Answers at MyShrink...

Does psychotherapy really work?

Dr. Suzanne LaCombe — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0800

Well thankfully, there's a ton of research that says it does. Thousands of people benefit from therapy today. But you might be wondering if it is all equally effective? In other words, how does psychotherapy work when it's working well?

Actually to understand how it works it's helpful to appreciate that not all therapists nor all treatments are equally effective. There's also a very large contributing factor to whether it works or not - it depends on you!

You see, change occurs relationally. And the better your connection with a therapist - the better your chances for co-creating changes that last.

To tell you more, I created a special access area inside MyShrink with videos, audios, free teleseminars and interactive features. So, drop by for a visit so I can share with you the secret to good therapy.

Need a little inspiration?

Dr. Suzanne LaCombe — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0800

It's not unusual to feel a bit of a crash after we've been wound up for a while. So, it's not uncommon after the holiday season - especially if it's been a busy one - to feel a little flat.

That's the way the nervous system naturally compensates. It resets itself. The more wound up you were (i.e. stressed, tense etc.), the lower you'll go (i.e. flat, numb, even down in the dumps). That is, unless your nervous system is working optimally. And for those folks who find the holiday season triggering, well what I'm saying goes double.

So on that note, I thought you might enjoy an uplifting and inspiring video. Have a nice day!

Abandonment: The Hidden Fear

Dr. Suzanne LaCombe — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0800

If you've ever wondered why your relationships never seem to work out or cause such torment inside - even with partners you know are right for you, then listen in.

Dr. Carole and I are hosting a webinar that might explain why. We'll explain what is essential for changing the brain and for doing what's necessary so you can have fulfilling relationships.

Watch the video here to learn more Abandonment: The Hidden Fear

FREE Webinar - Get Your Questions Answered

Dr. Suzanne LaCombe — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0700

The Post-a-Comments feature on MyShrink has been enormously successful. So much so that you may have noticed I've had the dickens of a time keeping up with the demand.

I am so grateful to those who put such effort in drafting their detailed stories. I also know that for some folks this was their first online posting. So it's been doubly hard for me to keep folks waiting for my response.

As some of you may have noticed, many of the Post-a-Comments are closed - albeit temporarily. I will reopen them under a new format which will enable a more timely response from me. There will be a fee associated with it - it won't break the bank - but it will definitely be less than an hour of therapy! I hope you'll be delighted.

But before we get there, I have an invitation for you. If you have a specific question about being in therapy, how to get started, or even about choosing a therapist, now is the time to act.

On Sunday November 15th at 12 Noon PST, Dr. Carole and I will be hosting a FREE Webinar to answer all your queries. Sign up for our first MyShrink Webinar by leaving your email on my Counseling Theories Events page. Scroll down to post your question in the text box. It's not necessary to leave a question, but it's a wonderful opportunity to get your most pressing question answered.

Don't worry if you can't attend at that specific time, since all those who register will receive a copy of the recording. But sign up soon, since the questions that we receive first will have a much better chance at being covered.

I'll see you then,

Shrinklady

Yoga as therapy?

Dr. Suzanne LaCombe — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:00:00 -0700

It's no surprise that millions of people are going to yoga these days. Yoga makes you feel better. It calms your body and in doing so, it calms the mind. Yup, it slows down the rapid firing in the brain.

But did you know that going to yoga on a regular basis can actually change you fundamentally from the inside out? Yes, yoga therapy!

Corinne Scholtz, a contributor to MyShrink shares her story of what yoga has meant for her.

P.S. If you're up for giving it a try, here's an introductory video that illustrates some of the beginner yoga positions.

Neurofeedback therapy for your brain.

Dr. Suzanne LaCombe — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0700

As folks get comfortable with the idea that we can literally change the brain - yes, it's no longer so "woo-woo" - techniques that do so are getting more attention. Neurofeedback therapy, for example, is one that's been around for years.

My interest in neurofeedback therapy was piqued because its benefits are largely the same as those found in body psychotherapy. In other words, they both appear to work by changing the brain's capacity to regulate.

And neurofeedback seems to be just as effective as body psychotherapy in dealing with overactive and underactive brains. In fact, neurofeedback might be the treatment of choice for those folks who find the interactions in therapy intolerable.

So, if you need to increase your functional capacity...in other words, handle stress better, improve your attention, overcome learning challenges, regulate sleep; reduce or get rid of depression, anxiety, and a host of other concerns...then you might consider neurofeedback therapy.

Catherine Boyer, a New York therapist, is our contributing author this month. She has used neurofeedback therapy in her practice for years. She shares her insights and the personal reasons that drew her to it in the first place.

Watch out for the wonky therapist.

Dr. Suzanne LaCombe — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Is finding the right therapist stopping you from getting started? Or are you already ten sessions in and wondering if you're with the right therapist?

Choosing the right therapist shouldn't be a crapshoot. Neuroscience has revealed that the brain needs certain conditions in order to change. In particular, it's essential that you have a good connection with a therapist.

But how do you find the right one, if your expectations are too low? In other words, if you come from a "small" place, why wouldn't you naturally choose a therapist from a similarly "small" place? It sure seems that's what happened to my friend.

Refresh for a new look!

Dr. Suzanne LaCombe — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700

Well, the birthing process took a bit more than than 9 months... but the revamped MyShrink home page - with its very own slider animation and a picture of yours truly - just went live. Come by for a visit.

Too much "self " in self-help?

Dr. Suzanne LaCombe — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700

The self-help phenomenon is as hyper-active as the diet industry. And you've probably already noticed that a new book gets published everyday. You might even agree that some of these books are stars and can help transform old ways of thinking. Yet I question how much lasting personal change is really happening.

Is the self-help approach based on a false premise? Are we even biologically capable of fundamental change on our own, in isolation? Neuroscience just might have the answer.

I know from personal and clinical experience there's a more powerful way to change that's a quantum leap above the old self-help routine. And you'll never guess where it comes from. Watch the MyShrink movie and discover the bright promise of the future of psychotherapy.

Craniosacral for your therapy?

Dr. Suzanne LaCombe — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0700

If this is a therapy site, then why am I talking about bodywork?

I often advise clients to get some bodywork in between sessions. You see, by calming the body, you calm the emotions. And while it can also be the reverse - you can easily trigger the emotions when you're working with the body - many forms of bodywork are ideal. One is craniosacral therapy.