinue reading “The Ultimatum: Michael Scott Does DBT”

Color Your Emotions

I created this activity to help kids express a feeling that they might not have words for. The worksheet below shows an outline of a body and asks kids to color in where they are experiencing a feeling using a color that reflects the feeling, but another way to do this activity is to giveContinue reading “Color Your Emotions”

Life Hacks: Skin Picking

Excoriation Disorder refers to an obsessive-compulsive type disorder that involves picking at the skin, often until it bleeds. It can be damaging to the skin and embarrassing for those who struggle with the behavior. Evidence-based treatments for the disorder include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Habit Reversal Therapy, and antidepressant medication. Whether someone meets the criteria andContinue reading “Life Hacks: Skin Picking”

A Change for Better: Sustainable, Accessible Mental Health

First of all, thank you to everyone who checked out I Don’t Want To Be Bad. Amazon can’t tell me if I made any sales until they ship, which takes some time when you print on demand, but the outpouring of support has been amazing. I have some other book ideas that I’ve been wantingContinue reading “A Change for Better: Sustainable, Accessible Mental Health”

Whatever You Do, Don’t Think about Pink Elephants

Something a lot of my clients struggle with is thought stopping. Thought stopping refers to shutting down a thought that is unpleasant, distressing, or uncomfortable. We are all constantly thinking, all the time, without even trying. Sometimes when a thought is upsetting, it can be hard to let it go. Kids sometimes have trouble understandingContinue reading “Whatever You Do, Don’t Think about Pink Elephants”