Posts Tagged With: NSGP

Day 2350: Have pride in who you are

Posted on June 8, 2019 by Ann Koplow

Yesterday, I published the post Day 2385: What is the title of this post? in which I encouraged readers to propose a title for the day’s collection of photos.

I have pride in who my readers are, and those readers include wonderful WordPresser Mark Bialczak,who posted this comment:

Have Pride in Who You Are
… would be one alternative title, but you may also have used that one in your years of post wisdom, Ann!

I have pride in my answer to Mark:

I have not used that title before, Mark. Therefore, I shall use it for my next blog post! What would I do without you, my friend?

I have pride in using that title, here and now, because

Boston’s Pride Parade is today,
I (as part of a “pride” of group therapists) am attending the annual conference of the Northeastern Society for Group Psychotherapy,
after over twenty years of attending those sustaining and educational conferences, I have pride in who I am as the President of that organization, and
the title fits my pride of today’s photos:

I have pride that Jocelyn Schur, LCSW, is attending the NSGP conference and also reads this blog!

Here‘s U2 with Pride (in the Name of Love):

Here‘s information about today’s Pride Parade in Boston:

Do you have pride in who you are? Please express your thoughts and feelings with pride in a comment, below.

I have pride that gratitude is a big part of who I am, so thanks to all who helped me create today’s post and — of course! — to YOU.

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: Boston's Pride Parade, gratitude, Jocelyn Schur, Mark Bialczak, NSGP, NSGP 2019 conference, Pride (in the name of love), The Northeastern Society for Group Psychotherapists, U2 | 12 Comments

Day 2312: Struck

Posted on May 1, 2019 by Ann Koplow

I’m struck by how I’ve never used the word “struck” in a blog post title before.

I’m struck by how I’ve used the word “struck” in 13 previous blog posts, including Day 1966: Memorable lines, Day 1875: Tipping Point, Day 1292: Seeing patients, Day 981: Righteous Numbers, Day 956: Never Give Up, Day 717: Interrupting, Day 463: Surprises, Day 367: Screen Shots, Day 364: What day is it?, Day 284: We never know how we affect people (The Ta-Da Pose), Day 100: I Confess, Day 75: Things that make me go _____, and Day 58: Accelerated learning.

I’m struck by how …

long it takes me to do one of these “linking to old posts” openings,
much my blog has changed over the years,
relevant some of those old post titles seem to me today,
many challenges I’ve been struck by (but not struck down by) over the years, and
many of my photos from yesterday connect with today’s title.

I’m struck by how

long it takes me to make photo montages look right,
much I love being a group therapist,
many gates there are around Fenway Park, and
wonderful it is to live near the water.

Here’s the award-winning short film Struck:

What are you struck by, here and now?

As usual, I’m struck by gratitude for all who help me create these daily posts and — of course! — for YOU.

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: "Struck", Boston, diagnostic codes, Fenway Park area of Boston, gratitude, group therapy, Northeastern Society for Group Psychotherapy, NSGP, NSGP 2019 conference | 20 Comments

Day 2309: What would I do without you?

Posted on April 28, 2019 by Ann Koplow

What would I do without you, my readers, who have supported and sustained me through 2,309 consecutive days of blogging?

What would I do without my iPhone and my eye for interesting images and connections all around me?

What would I do without wonderful people like Ryan Gee, sales manager extraordinaire for Boston Roofing and Gutters, who helped us quickly fix our leaky roof and also told us about the best local Thai Restaurant EVER (Thai Noodle Bar in Quincy, Massachusetts)?

What would I do without sustaining organizations like the Northeastern Society for Group Psychotherapy (see conference brochure pictured above) especially during challenging times like these?

What would I do without YouTube and music like Drew Holcomb And The Neighbors‘ “What Would I Do Without You”?

What would I do without your comments?

What would I do without my daily chance to express gratitude here to all those who help me create these posts and — OF COURSE! — to YOU.

