by Seth J. Gillihan, PhD | Oct 29, 2016 | Blog, Death, Mindfulness, Relationships
We’re now well into fall, and each week our changing relationship with the sun is apparent. Few things mark the passage of time like the coming of spring and fall, the transitional seasons. Perhaps it’s saying good-bye to warm weather and looking ahead to...
by Seth J. Gillihan, PhD | Oct 14, 2016 | Blog, Mindfulness
By now most of us have been introduced to the concept of mindfulness—the idea that by focusing our attention on the present, and bringing an attitude of openness and acceptance to whatever is happening, we can reduce our suffering and live fuller and more meaningful...
by Seth J. Gillihan, PhD | Oct 12, 2016 | Blog, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Depression, Mindfulness, Self Compassion
“You’re such an idiot.” How many of us tell ourselves things like this every day? We are more likely to “beat ourselves up” than to verbally abuse someone else, including those we dislike. Studies confirm the ill effects of self-directed hate speech, such...
by Seth J. Gillihan, PhD | Oct 5, 2016 | Blog, Mindfulness, Relationships, Stress
Dr. Alec Spencer Knew That to Listen Is to Heal On the wall above my desk are pictures of many of my ancestors, including Dr. Alec Spencer. Born in 1915 to Kinchon Spencer and Lula Kilgore Spencer, he would have been 101 this year. For over 50 years he served the...
by Seth J. Gillihan, PhD | Sep 14, 2016 | Blog, Death, Dreams, Mindfulness
I had once been told you can’t die in your dreams, but I learned years ago that you can. In my own death dream I was on an airplane and the landing went really badly. One wheel touched down and the others didn’t. The plane began twisting and sheering. I was terrified,...