Understanding Narcissism

Understanding Narcissism

Narcissism and Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is one of the most difficult mental health issues any person or couple contends with. But what exactly is narcissism? How does one become “narcissistic”? Freud originally came up with the term from a Greek character “Narcissus” who fell in love with his reflection in a pool of water […]

The Power of Therapy

The Power of Therapy

Take a moment to think about the context in which your next decision will occur: you did not pick your parents or the time and place of your birth. You didn’t choose your race, gender, or your life experiences. You had no control whatsoever over your genome or the development of your brain. And now […]

Getting Unstuck: The Challenge of Change

Getting Unstuck: The Challenge of Change

Although most enter therapy insisting that they want change, more often than not, what they really want is to remain the same and to get the therapist to make them feel better. What I have noticed is those who get the most out of therapy come in with an attitude of openness, curiosity about themselves/others, […]

Consult Your Own Death

Consult Your Own Death

We all have important decisions to make every day. Some large, some small. Choices that seem to move our lives in one direction and away from another. Saying “Yes” always also means saying “No.” Many struggle at the crossroads of decisions- suffering to find the “right” answer but without a clear compass in decision making. […]

Anger

Anger | Dr. MitchKeil | Blog Post

Anger is one of the trickiest emotions we experience. There is nothing that pulls stronger for action than that chest-tightening, face reddening, jaw clenching feeling of anger. So what gives? How come it tends to get the best of us? And – is there way out? Our brains are built upon layers – to grossly […]

Trauma and Psychotherapy

Trauma and Psychotherapy

We hear a lot about trauma and traumatic experiences, but what actually is an experience to be considered truly traumatic? When your Starbucks order is 11 minutes late? A bad breakup? A car accident? War combat? The phrase “That was traumatic!” Seems to be thrown around all the time. Maybe it’s lost its valence – […]

Why we love who we love

Why we love who we love | Dr. MitchKeil

Our goal since the moment we gasp our first breath is to connect and attach to the people waiting to care for us. We are quite literally born into relationships and we depend upon those relationships for survival. As infants, we learn very quickly what causes our caregivers to withdraw or worse get upset, even […]

Questions from Quarantine

Questions from Quarantine

Questions from Quarantine: A Psychologist Answers Coronavirus. Who would have thought THIS would be the issue we would all be facing – even a few months ago? Recall your list of worries in December – was a global pandemic on the list? I feel like there is a lesson for us all in there somewhere. […]

10 “Panxiety” (Pandemic-Anxiety) Relief Strategies

10 "Panxiety" (Pandemic-Anxiety) Relief Strategies

1. With the down time, start a regular meditation practice. Meditation is one of the most researched and scientifically backed practices to reduce anxiety, depression, and burnout (you name it – there’s research supporting its efficacy on almost everything). There is also evidence that regular practice increases immune function and overall health (e.g. decreasing blood […]