Blog
Resources for self- and other-care in difficult times
Many of us have been impacted by the election results. Whether you are feeling shock, fear, anger, sadness, confusion, disbelief, or excitement, joy, satisfaction or
To those who feel afraid or hurt after the election
For many of us, these are frightening and uncertain times. We at Portland Psychotherapy want to make a declaration of support to the millions of
Blue light at night is bad
We have known or suspected for quite some time that there are significant harmful health and environmental consequences associated with excessive light use at night,
How Self-Compassion Helps with Anxiety
Anxiety can be a loud voice in your head telling you that something bad is going to happen. Your heart rate starts to quicken, your
Self-Help for Anxiety in an International Sample
Since I saw him present on some preliminary results at a conference 6 years ago, I’ve been following with interest University of Albany – SUNY
Article: My Secret Life as a Skin Picker
One of the problems I specialize in working with is repetitive skin picking (also known as excoriation or dermatillomania). People struggling with this problem experience
Evaluating Self Help: The Mindfulness & Acceptance Workbook for Anxiety
There’s no shortage of self-help books on the market. There is, however, a paucity of research on whether those self-help books are actually helpful to
Portland Psychotherapy Year in Review – 2015
Hello friends and colleagues. Below is our annual report. The annual reports is part of our mission to be a responsible and transparent business that
Portland Psychotherapy Research Grants Awarded
The Research Lab at Portland Psychotherapy is proud to announce they have developed and implemented the first cycle of an internal research grant program to
Getting Through Thanksgiving with Misophonia
This post is written for people with misophonia, a condition in which a person has an automatic, sometimes intensely unpleasant internal reaction to specific sounds.
Fear of Fear Itself: Why Panic Isn’t Dangerous
Everyone has experienced intense fear at some point. Our hearts start racing when we realize we forgot to pick up the kids at school, our
The Difficulties of Accessing Effective Treatment: OCD as an Example
I resonated with a recent article in Psychology Today about the difficulties people have in finding therapists who offer effective treatment. The authors Dean McKay
Misophonia: what the heck is it and what’s a trigger?
Misophonia is a condition in which a person has an automatic, unpleasant internal reaction to specific sounds. This reaction can vary from frustration to panic
A Brief Video about OCD
I ran across this excellent 5 minute video on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) by Helen Blair Simpson, MD, PhD through the Mental Health Channel. Dr. Simpson
Huffington Post Article on Hair Pulling and Skin Picking
One of my specialties is working with people who struggle with repetitive hair pulling (called trichotillomania) and/or skin picking (called dermatillomania or excoriation). Individuals with
Top 5 Mindfulness Resources
The science of mindfulness is a very hot topic these days. In agreement with the research, we find mindfulness to be a very helpful skill
Hair Pulling (AKA Trichotillomania) and Skin Picking Problems – Greater Research Support for Behavior Therapy over Medication
Trichotillomania (or trich for short) is a condition in which people repeatedly pull out their body hair, often leading to bald patches and thinning. The
Pain, values, compassion, and a dying dog
“Grief can be the garden of compassion. If you keep your heart open through everything, your pain can become your greatest ally in your life’s