The Roman philosopher Cicero postulated, “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.” With Thanksgiving behind us, Americans were compelled to list all the things for which we were thankful. But, what makes some people grateful only one Thursday each fall, and others enjoy an attitude of gratefulness throughout the entire year?

Many studies have found that having a grateful disposition increases overall well-being. People who are self-rated, as well as rated by observers, as having a grateful disposition also experience a positive affect, exhibit pro-social behaviors such as giving, comforting, rescuing, and helping others, and regularly practice spirituality or religion. Gratitude also is negatively associated with traits such as envy and materialism. Read more →

Science will never be able to prove or disprove the existence of God or any higher power. Isn’t this the cornerstone of faith, after all: a belief that needs no proof? Or perhaps, maybe the proof has been in our brains the whole time.

Our perceptions, emotions, and reactions to the world around us begin at birth, and shape our attitudes and interactions throughout our life. Through these beliefs, we learn who to trust, what to expect, and how to cope. The formation of beliefs involves the complex interplay of various areas of the brain. Though the exact mechanisms cannot be clearly defined, scientists know that the formation of beliefs involves physiologic changes in the brain. Studies have shown changes in activity in primitive areas of the brain at varying levels of belief and disbelief, and religious beliefs are no exception. Read more →

When I initially read the article Radical Muslim doctors and what they mean for the NHS, I thought about the Catholic Church. Now, before anyone gets all upset, let me clarify: I am not in anyway connecting Catholic and radical Muslim ideology. Instead, I see a historical connection between the political clout the Catholic Church once had and the religious influence many Muslim doctors now have. Let me explain.

The British Medical Journal article mentioned above attempts to answer timely questions regarding doctors and extreme Islamic ideology and actions. When it became public knowledge that several doctors were alleged leaders of the 2007 attempted bombings in London and Glasgow, it shocked many. Muslim terrorists are nothing new; Muslim terrorists who are also medical doctors, well, that’s a whole new story. Read more →

Starting today, I’m going to maintain a list of the ten biggest secrets in the Mental Health field. I humbly request that anyone who feels something is missing (or should be elevated or demoted), please post your opinion. If you have time, please give the rationale. I’ll be writing about them as news emerges and as I prepare supporting information and resources. Read more →

Consider the spiritual elements that I pointed out from research on spirituality and health in the previous parts of this series. They were: meaning, gratitude, peace, confidence, sense of identity, and acceptance.

The somatic (body mind) approaches to psychotherapy, including EMDR, tend to “unlock” these experiences in ways that are very personal to the individual. Generally, people refer to this sensation of de-stressing and expanding awareness as a spiritual experience. They feel that their greater ease in expressing their higher values is a spiritual achievement. The subjective sense of energy work that can be used in creating the positive “state shift” that I mentioned in the last article can also feel very spiritual. Read more →

Is there Energy in Psychology?

I was conducting debriefing after a workplace suicide. The problems ran far deeper than a single suicide, because it turned out to be symptomatic of a drug culture that pervaded the workplace. A bald-headed man came in and said he was afraid because he had a heart condition. He was stocky, and his round head and face were very red. After about one minute of so-called energy psychology, his color was restored to normal, he was no longer afraid, and we were able to talk about more than his acute reaction to workplace stress. Read more →