I’m Frustrated (or, Why MFTs Rock Yet No One Seems To Know It)

Right now I’m at the AAMFT Annual Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. The conference itself hasn’t started yet, but as President-Elect of the Mid-Atlantic Division of AAMFT (http://www.madmft.org), I just finished attending Leadership Day, which is a day set aside for – you guessed it – leaders in the AAMFT divisions. The purpose of Leadership Day is to get together and talk about ways we can better service our members and the populations and clients we serve.  It’s also a rare opportunity to interact with the leaders of AAMFT divisions from all across the US and Canada, and see what amazing work they are doing in their divisions to promote the practice of marriage and family therapy.

As I sat at Leadership Day today, one thought kept occurring and reoccurring to me: we rock. You heard me – marriage and family therapists (also known as couple and family therapists) rock. Let me tell you why: we are arguably (and I will argue with you on this one!) the best-trained mental health profession in regards to working with couples and families. While other professions receive a few hours or classes in their degree programs on multi-person work, marriage and family therapists must complete a minimum of 500 client contact hours, 250 of which must be relational, or couple or family work. That’s a lot of hours in the chair learning how to balance a session, hear all differing points of view without excluding anyone, and oh yes, move the therapy forward in a productive and fruitful way. Did I mention that’s in addition to the two years of coursework? All this focus is on working with systems – not just the internal workings of one person (though we do that too!), but the internal workings of every person in the room, plus interpersonal dynamics between them, and the larger familial, cultural, and societal context that surrounds them all. Impressed yet? You should be; this is not easy work. And yes, we can do individual work too – like building a house when you’re an expert on constructing cathedrals, we can morph all this larger systems training to focus on the systems on and in one person too.

A systems perspective also means that marriage and family therapists focus on process, not just content. Process is just that – the processes at work between clients as they address their issues. Calling process can be tricky stuff, but it is vital to authentic and productive psychotherapy work. MFTs trained in systems are also trained to call how those systems interact with one another, and how, which is one aspect of process.

Can you tell I’m excited? I am. I have an inexhaustible amount of pride in the work we do and the profession at large. That’s why it drives me crazy when people haven’t heard of us.

I have nothing against social workers, psychologists, licensed professional counselors, or any other mental health discipline – in fact, I work with these other professionals daily, and they are often a tremendous help to me. I especially appreciate and respect colleagues in other professions who take it upon themselves to seek out additional training in working with couples and families, recognizing that they may indeed have a hole in their formal clinical training. I believe it is a sign of wisdom to identify what we do not know, because only then can we seek to know it.

What I want is the same kind of high visibility for MFTs that these other professions enjoy, because we’ve earned it. The leaders I had the privilege of interacting with all day are unpaid volunteers who feel similarly. We are on fire to get the word out to agencies, businesses, legislators, companies and anyone else who will listen: try us. You will be pleased. I promise you. I have been the pioneering MFT at several organizations, and my story is similar to dozens I have heard over the years from employers who have been smart enough to hire an MFT, even if they’ve never heard of us before – we rock. We have this therapy thing down pat – we are professional, organized, serious therapists who know how to move things forward for the better. In fact, the agencies I know of who have “taken a chance” on an MFT (a safe bet if there ever was one) have gone on to hire MFTs again and again. And why wouldn’t they? We are not only highly trained; we understand that with every step forward we are the image-bearers for our profession. We know that for better or worse, when we are the first MFT in any setting we carry the reputation of all MFTs with us, and we take that responsibility very seriously.

But that first step is a doozy, and we need to do a better job of getting the word out there so that the public has enough information to make an educated decision and hire us, whether it is an agency or private practice client doing the hiring. Part of our job as MFTs, is educating the public as to our impressive expertise and potential. Wherever I go, I am armed with a short, ready-to-go speech about who we are, what we do, and why we rock. I’ve educated people from the tellers at the bank to my postal carrier, who wanted to know what the letters “LCMFT” after my name stood for on my mail. I’m eager and happy to do it, because they need to know.

And so I charge you to do the same. Be ready for your opportunities to share and educate – not in a preachy way (though I have been known to get on my soapbox; can you tell?) but as the truth it is. This is the secret to pull marketing – tell the truth. Our truth is that we have extraordinary talents and skills, honed by huge investments of time, money, sweat and tears. We are uniquely trained to deal with complex issues of couples and families – don’t be afraid to tell people so! If we don’t, no one else will, and those other groups don’t have nearly as much to prove as we do. We have a responsibility to ourselves, our colleagues, and our profession to share the truth about what we have to offer.

