I think it is fair to assume that this reading audience has had an experience of loss in their lives. A family member, friend, mentor, community member, or a pet. There is a predictable, though painful journey in the grief process when there is something tangible to grieve. There are rituals that surround the death, … Read More
Loss
Surviving Grief Overload
Grief is a journey that we will travel eventually in our lifetimes. The loss of a family member or friend, changes in our own physical health or to those of our loved ones as well as the ambiguous losses of changes in employment, finances, family composition can affect us with a grief response. There is … Read More
Health is a Journey
Too often, we think of health–whether mental, physical or emotional–as a static state. Once we lose weight, attain sobriety, return from the throes of depression, anxiety, addiction or some other illness to a manageable state, we believe we won’t have to worry anymore or continue to manage our health. We believe our problem will remain … Read More
How Do You Know When You Are Mentally Healthy?
We can look in the mirror and see a radiant glow in our skin, shiny hair, firm muscle tone and a smile on our faces that reflect a healthy body. We can measure our blood pressure, lipid, thyroid and blood sugar levels (among many things) to confirm good physical health. But how do we truly … Read More
Man’s Best Friend (And Therapist)
Every other Saturday at the Calli Institute in Maple Grove, Otis greets patients at the door and offers support and attentive listening during therapy sessions. As the official Calli Institute therapy dog, Otis has worked side-by-side with his owner and boss, therapist Cathy Malmon, LICSW, LMFT since the mental health clinic opened its doors in … Read More
Sometimes all it takes is listening, with an open heart.
Yesterday morning I sat in my office and looked into the eyes of a man who had lost his son to suicide. That was not the way my morning was supposed to have gone but then again, that is not the way this man’s week was to have gone. The start of his summer was … Read More