I’ve been studying improv for…awhile. Improv was a huge factor in my decision to enroll in a drama therapy master’s program. Improv has inadvertently become a big part of my life. Through my drama therapy education and passion for psychology and creative expression, I’ve given a lot of thought to how improv can facilitate and …
Emotion Regulation refers to the process of effectively responding to emotional experiences in a given context. I note the importance of context because there may be times when expressing emotions at a Level 5 intensity is appropriate. The intention is not to remain at Level 1 constantly. Rather, consider a goal of developing a greater …
Emotion Regulation With the Whole Health Card Deck Read More »
This is for people who want to lose weight but struggle to stick with diet changes and end up overeating, emotionally eating, binge eating…or whatever other term fits for the experience of feeling out of control around food while also trying to lose weight. This image is a pretty typical pattern; do you recognize your …
This is a basic practice to get started with Card Play. Decks with figures or entities (people, characters, goddesses, mythological beings, fairies, unicorns, animals, dragons, etc) work best. This is a weekly practice to choose a card to represent a kind of ‘guide’ for the upcoming week. Below I will describe steps you can take, …
When working with images in Card Play, the intent is to explore the deeper dynamics being portrayed rather than the literal interpretation. What that means is, a picture of a woman and a house is not just a picture of a woman and a house. How does the woman relate to the house? What does …
Working With Images in Card Play: Symbols, Associations, ‘Randomness’ Read More »
The central prop used in Card Play are decks of cards with evocative visual imagery. There are many, many, many different card decks available. I will describe the types of decks and props most suitable for Card Play. The most important element of a Card Play deck is the imagery. Tarot Cards Tarot cards are …
I became fascinated with the myriad creative uses of various types of card decks during my graduate drama therapy program. Cards with imagery on them (like tarot and oracle cards) can be especially potent tools to explore the dynamics of who you are and the wide array of options available in any given moment. Imagery …
I want to share a few tips and frameworks to help you find and stick to a weight loss program that will help you sustainably lose weight, especially if you are prone to emotional eating and binge eating. I’ve written extensively about the importance of identifying the specific contexts, behaviors, thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, environments, …
Not every thought that pops into your head is true. However, it is very common for people to buy into their thoughts and take action based on them. For example, some people believe a very low carb ketogenic diet is the only way to lose weight. This narrative subsequently directs the kinds of diet information …
Tracking, monitoring, and journaling are hugely beneficial practices as you begin to change your habits and patterns around food. Our experiences are very complex. Tracking and monitoring can help bring your awareness to the forces and dynamics that might be impacting you and your tendency to binge eat or emotionally eat. The general framework I …
