IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER

As Memorial Day sets into the background and we honor those who have fallen in the name of our freedom and independence, we must now set our sites forward. The pressing challenges of continued school violence, explaining mental health, and educating about violence and prevention take the forefront of our collective psyches. As fathers, we … Read more

On Valentine’s Day; Be wary of looking for love in all the wrong places

For those of you who haven’t seen, “The Tinder Swindler” yet, be prepared to be shocked. This Netflix Top 10 takes an inside look at how some have gone to lengths to take advantage of those of us out there seeking love and connection. It’s a cautionary tale and a sad one for those involved. Yet the documentary serves the purpose (without giving away the whole story) of how we as a culture have become accustomed to searching for matches. It raises the question about how much faith we give to the perceptions created through our online personas. 

 

In honor of Valentine’s Day. I thought I’d take the time to reinforce how important human touch and connection are to our lives. The last two years have created justification and necessity for isolation, quaranteening for protection of those we care about, and habitual trends towards staying “safe” and yet distant from contact, hugs, or handshakes. Going to any function, no matter happy or sad can cause anxiety and stress. Learning how to navigate and plan these moments is one of the objectives I often discuss with my clients. Identifying our needs to relate and connect and build trust with those who respect and honor our basic values is an important first step. 

 

So this Valentine’s Day, I wish you all the intuition to connect and reconnect in safe and healthy ways. Putting yourself out there to engage in a new hobby or form of self-care may be a better way to connect that through the metaverse as it allows you to experience how the person is and not just who they avail themselves to be. Give yourself the gift of being present with others so that real discussions can be had and you can notice what your feelings and intuition tell you about your experience and whether you trust yourself enough to take the next step in a relationship. Whatever your relationship status is this Valentine’s, I hope that all of you can rediscover what you love to do and who you enjoy spending time with or be willing to step out of your comfort zones to grow in new ways and see who you are drawn to while your own transformation takes place. The universe often sends messages and shares gifts, we just need to be open and ready to receive them when they come.

Feeling Twisted

Getting twisted in our many roles… What are the ways you describe yourself? As a father, therapist, athlete, and man searching for meaning, I often feel twisted at this stage of the game. After spending 15 months in my garage, my midsection favors the door while my head focuses on the Zoom camera. Secondly, my … Read more

Stop, Look and Listen

Stop

Stop, what’s that sound? Do you remember Pre Covid parties with a DJ that played the Buffalo Springfield song over and over again? Have you sung along to the chorus, “I think it’s time we stop / Children, what’s that sound? / Everybody look what’s going down?”.  To me, this song is a reminder to … Read more

Memory, Emotion, and Trauma: Flashback to Before Covid-19

FLASHBACK INTO THE PAST Memory, emotion, and trauma can be surreal.  Just hours ago at a “drive by” Bar Mitzvah crawl,  socially distanced, friends, and family gather to celebrate a boy’s 13th birthday, a special coming of age in Jewish tradition. The idea that two kids had organized events on the same block, hinted at … Read more

Staying Connected in the New Normal of COVID-19

THE NEW REALITY Was it just me or was even the Superbowl off key this year? There were definitely less fans. We couldn’t celebrate in large groups. The famed Bud Light commercials had disappeared.  Something was off! Even the skilled performance of a Grammy award winning musician, carefully represented with social distance, missed connecting with … Read more

Nationwide Call for Mental Health Experts in Crisis Response

Mental Health Crisis

After the killing of George Floyd, demands for law enforcement reform were shooting up each new day. Recently, several Los Angeles city council members proposed a new emergency-response model that highlights the use of expert mental health & substance abuse issues professionals rather than armed policemen in handling nonviolent emergency calls. Los Angeles as a … Read more

Racism, Virus and Mental Health- Triple Threat for Minority Groups

racism mental health

At this very moment, the Black community is being shattered not only by tragic losses from epidemic COVID-19, but through violence brought by negative experiences with police and systems of authority. People of color are being burdened with stressors that leave a long-term impact on a structural, interpersonal and individual level. Wealth differences between non-white … Read more

Mental Health Crisis: The Second Wave of COVID-19 Pandemic

Covid second wave mental health

The COVID-19 pandemic is gearing up for the second round when people are still dealing with the aftereffects of the Coronavirus quarantine.  COVID-19 has stopped the world in its tracks. The respective governments around the world issued stay-at-home orders that entail avoiding physical touch, social gatherings, or simply helping someone in need, which goes against … Read more