Author Archives: tlindquistpsyd

People often seek therapy to get support dealing with emotions, or more specifically, uncomfortable emotions, such as fear, anger, or sadness. It is not uncommon to want these emotions to be stopped, shut-off, or taken away. However, such a goal is ultimately impossible as emotions are an inherent part of human experience and play an importantContinue reading “Tidal Wave of Feelings”

“If we fall, we don’t need self-recrimination or blame or anger – we need a reawakening of our intention and a willingness to re-commit, to be whole-hearted once again.” – Sharon Salzberg Self-doubt is a mental preoccupation involving indecision, uncertainty, and lack of confidence. It can cause us to hesitate and become stuck reviewing pastContinue reading “Trusting Yourself”

“The exaggerated esteem in which my lifework is held makes me very ill at ease. I feel compelled to think of myself as an involuntary swindler.” –Albert Einstein “It’s not what you are that holds you back, it’s what you think you are not.” –Denis Waitley Have you ever felt like you were just pretendingContinue reading “Imposter Syndrome”

According to her book description, it all began with a simple experiment designed to establish the relationship between high cholesterol and heart health in rabbits. The experiment found that kindness, in the form of nurturing post-doc who pet and spoke to the lab rabbits as she fed them, made the difference between a heart attackContinue reading “It’s Good to be Kind”

As the total number of Americans with at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine closes in on 50% and the CDC loosens restrictions, we are faced with unique challenges around social reengagement. In many ways, vaccinations and reopening is a cause for excitement and new hope for life returning to normal. However, you areContinue reading ““How Does This Work?” Post-Pandemic Social Readjustment”

Transitions are often filled with mixed emotions. Sometimes transitions are by choice, but many times we are not given a choice. People handle transitions and change in all kinds of ways. Depending on the nature of the transition, you may feel anxious and experience self-doubt or feel angry and confused. In some cases, you mayContinue reading “Always Arriving: Embracing Each Moment in Times of Transition”

Procrastination, self-isolation, wishful thinking, passive aggressive behavior, and alcohol use. Sound familiar? These behaviors are all common examples of avoidance coping. When we are engaged in this common form of maladaptive coping, we are not directly addressing our problems, interpersonal conflicts, or difficult emotions. Rather, we are disengaging and distracting ourselves so that we mightContinue reading “Disrupting the Cycle of Avoidance Coping”

“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.”  -Lao Tzu Rushing can increase stress, interfere with meaningful communication, and reduce our capacity for pleasure and enjoyment. Although rushing is sometimes inevitable, constant pressure to rush from one thing to the next leads to chronic stress and burnout. Both our physical and mental health can beginContinue reading “Channeling Your Inner Tortoise: Slowing Down to Reduce Stress”

It is not uncommon to skip or cancel plans because we are feeling down or unmotivated. It is also not uncommon for us to wait to feel better or feel more motivated before taking action. Although canceling plans to focus on taking care of ourselves is sometimes the right decision, avoiding activities that can helpContinue reading “Using Behavioral Activation to Improve Your Mood”

“You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.“ -Jon Kabat-Zinn Take a moment and recall the last time you felt a strong emotion. What do you remember? What did your body feel like? What thoughts came to mind? What did you feel like doing? What did you do? Pause and close yourContinue reading “Befriending Our Emotions”