Categories: blogging, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: "What Would I Do Without You?", Boston Roofing and Gutters, Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors, gratitude, Northeastern Society for Group Psychotherapy, NSGP, Passover 2019, Ryan Gee, Star Market and Whole Foods Market, Thai Noodle Bar | 31 Comments

Day 2295: ASK FOR HELP!

Posted on April 14, 2019 by Ann Koplow

Last week, somebody who was joining my Coping and Healing groups said to me, “I have trouble asking for help.” I hope it helped when I replied, “You’re not alone. Many other people in the groups also struggle with asking for help.”

Yesterday morning, when I was writing my second Letter from the President for the Northeastern Society for Group Psychotherapy (NSGP) newsletter, my boyfriend Michael started talking in his sleep. Michael sometimes talks in his sleep in the mornings, but I can never hear what he’s saying. It doesn’t help that he mumbles while sleep-talking. Yesterday, he said

Don’t (…unintelligible mumbling…) ASK FOR HELP!!

“ASK FOR HELP!” was so loud and clear that it startled me and the cats. Inspired by that message from the sleeping Michael, I immediately sent my latest version of my Letter from the President to a helpful friend and NSGP board member, and asked for her help in reviewing what I’d written. It really helped that I asked for help that way, because (1) she was very positive and helpful in her feedback and (2) this morning I restarted my computer and would have completely lost all my latest work if I hadn’t sent her that draft.

As Michael said, ASK FOR HELP!

I heard “ASK FOR HELP!” in my head yesterday as I looked for helpful images to capture and share. You don’t have to ask me to include them here and now.

fullsizeoutput_384a

Right before I took that last photo, I heard many cat noises coming from inside our house, so I asked for Michael’s help in identifying them. Since I asked for help, he showed me this video:

Those hungry cats were asking for help, and they got it.

After our long walk near the seashore yesterday, I received an email about Open Mic’s around Boston. Because it helps to practice my original songs, I asked for help in signing up for a slot tomorrow night.

Last night, Michael and I had dinner with my friend and co-worker Alice and her husband (not pictured). I said, “I think Alice and I have the female equivalent of a bromance. I wonder what that’s called?” Later, I asked for help in identifying that term. Would you like to ask for help in discovering what that word is?

It’s “womance.”

If you have trouble sharing your thoughts and feelings in a comment below, ASK FOR HELP!

Every day, I ask for help in expressing my gratitude to all those who help me create these posts and — of course! — to YOU.

Categories: group therapy, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: asking for help, BeBop Open Mic, gratitude, greeting cards, kamanno, Northeastern Society for Group Psychotherapy, NSGP, the South Shore of Boston, weekend walk, womance | 19 Comments

Day 2261: Unconditional _________

Posted on March 11, 2019 by Ann Koplow

I have an unconditional question: How would you unconditionally fill in the blank in today’s title?

In these conditions, I like to provide definitions, so here‘s one of “unconditional.”

unconditional adjective
un·con·di·tion·al | \ ˌən-kən-ˈdish-nəl , -ˈdi-shə-nᵊl\
Definition of unconditional
not conditional or limited : ABSOLUTE, UNQUALIFIED
unconditional surrender
unconditional love

Yesterday, at a Northeastern Society for Group Psychotherapy Practice Development event — “Stealth Self-Care During the Therapeutic Hour with Doug Baker, LICSW” — I heard the terms “unconditional acceptance” and “unconditional well-being.” I unconditionally accepted and appreciated learning techniques — drawn from mindfulness and yoga — for accepting and improving the well-being of myself and also the people I work with.

I had unconditional acceptance for a helpful acronym somebody shared there — SLOW:

Soften face

Lower shoulders

Open heart and breath

Wilt fingers

I felt unconditional well-being after spending two hours softening my face, lowering my shoulders, opening my heart and breath, and wilting my fingers in mindfulness practice yesterday, despite my conditional attitude towards Daylight Savings time changes.

I’m hoping for unconditional acceptance of the only two photos I took yesterday.

