June 2020 - You're in the Right Place

Image representing veteran mental health and support for former service members for lasting mental health improvement

Exposure Therapy is Harming Our Vets

Published on June 29, 2020September 10, 2026 by AkiLeave a comment

This post is intentionally controversial. Rather, this post asserts my position firmly and you’re welcome to disagree with me.

A 2013 episode of 60 Minutes discussed treatments being used to treat trauma (PTSD) in veterans. I am disgusted at re-traumatization as a “cure.” If you were raped, would you want to relive rape until you were desensitized or would you rather an alternative that worked faster and involved none of that painful reliving? Continue reading “Exposure Therapy is Harming Our Vets” →

Kindle cover of Bubble Wrap Your Kid, a parenting book on balanced child safety for lasting mental health improvement

Good Kids; Yes, Even Yours

Published on June 22, 2020September 10, 2026 by AkiLeave a comment

Avoid arguments with your child and encourage compliance by scaling the number of choices down by the age and stage of your child. For children under 10, 2 options will be sufficient. Lay out tomorrow’s clothes and ask, “Would you rather wear the brown pants or the green ones?” As your child ages, so do the decisions. “Would you rather have the Spiderman backpack or the Dora one?”

Set a pattern for narrowing things down to 2 choices and choosing between them. This helps to avoid arguments Continue reading “Good Kids; Yes, Even Yours” →

Microphone representing a mental health podcast episode from ClearMind Group for lasting mental health improvement

Anxiety in Others

Published on June 15, 2020September 10, 2026 by AkiLeave a comment

Question: How can I enjoy my visit with my friend, who is often plagued by anxiety so badly that he makes plans, but then can’t or won’t leave the house? On past trips, I’ve been so frustrated by his seeming ambivalence to go out with me that I’ve wanted to leave early. I’ve gotten angry and upset and it ruined my visit. I want to have a different experience this time, but don’t know if things will be any different on his part.

Answer: Reframe the situation. Continue reading “Anxiety in Others” →

Person submerged in water, symbolizing feeling overwhelmed and emotional struggle

The Worst Thing About Being a Therapist

Published on June 8, 2020September 10, 2026 by AkiLeave a comment

For me, the worst thing about being a therapist is seeing people in pain who are not yet willing or ready to make a change. This includes people who resonate with the following statements:

I don’t think change is possible.
I’ve had these symptoms so long, they must be permanent.
Therapy can only take me so far.
Therapy hasn’t fixed it before, so it can’t.
I am my diagnosis.
If I’m not sick/mentally ill/in pain, who am I?

These statements are all arguable because the right therapy, the right techniques and therapist for an individual can overcome all of that. Continue reading “The Worst Thing About Being a Therapist” →

Sleeping newborn baby wrapped in a blanket, related to postpartum mental health for lasting mental health improvement

Communicating with Infants

Published on June 1, 2020September 10, 2026 by AkiLeave a comment

My Mom always treated children like tiny people, because they are. With your infant, when in doubt, do the following, according to my Mom.

My Mom loves babies, both my parents do. Mom always said, babies can’t talk, but they want to, so they cry. And when they cry, do the following, in this order: Continue reading “Communicating with Infants” →