Welcome to my blog, The Lapidary. This is where I regularly share my thoughts and gleanings on topics related to mental health, psychotherapy with soul, my specialties, and the modalities I use in my practice. The Lapidary is also where I announce new workshops, groups, and publications.
Why is the blog named The Lapidary? According to Merriam-Webster, a lapidary (derived from the Latin lapis, meaning “stone”) refers to “a cutter, polisher, or engraver of precious stones.”
As you probably noticed, my psychotherapy practice is called Lapis Healing Arts, after the legendary vivid-blue lapis stone. In alchemy, the lapis was thought to be the philosopher’s stone—the stone that turns dross into gold. Speaking metaphorically, the lapis is what transforms the most challenging aspects of life into qualities such as grit, compassion for self and others, and wisdom in action.
Therefore, The Lapidary blog name pays tribute to the important work of both therapist and client in shaping, refining, and polishing the lapis, the stone of transformation. In this way, I see therapist and client as dedicated craftspeople and artisans of the mind, body, and spirit.
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How to Support Someone Dealing with Job Loss
With the current spate of layoffs, you and/or someone you know may be reeling from a recent job loss. Besides the obvious sting of income and benefit loss, a layoff can contribute to many other less tangible but nonetheless painful losses.
The Lock-and-Key Relationship of Narcissistic Abuse and Codependency
According to the CPTSD Foundation, “People with codependency sometimes form relationships with [people with narcissism] and they develop complementary roles. The [person with codependency] has found a person they can pour themselves into and the [person with narcissism] has found someone who will always put them first.”¹
Feed Your Mind with Supportive Self-Talk
Chances are you’ve already noticed in yourself and others just how powerful self-talk can be, for better or worse. Unsupportive self-talk can contribute to anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem.
COVID-19 Update
We are living in a strange new reality in the COVID-19 pandemic. Seemingly overnight, many abrupt changes have happened.