Joshua D. Cooke CMHC

“Psychiatry, as an evolving solidifying guild, now too coupled with Big Pharma and compensation through the insurance industry, has rubricized and rigidified its schema step by step. Emphasizing consensuality through the DSMs to enable a replicable conceptual and compensable diagnostic framework, it has tightened its grip on how mental health practitioners think and afflicted the public’s consciousness as well. How often does one use the word “depression” mindlessly to compress feelings, or hear, “she’s bipolar” as if that expresses the essence of a person. We have become all too comfortable and accepting of diagnostic terminology as if it were real and expressive of our realities.”

Phil Wolfson

In nearly ten years of psychotherapeutic practice, I have come to know with increasing certainty that our brains are so much more capable than what the psychiatric world wants them to be. Changing the paradigm is going to be challenging, but it can be changed.

I recently met with a client who talked about being asked to look at the sunset with her adult son. She went to look at the sunset, but rather than taking in the beauty that was around her, being in the moment, she spent the entire time validating her son for noticing the sunset, validating her son for inviting her to view it with him. Before she knew it, the time had passed and she realized that she did not take any time for personal joy and fulfillment in that moment. This was a manifestation of her codependent behavior with her son. No matter your circumstances, take the time to find the joy and gratitude in small moments for yourself. This strengthens your brain and sense of well-being.

The human brain is a marvelous instrument. There are many times when we do not give the brain the credit that it deserves. The brain is capable of changing on a fundamental level. We can harness the brains power to work through trauma, depression, anxiety, OCD, struggles with worth and value. Neuroplasticity and memory reconsolidation are real. No matter your struggles with your mental health and wellness, never discount the power of your brain.