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Climate Action, Ecopsychology, and Resilience -Dr. Arielle Schwartz

Posted on September 27, 2014 by Arielle Schwartz

Dreaming the World into Being

Shamanic wisdom says that we dream our world into being. In each moment we have a choice of how we focus our attention, our feelings, and our behaviors. Over the years I have had a sequence of dreams that speak to my heart and perhaps will touch yours as well. These dreams whisper a powerful theme; one burgeoning in our collective awareness as we wake up to the reality of climate change. Appropriate timing given the Global Day of Climate Action and the People’s Climate Marches that occurred last weekend.

“When we are aware of how our deeply held beliefs, family legacies, and old energetic influences shape us we take responsibility for our actions. Ultimately we become free to choose how we shape our world.The earth is part of us; and we are part of the earth. What world are you dreaming into being?”
-Dr. Arielle Schwartz Continue reading →

Parenting, Attachment, and Healing Your Transgenerational Legacy-Dr. Arielle Schwartz

Posted on September 22, 2014 by Arielle Schwartz

The Transgenerational Train

When looking at generational influences in parenting you can think of a train with the youngest generation represented by the car in the front. There is a lot of energy, zest, and excitement in the front of the train. You are ready to move forward and you see the future. The cars behind you are your parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and so on. For this train to function optimally you do not want too much friction in the cars behind you. In fact what you want is that the momentum of previous generations is able to support the whole train to move forward.

But this isn’t always the case. What if your Dad felt that he wasn’t good enough for his father? Maybe your mom was neglected. Perhaps there was the death of a child that was never grieved or the influence of large scale traumatic events such as the Holocaust or Hiroshima. What if the traumas of the past remained taboo subjects that you couldn’t talk about? What if, as a child, you felt you needed to take care of your mother so much that you sometimes resent having to take care of your daughter because no one was there for you? When previous generation’s traumas or role reversals remain unprocessed it can slow down or interfere with our forward focused energy leaving us feeling heavy or stuck.

“Raising a child is one of the most courageous and vulnerable actions we can take as human beings. Shadows of the past churn and turn towards the light asking us to pay attention to unexpected feelings of ambivalence, comparison, and inadequacy in parenting. Unearthing, and addressing these feelings when they arise unwinds shame and is an essential key to healing our transgenerational attachment legacies”
-Dr. Arielle Schwartz Continue reading →

Diversity Matters in Psychotherapy-Dr. Arielle Schwartz

Posted on September 14, 2014 by Arielle Schwartz

Culture and Psychotherapy

What makes you unique? Perhaps you or your parents grew up in another country. You might learn differently or have grown up speaking a different language. Possibly you have two moms or two dads. Maybe what makes you different is the color of your skin or your religious beliefs. If you sometimes or often feel that you don’t belong you are in good company. One third of the people in the United States currently identify themselves as a member of a racial or ethnic minority, an estimated fifteen percent of the U.S. report being inter-culturally married, and approximately four percent of the U.S. identify as LGBTQ.

“Why address diversity in therapy? Because failing to acknowledge cultural differences in clients ignores critical information necessary for competent psychological practice. It is my responsibility as a person in a position of power to protect the rights and to be an advocate for people who may feel disenfranchised or marginalized. It is an honor that I take seriously.”
-Dr. Arielle Schwartz Continue reading →

Therapeutic Yoga-Dr. Arielle Schwartz

Posted on September 7, 2014 by Arielle Schwartz

How do you wake up?

We can all wake up on the wrong side of the bed sometimes. The other day I had one of those days. I woke up feeling irritable and agitated without even know why. If I launch into the world too quickly from this space I could stir up unnecessary reactions creating a domino effect of negativity. This is not the kind of “pay it forward” that I want to participate in.

Those who know me well are aware that I build my daily routine around my yoga practice. My morning looks something like this: wake up, eat breakfast, attend to my children, husband, and household, go to my yoga mat…and then go to work. The pause on my mat is like pressing the reset button on the morning and offers me a chance to reflect on what I am bringing with me into my day. I feel grateful to have the opportunity to design many of my days with a built in mindfulness break. On the days that I cannot set aside time for a class I build in 15 minutes to sit, move, and breathe. I can then set forth into my day with greater clarity and attention to my impact on others.