Michael prepared those burritos in challenging conditions last night, because he had forgotten to buy the Mexican cheese and beans he wanted to use. Instead, he substituted parmesan cheese and cannellini beans and conditionally named them “Fusion Burritos.” I unconditionally accepted them but he was more conditional about them.

I’m usually not in great condition the first Monday after a clock time change, but I an unconditional in my eagerness to get to work this morning.

There are many “Unconditional” songs on YouTube. Here‘s one of them, by Matt Maeson:

Unconditional thanks to all who helped me create this “unconditional” post and — of course! — to YOU.

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: "Unconditional", Cannellini beans, Doug Baker, Douglas Baker, Fusion burritos, Matt Maeson, Northeastern Society for Group Psychotherapy, NSGP, Practice Development, Unconditional acceptance, unconditional well-being | 17 Comments

Day 2242: Stress balls

Posted on February 20, 2019 by Ann Koplow

What are stress balls? Are they squishy balls that you can squeeze when you’re stressed?

Are they creatures who are feeling lots of stress?

Harley does not look like a stress ball in that photo, but usually he stresses and runs away when I try to take a picture of him.

Even stress balls, like Harley, can relax at times.

I’m a stress ball today because I have to do many things (including giving a presentation about my therapy groups, singing songs in meetings, running a board meeting, preparing for a trip to L.A., planning a dinner in L.A., and more) all while dealing with a bout of insomnia and some ambivalence about possible choices.

What helps when you’re a stress ball, besides squeezing a stress ball? My niece Julie, of The Joy Source, suggests changing the words “have to” (see previous paragraph) to “get to.” So, it’s not that I have to do many thing (including giving a presentation, etc.) , it’s that I get to do many things (including giving a presentation, etc.). That shifts me from being a stress ball about too many obligations to being grateful about having the opportunity to do all those things, connecting me with confidence in my skills to get things done adequately enough.

I don’t have to share my other photos from yesterday, but I’m glad I get to share them with you.

Here‘s what YouTube gives me for “stress ball song”:

Somehow, I’m not a stress ball any more.

What helps you be less of a stress ball?

Thanks to all who helped me stress less by stressing all the things I stressed in this “stress balls” post and — of course! — YOU.

Categories: personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: ambivalence, Cod dish, community, insomnia, Julie McGrath, NSGP, reducing stress, Rupi Kaur, Squishy Ball, The Joy Source, TheHollycopter | 19 Comments

Day 2191: Personal 10 Best and Worst of 2018

Posted on December 31, 2018 by Ann Koplow

Because I think New Year’s resolutions can be the worst, my best way of marking the New Year is to compile my personal 10 Best and 10 Worst lists for the year. What’s best about that ritual is that it allows me to look back over the past year in a useful way, getting some closure as we move into the brand new year.

Because I don’t want to dwell on the worst, I think it’s best that I share only my personal 10 Best of 2018 (in alphabetical order):

Aaron

Blogging

Friends

Groups

Health of those I love

Home near the ocean

Iceland/Edinburgh trip

Michael

Northeastern Society for Group Psychotherapy (inc. becoming President)

Original songs

There were so many bests this year, the cats didn’t even make it on the list. Although, maybe it’s best that I include them in the “Health of those I love” or in “Friends.”

Here are my best and worst photos from yesterday:

If you can’t read any of those photos, it’s best that you click on them to enlarge.

My son Aaron thinks that the first song I wrote is still my best. Here it is:

I don’t know if I agree that “I Don’t Like You” is my best, but it’s certainly not my worst.

If you want to share your personal best and/or worst of 2018, it’s best you do so in the comments section, below.

