The Challenge to be Authentic
“Transformation is my favorite game and in my experience, anger and frustration are the result of you not being authentic somewhere in your life or with someone in your life. Being fake about anything creates a block inside of you. Life can’t work for you if you don’t show up as you.” ― Jason Mraz Posted on July 27, 2013 Howard Brockman,...
read moreOut of Salem: One in Eighteen Oregon Adults Suffer Mental Illness
This is a press release from the Oregon Senate President in Salem, publicized on February 6, 2013. Minor modifications have been made. On February 6, 2013, Oregon’s Senate President Peter Courtney called on members of the Oregon Legislature to make a “game changing” increase in funding for community mental health services in Oregon a top revenue and budget priority. This would impact not only Salem mental health services but mental health services throughout the state of Oregon. “It’s been almost a decade since the discovery of the Room of Lost Souls prompted the Legislature to act to replace the Oregon State Hospital,” Courtney said “It’s a shame, but perhaps recent tragedies in Oregon and other states will finally force us to confront this widespread problem in our state. If we are willing to tackle this issue, we can dramatically improve the quality of life for thousands of Oregonians.” Statistics indicate that one in eight children, and one in 18 adults in Oregon suffers from mental illness. The Oregon Health Authority also reports that the state is currently serving less than half the adults and slightly more than one-third of the young people who need treatment. Courtney said officials in OHA’s Division of Addictions and Mental Health indicate that an additional $331 million is needed to fully fund community mental health services. Nearly $285 million is needed for crisis services, case management, outpatient programs and housing for mentally ill adults. Another $46 million is needed for programs for children and young adults. “We need services that can intervene and make a difference in someone’s life before they wind up in the Oregon State Hospital or one of our prisons,” Courtney said. “More than half of the adults with mental illness are slipping through the cracks.” The earlier mental illness is identified and treated the better the outcome, the Senate President said, adding that increasing funding for services for Oregonians ages 0 to 25 is critical. “Nearly two-thirds of young Oregonians who need mental health services aren’t getting them,” said Courtney (D-Salem/Gervais/Woodburn) “We have to do better. Before we can fill their minds with knowledge, we need to make sure their minds are healthy.” The Senate President said he is working to identify potential dedicated funding sources to provide the additional funding needed for community mental health treatment. “If we’re going to get serious about treating mental illness in our state, we have to get serious about funding mental health services in our state,” Courtney said. “It’s too important to put off any longer.” Footnote: Additional listings to this press release include the following: mental health Salem Oregon Salem health psychology and mental health Salem mental health Posted on July 26, 2013 Howard Brockman, LCSW ...
read moreWhen Do You Experience Intrusions?
There are many meanings for the word intrusions. In indigenous cultures, intrusions are often thought about as negative thought forms that are powerful enough to penetrate into a person’s energy field like a parasite. Once an intrusion has penetrated a person’s energy body, it is generally recognized that a localized physical problem or symptom is generated and felt by that individual. Weakness and generally feeling unwell can often follow, along with feeling somewhat depressed and “victimy.” For the longest time, I have wondered just how people acquire these subtle negative energy intrusions. Since writing my newest book on Essential Self-Care for Caregivers and Helpers, it has become increasingly evident to me that intrusions are often the result of boundary violations. These boundary violations can be both at the physical level and at the more subtle energetic level. For instance, an intrusion can occur as a consequence of somebody constantly interrupting you and talking over you. Other verbal intrusions can result from name calling, criticisms, being diminished, derided and insulted. While one single incident might not actually feel intrusive, over time and repeatedly, these verbal intrusions can begin to accumulate and wear down a person’s resistance and overall health and well-being. The same consequence could result at the physical level. Examples of this could be repeated physical abuse or sexual abuse. All of these themes reflect a violation of one’s personal boundaries, either at the gross physical level or at the more subtle energetic level. Like microbes that we are always in relationship to but generally do not become affected by (i.e., think cold and flu viruses), these phenomena of energetic intrusions can affect us negatively if our overall resistance is weakened within the context of a dysfunctional or codependent relationship, wherein our sense of personal autonomy is diminished or eliminated altogether in what might be characterized as an abusive relationship. How can you prevent intrusions? The answer is proper self-care wherein you value yourself and are willing to stand up for all parts of you and say NO when it is necessary. Additionally, opening yourself up to positive supportive people and healthy energies will augment your self-esteem and thus increase your sense of personal power. Keep working on eliminating any limiting beliefs that are responsible for perpetuating a personal myth story that no longer serves your highest good. Decide to become the agent for positive change and intrusions will be a thing of the past. Howard Brockman, LCSW Posted on July 25,...
read moreDo We Really Only Use 10% of Our Brain?
