Kessler Psychological

KP Weekly Tip (brought to you by Sydney Beasley, Resident in Counseling)
This week's tip is about

Emotions are important messengers that point to unaddressed needs. Sometimes if you were taught emotions were unnecessary or somehow "bad," it can be difficult to tune in or understand their purpose. It can be helpful to view emotions as additional neutral information to help identify action steps that lead you closer to the life you want.

The next time you are experiencing an emotion. Pause, reflect and ask yourself, what need is this feeling showing me? What need can I meet?

Try it out and let us know how it goes! Feel free to add any additional emotions and what they indicate for you in our comment section.

KP Weekly Tip (brought to you by Lena S. Kessler, Ph.D)
This week's tip is about

There's a well-known saying in the addiction recovery world that, "you're only as sick as your secrets." I have found this to be true in all areas of mental health work. We maintain our own sickness in ourselves and in our worlds when we are not honest.

1) Honesty to self involves:
--admitting to yourself what both your struggles and strengths are
--a reckoning of who you are and who you aren't; who you'd like to be and who you'd like to avoid becoming
--what helps you and what harms you; what works for you and what doesn't
--getting to know your feelings and inviting them to be part of your life's experiences; being vulnerable
--learning about yourself without judgment; simply observing with curiosity and love

2) Honesty to others involves:
--telling people how you really feel about them and what they mean to you
--asking for help and expressing your wants
--expressing your boundaries
--expressing honest emotional reactions
--letting people in enough so that they could disappoint or hurt you, but hoping they won't
--allowing trust to grow but basing it on evidence

Being genuine and sincere has a way of clearing a path towards healthier and happier lives.