Healing Psych

Dr. Katrina Wood's psychotherapy blog

Monkey love: When hugs mean everything

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Back in the 1950s, Harry Harlow of the University of Wisconsin conducted an important study of baby monkeys at his research lab in Goon Park. The purpose of Harlow's study was to see under which conditions did baby rhesus monkeys best thrive. For the experiment, Harlow used wire frames to create two kinds of surrogate mothers. He presented these artificial moms to infants who had been … [Read more...]

A woman’s place is in the home office

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Women at the turn of the century had won the vote, and then in the mid-1940s World War II was over and the nation was victorious. Slowly but surely, women began to spread their wings, enjoying newfound confidence as they entered the workplace. Possibilities for a better life were everywhere. While the stigma of the "little woman" homemaker remained embedded in the hearts and minds of some … [Read more...]

Getting to know triggers from the past

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It is important to remember that healing is a journey, a lifelong process. Wounds from the past can be triggered in unexpected ways. We use the word "trigger," meaning an event that evokes an experience from the past, summoning emotions such as shame, pain or anger. In this way the present can be distorted by the past. For example, current doubts about your worth -- or fears for your safety … [Read more...]

Childhood depression: signs, solutions

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Sad to say that many children do suffer from depression. While we as parents do not want to believe this is so, we must acknowledge that at times our children do suffer. Knowing how to recognize the symptoms of childhood depression and how to deal with them as a parent makes all the difference. The most important part for an adult is to notice -- to be mindful of what is happening and … [Read more...]

Facebook and Twitter and iPhones, oh my!

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In this age of constant electronic communication, we are in danger of something being lost. Our human connections! Take a quick look in the window at Starbucks: How many coffee drinkers are working on their computers or talking on cell phones, shut off from everyone else in the cafe. We're increasingly expressing our feelings via text, email and social networks. Maybe with an emoticon for … [Read more...]