Buffalo seasons Awareness in life
The Power of Group
The powerful benefits of psychotherapy groups have been documented for decades, most profoundly by Irvin Yalom, MD—a founding father of existential psychotherapy and group work. Yalom observed, “The act of revealing oneself fully to another and still being accepted may be the major vehicle of therapeutic help.”
As a group psychotherapist, I have worked with people living with cancer, caregivers, bereaved persons, compassion fatigue, women’s and men’s issues, and existential concerns. In five years, I was honored to have borne witness to the unique aspects of self-discovery, compassion, and personal growth that arise from exploring the human condition with others in a confidential setting. I have been greatly influenced by Dr. Yalom’s work, and I am grateful for the opportunity .
Anticipatory Grief & The 3 E’s of Self-Compassion
Caregiving is an heroic act that needs more recognition and support. From spouses to adult children to pet parents and veterinarians to nurses and physicians, the level of care provided to one living with a serious health condition takes an existential toll.
In this blog series, I explore the life of caregivers and offer tips on how to walk the noble road while maintaining one’s emotional, cognitive, and physiological health. This week, we look at anticipatory grief and its impact on the mind, body, and spirit. We then review the 3 E’s of Self-Compassion: Expression, Engagement, and Empowerment and their protective factors for those experiencing anticipatory grief.
Feeling the Absence in Ambiguous loss
In the 1970s, Dr. Pauline Boss identified a form of loss that results due to the physical or psychological absence of a loved one: Ambiguous loss. It is different from ordinary loss because “there is no verification of death or no certainty that the person will come back or return to the way they used to be.”
when grief is complicated
In this new blog series, I discuss types of complicated grief and how counseling can help a person struggling in their time of mourning. This week we learn about disenfranchised grief and how to help a loved one who is grieving.
Why Buffalo?
As a grief counselor, I walk with my clients through the storm, encouraging them to be the buffalo. We need to run into the grief storm, like buffalo run into the ice storm because trying to escape it is futile and depletes our resources.