This persistent belief seems to be pervasive. I have heard this said ever since I was in elementary school. What do you think? Is the rest of the potential use of our brain deep in the “subconscious” mind, underutilized for the most part? Are there exercises you can do to use more of your brain? Are people who are multilingual using more of their brain? Here is a link to an interesting article that addresses these questions. Check it...
read moreChange and Your Subconscious Mind
Are you familiar with the placebo effect? This is when patients are given sugar pills by their doctors and told that it is an antidepressant pill (for example). More often than not, the individual’s depression dissipates completely. Why does this happen? Because the person believed that it would work. This is a remarkable example of the deeper healing part of us, the subconscious mind. Many healers and therapists recognize that there are actually two minds in us, the subconscious and the conscious, and the subconscious mind runs the operating system of our life most of the time. When undesirable symptoms occur, whether it is ill health conditions or behaviors that become problematic, it is critical to change the subconscious response pattern. How is this accomplished? A major stumbling block is that we can’t change the subconscious by reasoning things out. The subconscious mind is like an automated operating system that runs most of our hardware and thinking, so we need to learn how to reprogram it. Most of the time it’s runs very efficiently, but occasionally there are glitches that we recognize as habitual responses that run counter to our conscious intentions. When this happens it is time to problem solve and get to the root of the problem so it can be modified–essentially reprogrammed. There are effective methods to reprogram the subconscious mind, including EFT (an energy-based approach) and hypnosis. Change doesn’t have to be a struggle. You just have to know what you want and ask for some assistance. Posted on July 10, 2013 Howard Brockman,...
read moreCouple and Relationship Counseling
When couples make an appointment there are usually several themes that keep recirculating in their relationship. Often the presenting issue is identified as communication problems. What does this mean? Generally, there are conflicts that keep persisting such that a pattern of verbal arguing becomes the norm. This becomes very stressful because there are put downs, yelling, hurt feelings and extreme emotional confrontations. The result is that both people can be become emotionally defended (protecting their vulnerability) and emotional distance is the result instead of the trust that maintains connectedness. Why might this keep happening? That is what we work on together to find out. Here are some possible reasons: Unresolved hurts and resentments When one person carries a negative experience from a past relationship Alcohol or other drugs become problematic for one or both people When one person has an affair Poor interpersonal boundaries When one person is perceived as controlling by the other If you want to keep your relationship you must do the work to sit with the tension and sort things out. If you want to end the relationship you must do the work to sit with the tension and sort thing out. Either way, having the courage to say what is true for you enables the positive change you desire. What do you want? Posted on July 7, 2013 Howard Brockman, LCSW offers Relationship and Marriage Counseling in Salem,...
read moreWhy Counseling?
Counseling and psychotherapy is really all about becoming successful. Let me give you some examples. If a person suffers from test anxiety and mentally freezes up during an exam, there is usually an underlying belief that is sabotaging good test results. Why was this belief generated, and how did it become persistent? The job of a good therapist is to find out and help the client to change this so the person becomes successful. If a person cannot sustain a loving and mutually respectful adult relationship, there are usually underlying beliefs accompanied by some negative or traumatic experiences that are reinforcing the limiting beliefs sabotaging his or her relationships. Perhaps the person’s parents were always fighting and the person made a decision that he or she would never want to be in that kind of a relationship. Or perhaps the person was told repeatedly when growing up that he or she was stupid or in some way not good enough to be loved by another. The therapist’s job is to collaborate with the client to be detectives and uncover the core underlying limiting belief(s) and then determine if there were any traumatic events associated with and responsible for the limiting beliefs. Once uncovered, there are many different and proven approaches to change the underlying limiting beliefs and eliminate any associated negative emotional charge. I want you to know that you can be successful in any area of your life. It is only necessary to be clear about your goals. Once you are clear, you can begin to focus on a successful outcome and positive change will happen. Posted on July 3, 2013 Howard Brockman,...
read moreAbout Me
Howard Brockman, LCSW is a psychotherapist who has been in private practice for 32-years. He is a Diplomate in Clinical Social Work and The Association of Comprehensive Energy Psychology. He has a master’s degree in Social Ethics/Religious Studies from the University of Southern California and a master’s degree in Social Work from Portland State University. Read More... 
