Every mystical tradition tells us in some way to go back to the natural world —Tara Brach Believe it or not, you can return to everything in 15 minutes or less. Meanwhile, I have an invitation for you: It’s right outside. You may have missed spring’s arrival in the Northern Hemisphere (our vernal equinox was March 19th). Despite how serious current...[ read more ]
Like most people, I spent a good deal of my life generally viewing myself as a singular personality or self. I believed that, generally, my “self” was one united thing, and for the most part this one self was in charge, was the main me, and that there were just these slips of personality that showed up as lack of...[ read more ]
Our recent interview with Aidan Pelly, LMFT at the Center for Mindful Psychotherapy Where is your office located? City and neighborhood? I’m located on 211 Gough Street in Hayes Valley. I really love this central area of the city for the cafes and restaurants. How can people contact you? Name: Aidan Pelly License #: LMFT 117163, APCC 4242 Supervisors: Marcia...[ read more ]
The feelings that come with being a parent can be challenging at the best of times. You may be navigating external pressures - perhaps from society, or even your own family - about what a “good” mom or dad is supposed to look like, and constantly feeling that you’re coming up short. You might be deeply ambivalent about being a...[ read more ]
When you lose someone, you may hear things like, “Time heals all wounds.” “I know just how you feel.” “You’re doing so well. You’re so strong.” “You’ve got to pull yourself together and move on.” Well-intentioned people may try to comfort you with cliches. Good-hearted people may try to relate your loss as shared, or to a loss they once...[ read more ]
Grief: early 13c., “hardship, suffering, pain, bodily affliction,” from Old French grief “wrong, grievance, injustice, misfortune, calamity” (13c.), from grever “afflict, burden, oppress,” from Latin gravare “make heavy; cause grief,” from gravis “weighty” (from PIE root *gwere- (1) “heavy”). Meaning “mental pain, sorrow” is from c. 1300. In 1969 Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross challenged the silencing stigma of talking about death...[ read more ]
Feeling the doom and gloom of the winter months approaching? Seasonal Affective Disorder is a re-occuring depressive disorder that affects on average about 1% to 2% of the general population, particularly women and young people, during certain months of the year. A milder form of SAD may affect as many as 10 to 20 percent of people. Some people are...[ read more ]
Offerings, Recommendations, Inspirations Where is your office located? City and neighborhood? Lower Pacific Heights, San. Soon I will be opening an office soon in the North Bay. What is your therapeutic orientation? My work is relational, attachment and trauma informed, influenced heavily by Hakomi (a body centered mindfulness approach). I find that somatic...[ read more ]
Trauma and Relationships The concept of trauma was once limited to traumatic effects that could be directly associated with a stressor or series of stressors. For example, people who had been in an accident or had undergone the trauma of war might suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. But our increased understanding of trauma has brought with it the insight that...[ read more ]
Offerings, Recommendations, Inspirations Where is your office located? Hayes Valley (SF), and Rockridge (Oakland) What is your therapeutic orientation? I am an integrative therapist and will tailor a specific approach for each individual client, utilizing Mindfulness, CBT, Gestalt, Somatic, Hakomi,...[ read more ]