“It can be challenging to unveil ourselves from the socially conditioned masks that we wear to hide our emotions in the external world. In yoga we have an opportunity to ‘drop in’ and feel our experience from the inside out.”
-Dr. Arielle Schwartz

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Wilderness As Therapy-Dr. Arielle Schwartz

Posted on August 31, 2014 by Arielle Schwartz

The Healing Power of Nature

When you feel overextended or have lost a sense of yourself, where do you turn? A few weeks ago I had one of those times. I was tired from balancing the demands of being a mom, wife, friend, teacher, and therapist. I had nothing left to give and was tapped out. I know, from experience, that these feelings are a signal from my soul not to be ignored. I have burnt out before and am committed not to end up there again. Grateful to have some time to myself, I took the opportunity to head to the trails in the Colorado foothills and to tend to my weariness with a day of silence and nature.

“My take home message, embrace confusion, let yourself be disoriented; sometimes this is the only way to find your inner compass.”
-Dr. Arielle Schwartz

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Psychotherapy Efficacy and Your Brain-Dr. Arielle Schwartz

Posted on August 24, 2014 by Arielle Schwartz

Your Brain on Psychotherapy

The use of psychotherapy has decreased in the last decade; meanwhile the use of prescribed medications has been on the rise (APA, 2012). Now equipped with technologies that image the brain, the field of psychology is rising to the challenge to demonstrate that psychotherapy works.

“Research suggests that psychotherapy can produce changes in the brain that are comparable to those seen in drug treatments and that avoid the painful side effects”
-Dr. Schwartz Continue reading →

Self-Sabotage to Self-Love-Dr. Arielle Schwartz

Posted on August 17, 2014 by Arielle Schwartz

Understanding Self-Sabotage

Have you ever started a new exercise routine, a new diet, or tried to change your spending habits only to have your good intentions backfire? It is painful when we know what we want for ourselves but can’t make or sustain the changes that would create a healthier or more successful life.

“Read on to learn 7 common roots of self-sabotage and 8 tools everyone should know to enhance your health, relationships, and work success…”
-Dr. Schwartz Continue reading →

Emotional Intelligence and the Biology of Behavior-Dr. Arielle Schwartz

Posted on August 11, 2014 by Arielle Schwartz

Why Emotional Intelligence?

It is easy to get caught up in negative thinking, misinterpreting our emotions, cut off from our intuition; all of which can lead to painful consequences. As a clinical psychologist, I am an enthusiastic supporter of emotional intelligence. This post focuses on building your emotional intelligence as a skillset that helps you:

Improve your quality of life
Enhance your relationships
Reduce your stress
Develop efficiency in decision making
Improve functioning in your workplace

“This post breaks down the biological underpinnings involved with emotion and perception. Learn five strategies to building your emotional intelligence…”
-Dr. Schwartz

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The Neurobiology of Transgenerational Trauma-Dr. Arielle Schwartz

Posted on August 2, 2014 by Arielle Schwartz

The Trauma Legacy

I was once asked to describe the genetic component of transgenerational trauma. The question posed was: If my parents had PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) does this increase my likelihood of having it too? This question stopped me in my tracks and I have been exploring this concept as it applies to psychotherapy ever since.

The development and expression of PTSD is complex and involves not only being exposed to a traumatic event but also your perception of it, the amount of current support, existence of previous traumatic events, your early family life, and biological factors that shape how you adapt.

“Research is suggesting that unresolved PTSD can facilitate lasting physiological changes and that these modifications can be passed on to the next generation.”
-Dr. Schwartz Continue reading →

Medications and the Mismanagement of PTSD

Posted on July 26, 2014 by Arielle Schwartz

Psychotherapy vs. Medication

Large scale, long term studies reveal that psychotherapy is as effective as medications, lasts longer than drug treatments, and avoids the harmful side effects. Despite growing evidence for the efficacy of psychotherapy, the use of therapy has decreased in the last decade while the use of medications has been on the rise (APA, 2012). This is due in part to the billions of dollars allocated to “direct to consumer” advertising by pharmaceutical companies. Psychotherapy simply can’t compete for marketing airtime and the results are misleading to those suffering with mental health conditions.

“We are all vulnerable when we experience anxiety, panic, or despair and in these times we are especially dependent upon the experts around us to provide sound medical and psychological care.”
-Dr. Arielle Schwartz Continue reading →