clientsfromhell:

Client: Hi there, I just have a few technical questions.

Me: I can help you with those.

Client: Oh no, honey, don’t worry. I don’t ask women technical questions. Is there a guy around who could help me?”

Me: No.

Client: I’ll call back when there’s a guy around.

Pass the sexism please…unreal!

barackobama:

Bonnie sent in this letter a few weeks ago. It’s a good reminder of what all of this is about.

I am writing this sitting next to my daughter’s hospital bed at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. Our daughter Leslie is 22 years old. She graduated from Fordham University with…

Wow. Pretty Powerful!

keepyourboehneroutofmyuterus:

womenoccupy:

Dorli Rainey 84, after being pepper sprayed at Occupy Seattle protest: Photo by Joshua Trujillo, SeattlePI.com

[via]

I have only posted about OWS one other time. I just can’t let this go by. 

This is what can happen to you and your body if you just show up, place your body somewhere that freaks out the establishment, and actively protest the problems inherent and rampant in the system. This type of over-reaction by the authorities is something that people of color and minorities face ALL THE TIME simply for being, let’s remember. But seriously, Holy Fuck.

We owe it to this woman to look in her eyes, to see her face, to SEE her. We owe it to her to hold her gaze, to not move our eyes away because it is hard to look. We need to keep looking at her specifically BECAUSE it is hard to look. 

Unreal.

(via newsweek)

thingsorganizedneatly:

ed: Spring is here (in the Northern Hemisphere)

I am in love! 

Yesterday was an amazing day! Not only was I able to see a totally new workout, I was also able to witness transformation right before my very eyes. IntenSati was one of the coolest workouts I have ever seen!  A combination of yoga, aerobics, kick boxing and zumba all mixed in with positive affirmations. I have to say I was a skeptic at first-How can hollering positive affirmations while working out change your self perception? I suggest that you see it to believe it! I was able to see women of all backgrounds, shapes and sizes workout while incorporating mantras such as “Victory!” and “Freedom!”.

This class truly needs a genuine instructor to lead the workout. Lindsay Davis @LBDinNYC was amazing. Lindsay took the class to a totally different level with her words of encouragement and her insightful teachings. Still a skeptic? Please check out her site http://on.fb.me/fzJPX4 to become a follower! 

Being a teenager is extremely tough, especially in 2011. Never before have teens had so much pressure (mostly stemming from media and society…but that is another blog) to survive in school and their lives. During counseling sessions teens say that their parents “don’t care” and parents “don’t listen”.  I see why parents may not have time as they have many responsibilities and duties. When healthy effective communication is not seen as a responsibility, things can begin to come apart at the seams.  

Teens have a lot to say and the real reason they start to talk, may not be obvious. Teens love to drop hints. They feel these hints are obvious, but for most adults they are more like ambiguous cryptic coding. Teens will drop hints when they do not feel safe/comfortable enough to talk openly. When a teen comes in and tries to drop hints, I identify the behavior immediately. I love to talk about the obvious: the teen’s feelings around communication and fear. 

Teens are also notorious for “lying by omission” by leaving out important tidbits of information. “I’m going to stay the night over Robert’s house. His parents said it’s OK”. Yes, Robert’s parents said it was OK for your son to stay at the house…while they are on vacation for a week. Teens are too afraid that they will not be allowed to do what they want at the moment. In counseling, we talk about the importance of always letting your parents know where you are for safety reasons. If your parents think you are somewhere other than where you said, they cannot get to you. I also discuss consequences and trust. What if you get caught? How will you be punished? The ideas around immediate gratification and long-term gratification are processed at length. So many children are raised to get what they want, when they want. They don’t always learn long-term payoffs. In the case of telling the whole truth, we discuss the long-term payoff of gaining trust. Then at a later time, teens will be allowed to go places without them questioning their motives. 

Teens talk and they talk A LOT! When you allow them to talk, they feel heard. It is important to validate their experiences. As it may be hard to hold back un-solicited advice, teens need to learn on their own. Be there to support them. Statement such as: “That must be tough.” and “It seems like you are stressed.” are extremely helpful.  The best place for teens to talk is in the car. The car is a safe, non-confrontational space where they feel they can speak their mind. Take the time to listen. I understand that parents have a lot going on (that teens do not need to know about), it is important to have them be heard. When you invest the time to talk to your teen, the long term payoff is truth, openness and honesty. 

This morning I woke up to find a beautiful picture of my dear friend. My friend is a 30 year old spunky, hysterically outspoken woman. She is one of the strongest people I know and today she proved it once again. She was diagnosed with breast cancer right before her sister’s wedding (she never told anyone because she didn’t want to “ruin” the day) and has been fighting ever since. This morning I was greeted by a beautiful picture of her bald head. She is amazingly brave and this picture proved it. I love her and of course I am fearful for her, but this showed me that she would kick cancer’s ass. Right now, she is braver and stronger than I and I have to remember her fighting spirit. Despite all the tragedy that is going on in the world, she is representing hope and faith. Every day she is my beautiful inspiration and I hope other young women will see her and feel the exact same way! :) 

Whenever people come to counseling, they discuss how anxious they were to even initiate the first call. Despite hearing this from 99.9 % of all of my clients, I can’t tell you how many times this surprises me! The joy I feel when a person comes into the office is wonderful. I love to see the growth in people when they take that first step. All of the successes a person achieves, is due to their hard work. Counselors essentially hold a safe space while the person does the exploration and work. And when I say work, I mean work. It is difficult at times, but so rewarding at the end. 

Relief is the most common feeling that I see once a person works through experiences, shame, doubt and embarrassment. Seeing that relief in a person’s face after they realize I am not going to judge them is wonderful. Sometimes this relief comes within the first few sessions, sometimes a little later. People develop trust at their own pace and I feel honored they allow me to be a part of that process. If there are people reading this and contemplating taking the first steps towards counseling, I would tell them to talk to the counselor on the phone. Get a feel for that person. Ask questions; you have the right. Find out who they are. You are in the driver’s seat.

After taking that first step, make sure to choose the road that will help lead you towards your goals.