Remember the children’s game Mother, May I? In the game you were given instructions on a task to complete (sometimes complex and challenging) to get closer to winning. But before you could perform the task you had to ask permission, Mother may I? The response to your request to progress/proceed was either Yes you may or No you may not to which you had to comply.

 

Well, here’s the mental health version of said game. May was mental health awareness month during which I’m sure you received a multitude of information on mental health, mental illness, erasing stigma, and/or offering support. Yet, many of us stopped in May. We’ve halted our progress towards “winning” our own game of life. Do you need permission to act on valuable information you received? Let’s keep living the mental health highlighted in May. Mother May I, you ask? YES you May!

 

Subscribe to my webpage to continue to gather important information on mental health, promoting such in others and strategies to take care of yourself. Remember there’s no health without mental health!

 

FORtunate

It is a privilege to live life in service to others. I often tell clients, “We’ll mix your expert on you with my expert and make magic happen.” Therapy is a joint effort and it means a lot for someone to trust you with their pain and their healing. I honor that trust, and I grow participating in the growth of others. I am FORtunate to have a sustained, successful career in this field. There’s a power in the therapeutic relationship that is unmatched. I encourage everyone to seek the solace that awaits you in the right therapeutic environment.

FORtified

A career in mental health is not for the weary. Many do not realize the challenges faced by the provider in a world that demonizes mental illness and those who work in the field. We’re accused of being quacks, shrinks (as in witchdoctors who shrink heads), or worse yet therapist
separated to read “the rapist.” The truth is, I’m a scientist. I’m a doctor. I’m a skilled expert. I put forth every effort to bring about wholeness. It’s draining and exhilarating at the same time. Now I know I’m FORtified. I celebrate these fifteen years of service and vow to train others to
discover the value in the heart and hard work that I do.

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FORward

There’s much more to be done to advance the mission of mental health. Fifteen years is only the tip of the iceberg as I know so many still suffer in silence. It should not be a privilege to have access to quality mental health care. The steps to take to promote mental health should be just as common as those to promote physical health (i.e. diet and exercise). We must learn the power that exists in the mind and the importance of learning how to harness that power. I look FORward to another fifteen years of service. There’s more “get better” to achieve! “I’m not tired yet!” Stay tuned…..