Elisabeth LaMotte

Empire of Pain

By Elisabeth LaMotte / August 6, 2021

Therapists are taught to screen for substance abuse in the first session. Conventional training teaches that traditional psychotherapy will not be helpful if a client is actively abusing a substance and encourages clinicians to refer addicts to a substance abuse treatment program. Some therapists use a tough love approach and refuse to move beyond a…

Read More

Driveways

By Elisabeth LaMotte / July 13, 2021

Most schools of psychology emphasize the significance of examining the past. As a systems therapist, I try to help therapy clients discover how past family dynamics shape current life experience. Rather than harping on the past, which no one finds particularly useful, we reflect on what a client’s life was like growing up to develop…

Read More

What’s the Deal with Apology Dinners?

By Elisabeth LaMotte / May 4, 2021

I knew nothing about the viral apology dinner convo that was flying around the cybersphere until contacted by Huffington Post to weigh in. I also had a chance to discuss the topic with channel Q and will add that link soon. Therapists have some thoughts about that viral “Apology Dinner” Below are my full thoughts…

Read More

Our Souls at Night

By Elisabeth LaMotte / April 12, 2021

Committed relationships often feel complicated, as any couples therapist will acknowledge. But falling in love often feels simple. Clear and inspiring, liberating and pure. Kent Haruf captures the purity and ease of burgeoning romantic feelings in his final novel, Our Souls at Night. The novel is a quick, engaging read that explores the magic of…

Read More

Turbulent Souls

By Elisabeth LaMotte / March 6, 2021

Rebellion is considered a natural part of adolescent and early adulthood development and a topic of interest for many therapists and clients in therapy. Rebellion can look remarkably different depending on the rebellious actor and their family unit. While some rebellious acts, like cutting class or shaving one’s head, seem obvious, others feel more confusing…

Read More

Men Were Stepping Up with Housework Early in the Pandemic; Now That They Have Reverted to Old Patters, What Can We Do?

By Elisabeth LaMotte / February 19, 2021

When Huffington Post reached out regarding research indicated that men were stepping up with housework early in the pandemic, here’s what Elisabeth had to say about it: Couples fortunate enough to work from home throughout the pandemic have seen their household chores multiply and opportunities for alone time diminish. Parents are often balancing work from…

Read More

Pieces of a Woman

By Elisabeth LaMotte / February 7, 2021

Vanessa Kirby’s performance in Pieces of a Woman is so raw and relatable that it can feel jarring to watch. Considering the trailer and the fact that her labor and delivery scene takes place almost immediately, it is not much of a spoiler to share that the film explores the impact of her loss of…

Read More

What’s a film suggestion that might challenge our perspective in an intelligent way?

By Elisabeth LaMotte / January 8, 2021

Check out our review of the documentary film Angry Inuk. It is as memorable as it is meaningful.

Read More

Angry Inuk

By Elisabeth LaMotte / January 8, 2021

I am excited to share our review of Angry Inuk which is posted by The New Social Worker

Read More

The Color of Water

By Elisabeth LaMotte / December 3, 2020

Throughout the COVID19 I notice that reading a good book is welcome diversion from the relentless news cycle. However, I also notice and hear from others that it helps to read books that quickly grab and absorb one’s attention. With this in mind, I decided to re-read James McBride’s “The Color of Water.” I first…

Read More

Subscribe

Search

Recent Posts

Categories

Archives

Archives