Episode 33 - How to prepare for a counseling/therapy session

The Hopeful Humanist Cafe

In this episode (#33), we start off with a "germ-free" couple of clips from Danielson and then switch the discussion to explore four things a person might do to prepare for one's first ever therapy session.

The orienting framework includes the following:

1) T-shirt Idea: "Explore, Expand, Become"

2) A moment of free-association: Attitude, Awareness, Attention; Self-Compassion, Patience, Acceptance

3) Quote: "The Perfect is the enemy of the good" - and is explained by Danielson

4) Words of the Day: Cathartic & Process

5) Danielson's re-crafting of the Novel First Sentence he shared in Episode 29: "The mirror conjured a new testimony of age: evidence of a deeper parenthesized mouth that launched a regret-flavoured reverie as he scrutinized his altered face."

Home Work Resources:

1. Learn about the "Stages of Change" by clicking this PowerPoint presentation at the CAMH website by clicking here - http://www.camhx.ca/education/online_courses_webinars/mha101/stagesofchange/Stages_of_Change_.htm
2. Again, by visiting CAMH, recognize the power of "Standing up to Stigma" - http://www.camhx.ca/education/online_courses_webinars/mha101/stigma/Stigma_.htm

Wondering, "What is therapy?" Visit -

1. Check out what therapy is all about at Crash Course https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nEL44QkL9w
2. Interested in what the research says in answer to the question "Does Psychotherapy Work?" Go to SciShow Psych at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J44e8gpA7fk

Interesting Reading Material:

1. Quotes about therapy by therapists - https://positivepsychology.com/best-therapy-quotes/
2. A revised response by David Byrne (former lead singer of Talking Heads) to the dialoguing memes between Huxley and Talking Heads: Huxley - "It's a brave new world out there." David Byrne - "Yeah, life goes on." Read David's recent article, "The World is Changing - So Can We" at: https://reasonstobecheerful.world/the-world-is-changing-so-can-we/
3. Check out Danielson's short essay about the covid-19 crisis available on GoodReads called “Pandemic Lessons from Albert Camus” - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2943385953

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Be well & take care!