03 Feb The Communer: Delving Deeper

Last year there was a resounding response to my idea of "The Communer," in which two people support and reflect one another in presence and intention as they move toward their goals. Recently I learned of someone who has put his own version of the idea into practice, with great results. I asked Robert if he would allow me to interview him, via Skype, so we could all hear in depth about his process. Please take a look at the video below and let me know what you think. You can also email me directly with questions you have for Robert, and I'll be glad to forward them. And apologies for the less-than-stellar quality of the video - we'll learn from this first effort.

20 Sep Gentle or Powerful?

There are many healing modalities that use force to create shift and release. Think of deep tissue massage, for example. In the realm of emotional healing, many similar modalities exist. Some, for example, want you to scream out your pain, or smash through your ego's defenses. Other methods are much gentler. Think of Reiki or other forms or energy work. In the realm of emotional healing, similar approaches exist here, too. In some therapies you might talk about your issues for months, even years before touching the real pain beneath. Or, you might work to strengthen a fragile self-esteem and avoid the healing process altogether.

14 Aug A New Way of Healing: Introducing the “Communer”

Recently I was working with a client who couldn't break through his problem with clutter. I suggested a sensitive, practical, easy way forward. I asked, "Does that seem do-able?" He laughed and replied, "Oh, it's do-able, but the question is - will I do it?" This client is a great stand-in for most of us, whether we're trying to lose weight, overcome an addiction, shift out of unhealthy patterns, treat ourselves better, or heal long-debiliating trauma. We know exactly what to do, and even have help in the way of therapists and coaches of all sorts. Still, we find ourselves unable to stay focused on, and complete, the necessary practices.

20 Jul The Truth About Anxiety

Have you ever heard of "exposure therapy"? It's state of the art for phobias. Say you're afraid to fly. A skilled exposure therapist would walk you gently through a number of dry runs in the office, attending to all your worries and fears. Then you'd try it for real, taking it one moment at a time, perhaps with the therapist right there in the seat next to you. It wouldn't be easy at first, but following that virgin flight the next ones would be easier. After awhile your primitive brain would successfully update, such that future plane flights would cause no panic at all, and instead would become mostly routine.

13 Apr Are You a Frog in Boiling Water?

In my private sessions and workshops, people increasingly lament the overwhelming stress of their lives. Just getting by in today's culture often stretches us to the breaking point. We humans, it seems, have manufactured a way of life completely out of sync with our evolution as a species. Our bodies can't handle what our minds have wrought.