No, it’s not fair. But that’s the way it is, until we have gained as much visibility and understanding in society at large as social workers, psychologists, and other mental health groups. I am so looking forward to that day! But until then, this is my clarion call to you: educate. You already know we rock; it’s time the rest of the world knew too.

Laurel Fay is a licensed clinical marriage and family therapist and owner of Laurel Fay & Associates, a private psychotherapy practice in Silver Spring, Maryland. She is the President-Elect of the Mid-Atlantic Division of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, as well as a Clinical Fellow and Approved Supervisor. She gets a little excited when she talks about MFTs. Email her at laurel@laurelfay.com.

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How To Get Your Partner To Open Up To You

Sometimes it seems as if communicating effectively with one’s partner is an impossible task – overshadowed only by their ability (or lack thereof) to communicate with us.

What gets in the way? Why is it so hard to talk to the one you love and be really, deeply understood? That’s what we all want. In fact, I think almost every – if not every – issue that plagues a couple can be boiled down to one simple concept, one fundamental question:

Do you love me?
Followed at a close second by:
Really?
This is my challenge to you. Look at your own communication as a couple. And by communication, I mean everything – verbal, non-verbal, physical, emotional; what is said, what’s not said, what’s said between the words – everything. My guess is that you are usually mostly looking at things from your point of view. Don’t feel bad – we all do it. Even people who pride themselves on considering their partner’s feelings shift quickly back into championing number one when things start to go bad. It’s human nature – we want to protect ourselves. I can be open to you just fine, but the first whiff I get that you’re angry, or rude, or inconsiderate, or withdrawn, or (fill-in-the-blank), I’m going to pull back into my defensive position. I’m going to look out for me, because you’re obviously not – right? And what’s wrong with that?
Nothing is wrong with it. As I said, it’s just human nature. The problem comes when you want to defend yourself AND have a meaningful connection with another person. That dilemma requires us to stay open when we want to close up like a clam, to bite back those sarcastic words that are just on the tip of our tongues. Basically, we have to be better than human.
Are you exhausted at the thought? Me too. But wait – there’s good news. Though you do have to be better than your human nature, you don’t have to be better all the time. In fact, the hardest part of this “learning not to be human” stuff comes at the very beginning. That’s when you’re bumping up against your own fears that you’ll be hurt at the same time you’re trying to pry the door open to connection. And truth be told, you’re not really sure yet that the other person is up to it. Will they be gentle and careful with me, with the ways I’m trying to reach out and risk? Or will they stomp all over me, and if so, won’t I be worse off than I was before I was vulnerable?
Nope. Because you are exercising a new maybe never-before-used muscle – the muscle of intimacy. And even if your current partner takes a while to catch on (or even if they never do), you’ll be better for the attempt. The emotional push-ups you are doing will result in you being better. Stronger. More resilient – able to be vulnerable with someone out of your own inner reserves, and not because of their reaction.
But at the beginning, you’ll have to be tough. Not tough on the other person- tough on your own fears of being hurt. Remind yourself why you are doing this in the first place: to get to a new level with another person, where they really know you and you really know them. Once you’ve tasted it, you won’t be able to settle for less. So have faith that the reward is worth the risk, and be the first one to reach out. You feel hurt, angry, misunderstood? First try to understand the other. It doesn’t take anything away from your pain, but it just might move you both out of gridlock. Instead of playing a game of emotional chicken, waiting for the other one to make the first move, you do it. Just DO it. Reach down into the depths of your heart and find a place where you feel warmth for your person. Tenderness. See them as a wounded person too, someone who (like you) is really afraid of losing love, or of not being worthy of it in the first place. And since you know so well yourself how that feels who better to reach out and help them? Help by listening. Help by seeking to really understand. Help by accepting, even if you don’t agree. Ask yourself: “do I want to be right, or do I want to be together?”
More good news: like any good skill, the more you practice staying open when you want to be closed, the better you will get at it. And you’ll be amazed at what you see happening: one of these times, your partner will be the one to reach out first. It will blow your mind – in a good way. You’ll smile at each other more. Laugh more; touch more. It is truly miraculous what real trust can do.

So be the first one to risk it – with an open mind, hand, heart. You will not regret it.
More on how to stay open next time… until then, let me know how it’s going!

