When Once Is Not Enough
[View original article published in Psych Central here] “Say good-night mommy, say good-night,” pleaded Johnny every night. It wasn’t as if he had not already read several books, been tucked in, and kissed good night. Johnny’s pleas continued every night. After the third or fourth nagging requests, she would get irritated and say, “I am done! This is the last one. Good night!” Johnny would cry and ask for more “good nights.” Mom didn’t know it at the time, but she was reinforcing Johnny’s need for reassurance. One “goodnight” was not enough, but neither were ten. Ritualized hand-washing or other grooming compulsions were absent. There didn’t seem to be any checking compulsions. If there had been, Johnny’s parents probably would have sough
Why I’ve Decided to Blog
I have been working as a therapist for a while and I love my job! It is inspiring and humbling when I witness my clients’ progress. It is rewarding when I see them work hard in order to learn skills that will take them to the places they want to be in their lives. In my conversations with a dear friend, we always talk about making a difference and he always says: “at the end of the day, it is about the people.” Indeed it is! I believe I can make a difference at least one client at a time. My hope is that by writing through this blog I may be able to help others as I share ideas, skills, and experiences from either myself and experts in the mental health field. You’ll be hearing from me soon. Annabella
