A Therapeutic Space for Individuals, Couples, and Families
Part of the appeal of the “chemical imbalance” metaphor is that it people don’t have to feel ‘guilty” about their depression, or problems with their kids. But it can keep both patients and therapists from getting to the all-important bottom of things.
The logic of “chemical imbalance” persuades both patients and practitioners that context and subjective experience are not important. But that logic interferes with the understanding the person’s pain, and what it’s made of.
Check out this Op-Ed from The New York Times by Internal Medicine physician Danielle Ofri. She cites a recent Canadian study which shows that empathic, caring conversation from their physical therapists actually reduced the patients’ pain more than a medical procedure designed to treat their condition.
In the U.S. today we celebrate the birthday of the great peace activist and spiritual leader Martin Luther King Jr.
Please enjoy this poem from poet Thomas E. Kemp My old whispers are ground into dust, The secrets I held
Wishing All Our Readers Peace, Love and Courage for this New Year. Let’s keep the arts–and the art of relationship–
Many thanks to poet Thomas Kemp for sending me his poem. He was gracious enough to let me post it.
Contrary to common belief, the Christmas season is often a source of renewal for the family spirit.
There is no chemical imbalance. At least there is none that can be measured or quantified. “Chemical Imbalance” is a persuasive metaphor used by psychiatrists, physicians and drug companies to convince people to take medication.
Modern Psychiatry, in league with pharmaceutical and insurance companies, promotes language which advances the idea that emotional “problems” were neurophysiological ‘disorders’.