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A Bit of A Rant (or, Where have all the good companies gone?)

When exactly did it happen that people stopped doing their jobs?

Grrrrr. This is one of those things that really ticks me off. To get on my soapbox for a minute, where has professionalism gone? As a business owner, I know firsthand the importance of good customer service. And this can be a tricky thing, since my business is providing therapy – as a psychotherapist, sometimes keeping a high standard of integrity and professionalism means telling my clients something they won’t want to hear. But professionalism is not just limited to content – it’s the process of doing business too. For example, if I have an air duct cleaning company come out and clean my air ducts, and they (accidentally, of course) disconnect my home alarm system, who – in your opinion – should pay for the $261.87 I was charged for the alarm repair? I’ll give you a hint as to my humble opinion: it isn’t me.

Or, pray tell, if I go away for the weekend to a quaint B&B and discover black mold in the dresser drawers, whose problem is that really? (see above for answer). And why should I have to be the one making call after long-distance call to get a result? And WHY, when I finally receive a refund, is it $30 less than what I paid? What is going on here??

The worst part is – of course these things happen. They really aren’t anyone’s fault, per se – unseen wires can be crossed; mold grows (I guess. Clorox, anyone? Sorry. Still grossed out.) But if these things happen on your watch, as a result of an action or inaction by your company, I believe it is reasonable and civilized to expect a quick and professional outcome. Like, a refund. Like, a return phone call. Like, a human being on the other end of the line who can think about more than money.

Am I expecting too much here? I have to admit, it chips away at my usual good feeling for mankind. The fact that I have to work harder to maintain my natural optimism in the face of such absurdity only makes me madder.

Whew. That felt good. Thanks.

I think I felt motivated to blog about this, not just to get it off my chest, but as a wake-up call – a manifesto of sorts, if you will – to companies and people out there: have integrity. Be human – connect, and if you screw up, repair. It’s worth so much more than money (though in the long run it will earn you more, as the loyalty of your customers is translated into cash).

I am not above screwing up either – far from it. But I am proud to say that when I do, I strive to make amends – a refund, a reschedule, something out of my pocket to compensate for me double-booking or forgetting an appointment. Does it hurt to swallow a client’s session fee when I make a mistake? You bet it does. Which is why I don’t make them often – the sting teaches, and it’s definitely not just about the money.

I want to be seen and known as a person of integrity. Why do I sometimes feel that this is not a modern concept??

Okay, I’m really done. If I’m gutsy I’ll tweet this – if I do, feel free to respond, whether you agree or disagree. It just feels like a big deal to me; let me know if I’m the only one. Thanks.

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Is Your Relationship Helped or Harmed by Social Technology?

This is a topic close to my heart, as I am married to a techie geek. I’m not insulting him – he would probably take it as a compliment, actually. And well he should. Were it not for my husband’s tech prowess, I’d still be rolling paper into our old dot-matrix printer and trying to figure out the fax machine. He has succeeded in dragging his at-times technophobic wife into the 21st century, and truly, it needed to happen. This is a wave – a tsunami – that unless we get on top of, we will find ourselves drowned by.

In my practice this is especially true. Social media is a factor (if not the catalystic cause) of the issues for most of the couples I see for therapy. Whether it’s a seen email, forbidden text, or controversial Facebook relationship status, social technology is rocking our world. Perhaps it’s because it provides a whole new platform for connection – and rejection. Maybe it’s due to the fact that one can now clandestinely pursue someone other than one’s partner, aided by emails, texts, and secret passwords. I personally think it’s because the Internet holds for us the same pseudo-safety we feel in our cars when we exercise our road rage: we feel invincible, powerful, unseen and safe all at once. It’s too easy to forget that behind the computer screen (or smartphone, iPad, or Blackberry screen) there are real people watching, listening, and taking note of our words, pictures, and selves. Many many real people, in fact. Just imagine: would you fill Yankee Stadium just to announce what you ate for breakfast, or how hung over you are? And yet, that’s what millions – soon to be billions – do every day on the world’s most popular site, Facebook. It’s Warhol’s 15 minutes of fame on amphetamines and the high school of your worst nightmares wrapped into one.

