Articles by Jodi Aman about therapy with real clients recovering from depression, abuse, anxiety and relationship problems.
Someone asked me, “When are we done healing?” This is a very common question with a complex answer. People want to know how much more work they have to do. They go through hard times, sometimes horrible times and then they go through months, sometimes years or decades to recover. “Getting over it” or “working […]
Writing is all encompassing. I eat, breathe and sleep it. Even when I am not actively butt to chair typing away, I’m jotting down words that pique my attention, scribbling down ideas that interest me and recording quotes that enthuse me. While talking to people each day or reading whatever crosses my path, the ideas
This document came from a training group I taught that consisted of three male therapists learning skills in narrative therapy. To practice skills in creating community documents, we decided to create one of our own. Building on themes from the year long training process, the group decided to interview each other on how they learned
I often employ a co-therapist during my sessions. There are many co-therapists that I work with, but none that are more available, none that I more frequently turn to than the one who ‘has all the answers.’ Yes, it is Google. I love Google. It staves off my faux pas, quenches my thirst for information,
As I explained, another obstacle to positive thinking is feeling like it is not possible. Coincidentally, I just watched Alice in Wonderland. One of the first quotes- “It is impossible if you think it is so” became the premise for the movie. Know it is possible The quote, “I believe 6 impossible things before breakfast.”
Knowing It is Possible:‘Positive Thinking’ Skills and Obstacles- Part 2: Read More »
Conversations about spirituality have been occurring more and more in my therapeutic meetings with people. These conversations may be initiated by the other person as they are taking about how their faith, their relationship with God or their community affects their lives. But quite often people are asking “big” questions. Like: “Why would someone do
An Eating Disorder has a loud voice. This excerpt is from a journal entry from a 14 year old with Anorexia taken from the book Biting the Hand that Starves You: Inspiring Resistance to Anorexia by Richard Maisel, David Epston, and Ali Borden. I ask myself why am I so miserable? Anorexia pretending to be
Goodbye Self Hate, Don’t Come Back! Below I give you an example of a powerful resistance letter. I received the idea from other therapists (namely, David Epston) and have been using it in my practice for some time. In the letter, the people are invited to first tell about the problem’s influence on their lives
How to write a resistance letter; When Self Hate invades our lives. Read More »