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Showing posts from April, 2017

The Dangerous Lure of Narcissism

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 By: Christine Hammond LMHC  The media loves to cover narcissists almost as much as a narcissist loves to be covered by the media. And why not? The narcissist’s stories are colorful, prone to exaggeration, intentionally divisive, and feature them as the star. It is easy reporting because it is naturally interesting, requires limited verification, and is emotionally charging. A person either loves the narcissist or intensely hates them; there is little area for grey which makes for a great story. The same is true on a smaller scale when meeting a narcissist for the first time. They have larger than life personalities, can command large or small crowds, exude confidence, and are immensely charming. Who won’t want to capture the attention of such a person? It validates the hidden desires of worthiness, acceptance, and recognition. It is an immediate ego boast to capture the attention of a narcissist. But there is danger in being lured in by a narcissist. What looks good now

The 9 Stages of Sexual Harassment

By: Christine Hammond LMHC Twenty years ago, men were the thought of as the main perpetrators of workplace sexual harassment with women as their victims. Having been one of those victims in two separate work industry environments, with a boss and co-worker, the demoralizing encounter left a scar. It was frustrating to be recognized not for my hard work but rather, my appearance and naivety. But as with everything else, times have changed. There are now mandatory trainings on the subject, reporting is semi-confidential, and awareness has increased. But unfortunately, the perception that it is dirty old men sexually harassing young women has remained. This could not be further from the truth. Women can be perpetrators and the harassment is not confined to heterosexual interaction. Regardless of the players or their sexuality, the pattern is the same for the perpetrator. I have seen this entire pattern happen over a period of years or as short as a couple of hours. It dep

Top 10 Misguided Perceptions of Therapy

By: Christine Hammond LMHC Ever wonder what it is like to go see a therapist? Perhaps there is a troubled relationship that is rapidly deteriorating. Or a boss that can’t be satisfied who chooses to verbal assault their employees. Or a traumatic event that never seems to leave current thoughts. Or a recent loss that is so overwhelming, forever changing the future. Therapy is very useful in these cases and can improve a person’s life. But the expectation a person enters into the therapeutic process often limits the ability of the therapist to do their best work. Over the years, clients have shared some misguided perceptions of therapy. Here are a few: 1.        “Therapy should make me happy.” The intent of therapy is not ‘make’ a person happy. Happiness is a feeling which can be based on circumstances, outlook, and personality. The real purpose of therapy is to become fully functional, present, and connected in all environments and relationships. 2.       “You need to ch