Elisabeth LaMotte
As an empty nester I feel reasonably grounded when I reflect on my approach to raising our daughters. I wish that we had found a way to live abroad at some point. It never felt like the right time, and though my husband had professional opportunities that would have allowed for postings abroad, I did…
Read MoreI recently had the fascinating opportunity to speak with the University of Pennsylvania School of Public Policy and Practice (SP2) researcher and professor Dr. Allison Werner-Lin about her groundbreaking research exploring the intersection of genetics and family life. The link below takes you to the National Association of Social Workers podcast, Social Work Talks, to…
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Chemistry, cooking, and a compelling cast of characters animate Bonnie Garmus’ engaging novel Lessons in Chemistry. Heroine Elizabeth Zott offers explosive lessons surpassing chemistry as she spearheads a fight for women’s respect and equal workplace rights. From a psychological perspective, the book is also a memorable lesson in the Freudian concept of sublimation—an intriguing psychological…
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“Be where the client is at.” This phrase – despite and because of its grammatical flaw – was written and spoken and repeated by several social work professors in my early graduate training. A willingness to refrain from my own agenda in order to respect and deeply probe the psychological space and experience of my…
Read MoreElisabeth enjoyed the chance to speak with Huffington Post about this ongoing challenge. Check out the article here as well as her full response below: Men looking for practical action items should grab the low hanging fruit and wash those dishes! Not just once in a while, but each and every day. Don’t wait to…
Read MoreDenial is a powerful force, and many of us in the helping profession do not take the steps that we are ethically obligated to take in order to prepare for sudden illness or death. It was illuminating to learn more about this topic through a conversation with Dr. Ann Steiner who was our guest on…
Read More The book jacket for Diary of a Mad Housewife describes the novel as “a classic of urban women’s fiction that gave a wry voice to the nascent feminist stirrings of the 1960s.” I’m not sure how I missed it on my mother’s bookshelf while growing up in the 70s, but she confirms that it was…
Read More Family therapists love a good genogram. For those unfamiliar with this term, a genogram is a comprehensive family history framed through the psychological lens of Family Systems Theory. Family Systems Theory is a relationally oriented approach to therapy emphasizing the formative importance of the family landscape. Systemic therapists believe that relational patterns are often passed…
Read More Engaging in therapy, it is quite common to look back on past choices and scan for patterns. Reflecting on past decisions often illuminates insights about the present and the future. Honest examination in this mode is a template for therapeutic change. Let’s say a therapy client is working on a pattern of choosing unhealthy relationships.…
Read More When my book club selected Emma Donoghue’s bestselling novel, Room, for our monthly read, I was not too psyched about revisiting this memorable, haunting tale. I saw the 2015 film in theaters and sat riveted through Brie Larson’s masterful performance which won her academy award for best actress in a lead role. Given the emotional…
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