Posts tagged with 'goals'
Ways of coping: theory & personal experience
25th January 2009
In blog postings earlier this month, I've talked about supporting my Mum after her recent couple of strokes. She's been shipped through three different hospitals and now is more peaceful in a nursing home. It's sad - very sad at times - and it's great that she seems more comfortable, …
Friendship, life planning, & expressing emotions
11th January 2009
Yesterday and today are a check-in time with my friend Larry. I've written in a previous blog post how Larry and I have met every three or four months for many years specifically to review how our lives are going and to plan and prioritize our goals for the next …
The bus driver metaphor
4th January 2009
This blog post on coping with difficult thoughts and feelings is downloadable as both Word and PDF handouts. For further blog posts on "The bus driver metaphor", see "The bus driver is warm-blooded: integrating mindfulness & emotion" and also relevant are "'Naming emotions' is another useful self-regulation & mindfulness strategy" …
Handouts & questionnaires for wellbeing and time management
17th November 2008
Here are a selection of assessment sheets and handouts on wellbeing, time management and related topics. A lot of my work involves helping people face fear and anxiety. The "Determination training" and more straightforward monthly "Practice record" are often helpful here. The "Respected figures exercise" is one of the most …
Recent research: egosystem & ecosystem
13th November 2008
In the end the love you take is equal to the love you make. Beatles This is essentially the Beatles closing statement. It is the last lyric on the last album they recorded. (Let It Be was the last album they released, but it was recorded earlier). Every now and …
Goal setting and wellbeing
7th September 2008
It has seemed likely for some time that skilful goal setting boosts wellbeing. A couple of small recent research studies from the Department of Psychology at Royal Holloway, University of London reinforce this understanding (MacLeod, Coates et al. 2008). Wellbeing was assessed by an often used conglomerate measure which adds …
Self-determination theory
6th September 2008
I'm a big fan of Self-Determination Theory (SDT). SDT is a general theory of motivation and personality that has evolved over the past three decades. SDT suggests that humans, like plants or other animals, intrinsically 'strive' for need satisfaction & flourishing. Social context and personal choices can support or thwart …
Recent research: spiritually modified CBT, happiness & freedom, healthy goal disengagement, and hoarding & OCD
21st August 2008
Hodge, D. R. (2008). "Constructing spiritually modified interventions: Cognitive therapy with diverse populations." International Social Work 51(2): 178-192. [Abstract/Full Text] Although cognitive therapy is widely used, little attention has been given to the value assumptions embedded in the self-statements that are at the heart of the change process. Constructing statements …
Recent research: ACT, acceptance & values in chronic pain, mindfulness & CBT in rheumatoid arthritis
7th August 2008
McCracken, L. M. and K. E. Vowles (2008). "A prospective analysis of acceptance of pain and values-based action in patients with chronic pain." Health Psychol 27(2): 215-20. [PubMed] OBJECTIVE: Acceptance of pain and values-based action appear important in the emotional, physical, and social functioning of individuals with chronic pain. The …
Checking in with Larry - next morning
6th July 2008
This is a continuation of yesterday's blog about regular check-ins/life planning with my great friend Larry. And now it's Sunday morning around 7.00am. Yesterday we went out to the 'hut' at Carbeth knowing that there was a good chance that the owner, Gerry, might in fact be using it himself. …