Reactions To Traumatic Events - Part 2Written by Dr. Dorree Lynn
What to expect: Women A woman's work is never done--so goes saying -- and during this time of uncertainty and healing, perhaps this is truer than ever. Women tend to be ones responsible for keeping home fires burning, children's schedules organized, and their own lives in order. Plus, she is often involved with community connections, house of worship attendance, food shopping, and even getting her own nails done--often she wears so many hats, she can loose her own head. I can't recall ever having a working woman in therapy who didn't instinctively have her children's schedules easily retrievable, tucked away in some corner of her brain, whatever else she may have been involved in. Women tend to worry about family tradition, past, present and future in a way that men rarely do. Women are hard wired to nurture their young and to keep family together.During this turbulent time, more than ever, women, need opportunity to talk, to be listened to and to be nurtured. Some women may want more sex, others who were previously interested, shun lovemaking and can't bear to be touched-well maybe held-but nothing more. Men, it helps to remember women that women tend to carry vulnerability of family ties, hearth and home, children's skinned knees and fearful hearts. Be gentle with your loved one. Do unexpected. Bring her flowers, make dinner reservations, and take care of her as best you can. She needs your support right now. And if you give it, you may be surprised at all you reap in return.
| | The Wizard of SoulWritten by Dr. Dorree Lynn
"He is a good Wizard. Whether he is a man or not I cannot tell, for I have never seen him." The Wizard of OZ Frank Baum The word psychotherapy comes from Greek. Loosely translated, psyche means soul and therapeutic herapist is meant to be attendant or one dealing with healing of soul. It wasn’t until late nineteenth century with dramatic input of physicians like Charcot, Freud and others that psychotherapist became a person entrusted with healing mind separate from soul. Now, I am not sure where soul is located or exactly what it is, but I am certain that it has little to do with mind as a separate entity. It is true that psychotherapists are trained professionals, but great ones are more like magicians. They are ordinary mortals whose magic is ability to make you believe in yourself. Yes, they may teach some tools and educate you along way, but ultimately they are no different than unmasked mortal who changed lives of those who believed in him in story and beloved movie, The Wizard of Oz. Dorothy, The Tin Man, The Cowardly Lion and Straw Man sought Wizard in Emerald City, They followed yellow brick road and after many adventures, each found that they already possessed very qualities they so intensely wanted. Once they found what they were seeking, each could move on and Dorothy could go home. She could return to her own life, as same person, yet changed. An unexpected tornado tossed her into a world she had not planned to enter. Yet once she took path, what an extraordinary life-changing adventure she had. Life is like that sometimes, isn’t it?
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