Posts tagged with 'authenticity'
Paired meditation deepens interpersonal connection: how to go about it
6th May 2017
Yesterday I wrote the blog post "Paired meditation deepens interpersonal connection: Tania Singer's wonderful ReSource project" which introduced & overviewed the recent, very impressive ReSource Project. I also discussed the associated JAMA Psychiatry research paper "Effects of contemplative dyads on engagement and perceived social connectedness over nine months of mental …
Paired meditation deepens interpersonal connection: Tania Singer's wonderful ReSource project
5th May 2017
Yesterday I was skimming through the JAMA Psychiatry journal and I got hijacked by Kok & Singer's recent article "Effects of contemplative dyads on engagement and perceived social connectedness over nine months of mental training: a randomized controlled trial". The abstract reads - "Importance Loneliness is a risk factor for …
Twelve practical suggestions for exploring our character strengths (6 to 8): supports, wellbeing, and new ways
28th July 2016
(this blog post is downloadable as a Word doc and as a PDF file) I have been writing about possible ways of building on the personal character strengths report you can get after filling in the 10-15 minute survey at "The VIA Institute on Character" website. For an initial set …
Twelve practical suggestions for exploring our character strengths (1 to 5): learning, spotting, relationships, and writing
20th July 2016
(this blog post is downloadable as a Word doc and as a PDF file) In his book "Tales of the Hasidism", Martin Buber writes "Before his death, Rabbi Zusya said 'In the coming world, they will not ask me: 'Why were you not Moses?' They will ask me 'Why were …
Therapeutic alliance ruptures/tensions: description, frequency, causes & effects
11th July 2013
I wrote a blog post yesterday entitled "Therapeutic alliance ruptures: common, very challenging & a key area for increasing therapist (and personal) helpfulness". I think this area is so important that I'd like to spend additional time exploring it more thoroughly. I want to clarify what we mean by an …
"Therapeutic alliance ruptures": common, very challenging & a key area for increasing therapist (and personal) helpfulness
10th July 2013
We had another of our small peer Emotion-Focused Therapy supervision/practice groups yesterday evening. Half a dozen of us were able to make it. We'd agreed we would look particularly at "therapeutic alliance ruptures" at this meeting. As a doctor, I can't help finding the term "alliance rupture" rather giggle-inducing. I …
Going back for a university reunion: emotional intelligence, group work & learning to relate more deeply (3rd post)
19th August 2012
"God guard me from those thoughts men think in the mind alone; he that sings a lasting song, thinks in a marrow bone." W. B. Yeats "We camouflage our true being before others to protect ourselves against criticism or rejection. This protection comes at a steep price. When we are …
The jazz trio metaphor: reworking the core conditions, relational depth, compassion, & two kinds of empathy (2nd post)
20th April 2012
In yesterday's post, I introduced the jazz trio metaphor ... head (observation/knowledge), heart (warmth/compassion) and gut (emotion/authenticity) ... and discussed both heart and, to some extent, head. Continuing this exploration of head "observation & knowledge". It's clear that cognitive empathy & perspective taking can be very helpful, but we need …
The jazz trio metaphor: reworking the core conditions, relational depth, compassion & two kinds of empathy (1st post)
19th April 2012
Working as a psychotherapist or counsellor, practising as a doctor, participating in interpersonal groupwork, and at the heart of relating deeply with another human being - I have internal reminders, charts, ways of helping myself be present in as constructive a way as I can. One inner chart or internal …
Personal experience (3rd post): feedback as opportunity & as a way of getting back on track
9th February 2012
In the last couple of days I have written posts on "Personal experience: feedback, group work & learning from difficulties" and "Personal experience: caution over "goodwill" & "mindfulness" practice". I'm a great fan of both mindfulness training and of using goodwill or loving-kindness or compassion focused meditation practices. However in …