But it can also be a source of positive connection too. People can now keep in touch with loved ones across the globe faster, easier, and some might say even better than they ever have before at any point in history. And on a much smaller scale, dual-income marrieds can retrieve some of the intimacy of which daily life has robbed them. I know my beloved geek loves to be pinged with random texts throughout the day that let him know I’m thinking of him at that very moment. I myself like to involve him via iPhone pics in the latest havoc our 5 year-old twins have wreaked (thereby preparing him for my mood before he even steps in the door).

What do you think? I’d love to hear from you. Weigh in – take my 5-minute survey at http://tinyurl.com/social-tech-survey and let me know. Or email me at laurel@laurelfay.com. I’m also on Facebook and Twitter (@laurelfay) – of course. I told you I was dragged into the modern era <:)

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Do You Ever Have A Day…

When you are just in a BAD mood? I mean, a really really foul mood. That’s me today.

Surprised? I have no idea why. Therapists are people too, and we make mistakes, snap at our spouses, and sometimes willingly sink into a temporary pit to wallow in our own gloriously foul moods. The only difference is that then we have the guilt of “I should know better!” after the nasty mood passes (well, I do, anyway.)

But should I? I mean, come on. Stuff happens. Kids argue – loudly and seemingly unceasingly. Spouses misunderstand. Trees fall on houses (true story. Ours was removed today by my husband and a good friend of ours. Before that, out front year was a scene out of Twister). So why feel guilty? Shouldn’t I have the opportunity to be base and small-minded, and jealously guard my bad mood, nursing it tenderly?

Yes! I think vehemently. Yes! I get to have a bad mood too!! But I know: I am still accountable for what I say and do during my bad mood, just like everyone else. Worst of all, I might hurt someone in the midst of my bad mood, or miss a great opportunity to be with my family. Drat.

So how am I going to retrieve this bad-mood-day? (Incidentally, it is a *beautiful* day outside where I live: gold sun and bright blue Saturday sky, not hot or cold, just perfect. The exact opposite of my internal weather. Of course.)

Well, the best I can figure is to mix together some grace for me with a healthy dose of thinking-before-I-speak to others. If I can’t say anything nice, I will go one step further and remove myself from the situation, lest the not-niceness creep out. I’ll spend some time later with my family and some beloved friends, which I know will help. Laughing with them will definitely dull the sharp edges of my mood. And then I will go to sleep early tonight. I don’t know about you, but not having a good night’s sleep is almost a guarantee of one degree or another of a snappy mood the next day. Then I’ll say a prayer and hope for the best.

Plus I’ll put on some Bon Jovi. That’ll help.

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Time

Along with our health, time really is our most precious commodity. Whatever we spend our time on is a good indicator of our priorities. And if you’re like me, there’s never enough of it. I wear so many hats: wife, mother, sister, friend, therapist, supervisor, colleague…and each role comes with its own expectation of time investment. Some roles I have to fulfill; some I want to, and some fall into both categories. But one thing is certain: if I don’t manage my time well, I am not effective in any role.

Recently, giving myself time has become a higher priority than it used to be. Of course, not having it as a priority in the past means it has nowhere to go but up! I realized that if I myself am not replenished, I cannot give anything to others. I knew this – in my head – but living it takes another level of commitment and intention. I know myself well enough to know that if I have too many things to do or think about doing at one time, I’ll get overwhelmed and feel perfectly justified in doing none of them! So, I make lists. I chunk down my obligations and tasks into categories. Taking it slow and giving myself grace not to finish everything all at once is one way I practice self-care.

Another way I take care of myself is through the basics: sleep, diet and exercise. Everyone knows these three foundational needs of our lives, but at least for me, it’s not as easy to maintain them as it is to recognize the need for them. I definitely feel a difference when I neglect one or all three. But even more significantly, I refuse to beat myself up when I’m not doing the best job with these “Big Three”. Instead, I resolve to do better: at the next night’s sleep, meal, or opportunity to exercise.

Finally, I make time for alone time. It’s not regular and it’s not a lot, but I know I need at least 30 minutes a day to “decompress” in solitude. When the kids refuse their “quiet time”, I still take mine! They play together while I spend time in my room; they know not to disturb me unless someone is bleeding or on fire. And sometimes, they actually respect this space! When they are having a more difficult time, I have absolutely no guilt giving them a TV program to watch while I take some time to relax. You can be guilty or you can be exhausted, or both, or neither. I pick D.

I hope this has given you some ideas and some encouragement that you are not alone in your attempts at time management and self-care. Write me at: laurel@laurelfay.com with ways you practice self-care.

