Full Living

Therapy

Ketamine Is Powerful, but Therapy Is the Thing!

Karen L Smith MSS, LCSW on September 9, 2024

Psychedelics are not reliable agents of change. Rather they can offer moments of revelation and epiphany, which can be leveraged into change. Psychotherapy is the lever.

Psychedelics are not reliable agents of change. Rather they can offer moments of revelation and epiphany, which can be leveraged into change. Psychotherapy is the lever.

Ketamine

Silliness Is a Gateway Drug

Karen L Smith MSS, LCSW on July 16, 2024

While it's essential to be skilled at holding ourselves together to function, it isn’t a particularly complementary set of skills for finding a fun, playful, joyous life.

While it's essential to be skilled at holding ourselves together to function, it isn’t a particularly complementary set of skills for finding a fun, playful, joyous life.

Ketamine

Ketamine Is the Shortcut We All Deserve

Karen L Smith MSS, LCSW on July 1, 2024

Ketamine doesn’t solve anything. But it can offer a moment of revelation, and epiphany, an embodied somatic experience of goodness used to change one's life.

Ketamine doesn’t solve anything. But it can offer a moment of revelation, and epiphany, an embodied somatic experience of goodness used to change one's life.

Suicide

Anthony Bourdain, and Talking to My Young Kid About Suicide

Karen L Smith MSS, LCSW on June 10, 2018

We want to protect our children. Sometimes we do this by sheltering them from dark truths and realities. But this leaves them defenseless when they have to face darkness.

We want to protect our children. Sometimes we do this by sheltering them from dark truths and realities. But this leaves them defenseless when they have to face darkness.

Fantasies

Power in Sex Isn't a Problem, in Fantasy or With Consent

Karen L Smith MSS, LCSW on November 27, 2017

Disturbing as the recent accusations of sexual harassment and misconduct are, the sexual fantasies that fueled them are common. The problem isn't the fantasies; its the enactment.

Disturbing as the recent accusations of sexual harassment and misconduct are, the sexual fantasies that fueled them are common. The problem isn't the fantasies; its the enactment.

Anger

Treating Nazis: Analytic Considerations on Hate

Karen L Smith MSS, LCSW on August 28, 2017

Hate is a normal part of the human condition. What separates us from those in hate groups is we had a childhood that helped us learn how to manage our feelings.

Hate is a normal part of the human condition. What separates us from those in hate groups is we had a childhood that helped us learn how to manage our feelings.

Self-Talk

An Impactful Change You Can Successfully Make

Karen L Smith MSS, LCSW on August 11, 2017

You have a voice inside your head narrating your life and actions. Is it kind and supportive? Unless you have made a conscious effort, it is likely mean and hateful.

You have a voice inside your head narrating your life and actions. Is it kind and supportive? Unless you have made a conscious effort, it is likely mean and hateful.

Environment

It's Not the Glass That's Half Full/Empty; It's the Breast

Karen L Smith MSS, LCSW on April 25, 2017

We judge others as dispositioned towards negativity or positivity, scarcity or abundance, as a chosen disposition. In truth, that disposition gets set in infancy.

We judge others as dispositioned towards negativity or positivity, scarcity or abundance, as a chosen disposition. In truth, that disposition gets set in infancy.

Child Development

Psychotherapist as a Dance Archeologist

Karen L Smith MSS, LCSW on April 3, 2017

An explanation through metaphor of why we repeat patterns from our families of origin and how therapy helps us change that.

An explanation through metaphor of why we repeat patterns from our families of origin and how therapy helps us change that.

Unconscious

Attending to the Unconscious in a Psychotherapy Session

Karen L Smith MSS, LCSW on March 15, 2017

Lots of folks can offer counsel to our clients. Our job is to help them access clues from their unconscious about the turmoils of their soul.

Lots of folks can offer counsel to our clients. Our job is to help them access clues from their unconscious about the turmoils of their soul.

Suicide

Thinking About Divorce or Suicide? Stop it! For 6 Months

Karen L Smith MSS, LCSW on March 14, 2017

Neither divorce nor suicidality is the easy way out, but first we must consider every vehicle, every effort, every courageous act to save what is most precious.

Neither divorce nor suicidality is the easy way out, but first we must consider every vehicle, every effort, every courageous act to save what is most precious.

President Donald Trump

Eye Rolls, Shrugs, and Why Trump Is So Provocative

Karen L Smith MSS, LCSW on October 3, 2016

Some folks have a knack for riling us up. It isn't magic.

Some folks have a knack for riling us up. It isn't magic.

Bias

Colin Kaepernick, Beyoncé, Chappelle and Black Lives Matter

Karen L Smith MSS, LCSW on September 4, 2016

Few folks want to be accused of being racist. And hating certain protests and protesters isn't proof of racism. Failing to see the need for racial discrimination protest is proof.

Few folks want to be accused of being racist. And hating certain protests and protesters isn't proof of racism. Failing to see the need for racial discrimination protest is proof.

Grief

What "Make America Great Again" Means

Karen L Smith MSS, LCSW on August 27, 2016

In this political climate, and with this upcoming election, judging/mocking/shaming/hating/spewing isn’t going to get us an America that embraces and supports all its citizenry.

In this political climate, and with this upcoming election, judging/mocking/shaming/hating/spewing isn’t going to get us an America that embraces and supports all its citizenry.

Parenting

Three Key Father Parenting Jobs, Analytically Speaking

Karen L Smith MSS, LCSW on June 21, 2016

Psychoanalytic theory has a lot to say about the role of mothers in early infant psychological development. Less familiar is the roles fathers play in their childrens' developement

Psychoanalytic theory has a lot to say about the role of mothers in early infant psychological development. Less familiar is the roles fathers play in their childrens' developement

Unconscious

Let's Profile Brock Turner, More Accurately Than His Father

Karen L Smith MSS, LCSW on June 10, 2016

Let’s analyze this criminal’s psychological profile, the way they do in all our favorite crime dramas on TV, imagining ourselves in the shoes of the rapist.

Let’s analyze this criminal’s psychological profile, the way they do in all our favorite crime dramas on TV, imagining ourselves in the shoes of the rapist.

Health

A Snarky Size Activist and 3 Benefits of My Stupid Fitbit

Karen L Smith MSS, LCSW on May 25, 2016

I would hate my stupid step tracker even more if it wasn't working to help me increase my movement.

I would hate my stupid step tracker even more if it wasn't working to help me increase my movement.

Sex

6 Openings for Talking to Kids About Sex and Gender

Karen L Smith MSS, LCSW on May 19, 2016

We want to be one of the people our kids talk to about sex, sexuality, orientation and gender. Even if it terrifies us.

We want to be one of the people our kids talk to about sex, sexuality, orientation and gender. Even if it terrifies us.

Psychoanalysis

Psychoanalytic Mother Lovers: 3 Theories for Mom's Day

Karen L Smith MSS, LCSW on May 7, 2016

Psychoanalytic interest is predicated on a belief that psychic, emotional, mental development evolves in the petri dish that is the mother/infant relationship.

Psychoanalytic interest is predicated on a belief that psychic, emotional, mental development evolves in the petri dish that is the mother/infant relationship.

Mating

5 Reasons to Treat Dating Like an Internship

Karen L Smith MSS, LCSW on May 6, 2016

Take full advantage of the exploratory, temporary nature of dating.

Take full advantage of the exploratory, temporary nature of dating.