Every time I post, I do my best to thank all who help me blog every day and — of course! — YOU. Happy New Year!

fullsizeoutput_35b8

Categories: original song, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: "I Don't Like You", Best, Happy New Year, New Year's Eve, New Years rituals, Northeastern Society for Group Psychotherapy, NSGP, South Shore of Boston, Worst | 36 Comments

Day 2135: Healing factors

Posted on November 5, 2018 by Ann Koplow

A week ago Sunday, I attended a wonderful talk by J. Scott Rutan, a highly esteemed writer, teacher, and practitioner of group psychotherapy. During the talk — offered by the Northeastern Society for Group Psychotherapy — Scott handed out a list of healing factors, and invited everybody to rank the healing factors in order.

This was a difficult task, because all of those healing factors are very important. However, I had no difficulty identifying what healing factor I rely on the most: Hope.

I hope it’s okay if I quote from my first blog post with “hope” in the title, written almost exactly three years ago today:

I hope I can express, in my first post about hope, how important hope is for human beings who struggle, cope, bruise, and heal.

I hope you understand that I’m saying that hope is important to all of us.

Hope is:

a word that comes up in therapy, every day.

something I hold for every person I encounter.

according to Emily Dickinson, “the thing with feathers.”

I hope there’s hope in the three photos I took yesterday.

Michael loves raccoons, so I bought him this mug yesterday. I hoped that he’d like it and he did!

I hope we all survive the coming winter and don’t swallow too much snow.

I hope Scott Rutan, everyone else who helps me create these blog posts, and my readers know how thankful I am for them.

I hope this week brings good news to all who hold hope for the USA.

I hope you find hope in this:

I hope you comment about your own healing factors, below, and accept more thanks from me.

Categories: group psychotherapy, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: 2018 midterm elections, Emily Dickinson, healing factors in psychotherapy, hope, J. Scott Rutan, Marshall's, Northeastern Society for Group Psychotherapy, NSGP, raccoon mug, There Was a Cold Lady Who Swallowed Some Snow! | 28 Comments

Day 2126: I care

Posted on October 27, 2018 by Ann Koplow

I care to start today’s post with links to past caring posts, including Day 2091: Open with care, Day 1809: Caregivers, Day 1467: Why should anybody care about me?, Day 1279: Care, Day 1233: Take Care, Day 672: Care, Day 578: I don’t care, and Day 195: Self care, wisdom, kindness.

I care to share this recent exchange with somebody I care about:

Me: I wonder why I’m so anxious?

Caring friend: Because you care.

Last week, I cared to apologize to a health insurance reviewer whom I had yelled at. He replied, with care: “You care about your patient.”

I care to share my photos from yesterday.

fullsizeoutput_341a

I care to caution all those who care: Warning! If you care, make sure you practice self care.

Here‘s “I Care” by Beyonce.

Today, I care to host a retreat for other group therapists who care . Because I care about the Red Sox, I didn’t get much sleep last night.

I care about your comments and will read them after today’s group therapy retreat.

I care to end every post with thanks to all who help me create these blog posts with care and — of course! — to you, for caring.

Categories: group therapy, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: "I Care", Beyonce, Boston Red Sox, Fenway Park area of Boston, Northeastern Society for Group Psychotherapy, NSGP, Red Sox cupcakes, self-care, World Series 2018 | 18 Comments

Day 2026: Orange

Posted on July 19, 2018 by Ann Koplow

About four years ago, I wrote a blog post titled “Orange.” Orange you glad I’m writing another one today?

Many things have changed since I wrote that blog post, including this: The United States of America has a president who inspires a lot of jokes about orange. As a matter of fact, I wrote a joke about that two days ago:

Knock, knock.

Who’s there?

Orange.

Orange who?

Orange you mad he’s president?

Speaking of presidents, I conducted my first board meeting last night as president of an organization whose official color is orange.

Orange I thrilled that meeting went well!

Orange you ready for my other photos from yesterday?

fullsizeoutput_313a

Orange I happy I get to do therapy groups where we discuss new beginnings!

Orange you relieved I’m typing that hard-to-read handwriting in the above photo?

We don’t have to be in great shape to embark on a new beginning.

There is pain in new beginnings.

There are gifts and rewards in new beginnings.

You can keep doing things until you get things the way you want them.

Gardens keep having new beginnings.