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Warning Signs of An Affair

Coming to therapy to resolve issues surrounding a partner’s infidelity is both unfortunate and fortunate. Unfortunate for obvious reasons – you’d rather be anywhere else dealing with almost anything else! But fortunate because you are there. In the office of a compassionate therapist trained to deal with the emotional and psychological fallout of an affair is the safest place to be (though it might not always feel so). Marriages can come back from infidelity, and in fact can be stronger than they were before the affair. However, since if given a choice most would choose to never have had the affair happen, here are some potential warning signs of an affair (by Beth Leuders):

  • Looking for ego boosts outside your marriage. Men tend to turn to extramarital liaisons to build up their self-image or sexual self-esteem. Women are suspect to affairs to satisfy their longing for love, appreciation and tenderness. Beware of leaning on others beyond your marriage as primary sources for love, value and respect.
  • Neglecting to talk openly with each other. If you only talk to your spouse about the bills and household chores, you may be sliding into trouble. Holding in your thoughts and feelings does not enhance transparency in your relationship. Practice the art of small talk that can open the door to deeper sharing.
  • Resisting conflict resolution. Every couple runs into communication rough spots. It’s important not to build walls between you and your spouse. Some people mask their hurt while others spew their emotions. Neither method is constructive. Both ways create relational roadblocks. Unresolved conflict leads to isolation and leaves you vulnerable to fleeing your marriage.
  • Discounting fun and relaxation together. Think of the last time you and your spouse enjoyed a date or a weekend getaway together. As the old adage says, “Couples that play together, stay together.” If career, family and homes responsibilities are crowding out laughter and friendship with your spouse, you need to book in some recreational retreats with each other.
  • Increasing the time you spend apart. The demands of work travel, ill children or differing interests and hobbies are common issues that can keep couples apart. The more time you spend away from your spouse, the greater temptation to drift in your relationship.
  • Allowing daily stresses and fatigue to sabotage your intimacy. Packed schedules and raising children are two common reasons husbands and wives feel ho-hum in their relational intimacy. Romance, in an instant, can remind you of the reasons you love each other. All marriages require times of refreshing and an in-depth look at intimacy saboteurs.
  • Letting your love life fizzle instead of sizzle. Familiarity and boredom can creep into any marriage. Beware of shaking things up in your sex life by dumping your spouse for another more promising lover. If you or your partner suddenly is disinterested in sex with each other, be sure to explore the true reasons.
  • Giving in to predictability. A little mystery can go a long way in adding spice to your marriage. Many couples succumb to affairs out of fading interest in their spouses. One way to continue your wedded bliss is to surprise your mate with love notes or an occasional unexpected outing or gift.
  • Living in denial. Pretending that problems do not exist in your marriage will only widen the gap between you and your spouse. Many extramarital affairs start when a frustrated spouse searches for a reality check in marriage by turning to an officemate or friend of the opposite sex for support. Dare to face the truth of your marital struggles.
  • Forgetting your commitment to each other. Over time couples are prone to forget why they fell in love. In our easy-come-easy-go culture, it takes courage and determination to honor commitment instead of convenience.
  • Failing to resist come-ons and temptations. In our over-sexed world, even the most innocent husband or wife can fall prey to sexual temptations. Before you or your mate find yourself in compromising situations, talk about safeguards for your marriage. You may need to avoid after-work soirees, certain hotels on business trips and sexually compromising magazines, movies or television shows. Thinking “Just this once,” can lead to a lifetime of regret.

Quick Infidelity Quiz

If your marriage partner exhibits several of these following behaviors, your marriage may be in danger of an affair:

  • Avoids eye contact with you.
  • Talks continually about the unknowns of the future.
  • Shows an increased disinterest in the topic of sex.
  • Makes excuses for not spending time alone with you.
  • Acts unusually guilty when you do something nice for him/her.
  • Quits complimenting you on your physical attractiveness.
  • Stops saying, “I love you” and even acts rudely to you.
  • Starts buying you gifts to ease his or her guilt.

One of the best recommendations for troubled marriages is enlisting the help of a licensed counselor. Often, involving a third party — especially one who’s trained to counsel — can force root issues out into the open and guide you and your spouse on the road to healing.

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You’re More Courageous Than You Think

I think courage is an under-utilized word these days. In the minds of most, it seems to be reserved for “big” things, like fighting in a war or rushing into a burning building to save a child. Don’t get me wrong, these are definitely courageous acts worthy of the word. But for most of us, we won’t get the opportunity to show that kind of courage. We will, however, do other things that require our courage – everyday though they may seem.

