So many people ask me what happens in a psychotherapy that I made a TikTok about it. This was a couple of years ago, but I have been told that I should also share it here. So...here it is! 

​I'm not sure whether I am going to break some algorithm  but I also posted this video on my psychotherapy website... So apologies in advance if you have seen this twice! My view is: The more people I can reach, the better.

Let me know what you think about the video. Does this match your experiences of psychotherapy? Please get in contact via this page. Or you can book online for a free call.

Chris Warren-Dickins
Psychotherapist in Ridgewood, New Jersey

One of the many annoying things about depression is that it can be hard to detect. In some, it shows itself in angry outbursts, whereas in others it could be a silent withdrawal from their friends.

The trick is to know your loves ones; you know how they usually are, so you’ll be able to spot unusual behavior. The other thing is to notice whether a pattern of behavior is developing. One off day or outburst is not depression, but a pattern over a period of time may suggest that you need to seek the help of a licensed and experienced professional.

Finally, look out for particular features such as expressions of powerlessness or hopelessness. These are often signs of depression.

Depression is serious but it doesn’t need to be scary if you are open and honest with your loved ones.

If you need to talk to a professional about depression, you can book online for a free call.

Chris Warren-Dickins
Psychotherapist in Ridgewood, New Jersey

Loneliness defines a queer or trans experience. There is a struggle to come to terms with an identity that doesn't fit expectations, and at first this is something that is struggled with alone.

Then there is the catch-22 experience that concealing an identity can compound distress, whereas 'coming out' can increase risk of hostile reactions, the loss of employment, social groups, etc.

The risk for loneliness and social isolation is compounded when someone then experiences violence or other hostility due to their identity. Isolation and avoidance are seen as coping strategies that can end up being overly used in response to such hostile experiences.

Many professionals advocate social connection as an essential component to mental health. However, there is a need to assess the quality of those social connections, especially for the queer and trans experience.

When you choose a mental health professional, make sure they understand the uniqueness of loneliness and the queer experience. If you would like to discuss this with me, you can book a free call back.
 
Chris Warren-Dickins
Psychotherapist in Ridgewood, New Jersey

Why not use the summer to catch up on some summer reading. More importantly, use it to tackle those habits and traps that hold you back. Here are four books that can help you:

Beyond Your Confines: The key to free your mind

Beyond Your Confines introduces you to the mental prisons we create for ourselves, including our intolerance of uncertainty and the narrative fallacies we create. Some argue that the growth in technology has trapped us further in these mental prisons, so now, more than ever, we need to reach beyond our confines to free our minds and benefit from our inner wisdom and natural rhythms.

Beyond Your Confines: The Workbook

Based on the popular Beyond Your Confines comes the invaluable companion guide to using your nervous system to free your mind. Empowering, resourceful, a practical guide all in one, Beyond Your Confines: The Workbook is an essential guide to using your nervous system to break free of your mental prison and free your mind.

The Beast of Gloom: A children's book about depression

Help your child learn that difficult feelings are inevitable, and how you respond to it makes all the difference. Compassion and talking to others are just two of the strategies suggested in this book. Beautifully illustrated by Theodore Key, with words from a psychotherapist, this is an essential guide to help kids realize that it doesn’t have to be scary to talk to children about depression. Help them to learn about how to recognize depression, and what to do about it.

Beyond the Blue

A survival guide to depression, anxiety, relationship conflict, and trauma. 
 
Chris Warren-Dickins
Psychotherapist in Ridgewood, New Jersey

When the Beast of Gloom appears in your life, please remember:

• It might seem so big right now, but it will reduce in time.
• It might feel like it will last forever, but it won't.
• You might believe that no one understands, but many do.
• You might believe you are the only one who has felt this way, but that isn't true.
• You might not feel like it will change, but it will.

When you are depressed, your brain can't function as well as it might. So lean on the support and guidance of others until the shadow of the Beast of Gloom reduces, and you can see your way to those better days.

If you need to talk to me about depression, you can book online for a free call.

Chris Warren-Dickins
Psychotherapist in Ridgewood, New Jersey
(Illustrations by the wonderful Theodore Key)