There are many daily occurrences that require some element of courage. As a mom to twin four year-old daughters, sometimes getting up in the morning feels like an act of courage! And this week in the DC area where I live, just taking to the roads after our blizzard(s?) is courageous (or foolhardy).

But the everyday act of courage that I am privileged to see on a regular basis is starting therapy. If you’ve never been to therapy, just imagine:

You are at the end of your rope. You’ve tried everything you can think of to improve your situation, be it a troubled marriage, conflictual family relationships or mind-numbing depression or anxiety. In desperation you decide to reach out for help, not really knowing where to start but knowing something has to change, and soon. You get online, looking for something, someone who speaks to you, who seems to understand. (This in and of itself is a daunting task; how do you know someone is a good therapist from their online directory listing?) Or maybe you’ve asked a friend for a recommendation; maybe you’ve seen this person speak or read one of their articles, books or blogs. Perhaps it’s as simple as you just like their smile – it seems to say “You can trust me.” Whatever the reason, you take a deep breath and call or email, and make an appointment.

Then you wait, with a mix of fear and hope. Things are still bad but now when you think how bad they are you also dare to think they may be able to change for the better. At the same time you’re terrified that this person may be strange or scary or just not in sync with you, and if that’s the case, you’re not sure you can go back to the exhaustive searching…this might just be your one shot.

The day finally comes for your appointment. You find the office, are greeted and fill out some paperwork, and all the while your thoughts race. When you sit down with the therapist a few minutes later with your heart pounding, you think This is it. Please let it help.

As both a therapist and someone who has been in therapy herself, I can tell you I genuinely appreciate what this is – nothing less than a true act of courage. There are many factors that could have prevented this moment – pain, fear, financial impediments, emotional paralysis. Add to this a potential familial or cultural stigma, and it’s a wonder anyone has the courage to come to therapy at all.

But they do, and I see it every day in my office. They come in shaking, crying, yelling, stonewalling, defensive, desperate, cynical…but with one thing in common: on some level, in some measure, they dare to hope. Sometimes against unbelievable odds, with heart-wrenching stories and no real reason to continue to hold on, they hope. And their hope in therapy, in me, is a gift and an honor. I try to hold it gently but securely, as we walk through that first session and subsequent others together. It is no small thing to open up your heart and mind to a total stranger. It is no small feat to bring what hurts the most into the light, daring to trust you might be able to have the life you want. And there are no promises. Even with this courage, sometimes things don’t work out – despite hard work and good intentions to the contrary, sometimes change doesn’t happen, and things stay broken.

But sometimes they do work out. Sometimes – often, actually – I see the initial investment of hope blossom into real changes in peoples’ lives. I’m with them when they have the “A-ha!” moment that leads them to understand their past and make better decisions in their future. I get to see the lightness return to their step, the smiles return to their faces, the love return to their lives. It’s awesome, and it’s why I love my work. Even if it only happened one time out of a hundred, it would be enough, but it happens much more than that. I know that the main ingredient in this is the courage of my clients – not just the significant courage it takes to come to therapy in the first place, but the courage to keep coming and keep working on things, especially outside the therapy room.

I believe that these people deserve all the good that comes their way. Helping and watching them figure that out is my privilege.

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A Whole New World…

For me, that is. This entry marks the start of my foray into the blogosphere, much to my husband’s delight (as a techie, he has been at me for a while to blog).

My reticence has less to do with being non-techie (though I am!) and more to do with the feeling that blogging is somewhat…narcissistic? As in, who really wants to know what kind of coffee I drank today? (I don’t drink coffee, by the way. In case you were burning to know.) But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense to blog. Not about my choice of beverage or other mundane details of my life, but about information on therapy and thoughts I have on such information. I truly love my work and have a passion for it, and if I can pass along useful or helpful information to you and have fun doing it, I will enthusiastically blog.

If you are indeed interested in hearing such blog posts from me, please drop me a line (or comment, I guess) and let me know you’re out there. I can talk to myself any old time ;) Also, let me know if there’s a particular topic or issue you’d like to hear more about, or my thoughts on. For next time, I’m thinking about discussing why starting therapy is an act of courage. I’d love to hear your thoughts too.

Thanks for reading! :) Laurel

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