Recommended Podcast Episode

I wanted to listen to the whole show before sharing. It's fair warning that it might be triggering for someone in early recovery.
The conversation between Ira and his father was heart touching, and I thought did a fair job of presenting the subtle impacts of marijuana addiction. Pains from addiction can be deep and profound, even when there's no overt, violent, or obvious abuses or neglects.

This American Life - "I Was So High"

Continuing Educaction

The Matt Adler Suicide Assessment, Treatment and Management Act of 2012 has gone into effect this year. Looking forward to seeing what this initiative brings for Washington clinicians and more important Washington consumers and communities. I'm enrolled for my continuing education class.

Working with Suicidal Clients 2014 Workshops

Happy Spring!

Keep Balanced, Seattle! Happy Equinox!
Days get brighter and brighter from here!


Balancing an egg on the Equinox

Social Intelligence

Social intelligence is a term that speaks to our ability to navigate complex social relationships and read and understand the emotions of others. While we find more of our interactions replaced by apps, phone calls, emails, and Facebook posts, we have fewer opportunities to practice and develop our social intelligence. Face to face interactions provide greater understanding, and stronger connection.

Here's a test on Harvard's site for Social Intelligence. (It is part of a research experiment.)

Veteran's Day

Of course, thanks to all service members today for your work, efforts, and sacrifices. The protection and safety you provide does not go unnoticed. I hope that you feel protected and safe in life, too.

Hoarding Disorder Awareness Week

This week's been dubbed Hoarding Disorder Awareness week in Washington State. The new APA diagnostic manual has thoughtfully made this a seperete disoder. More research shows that hoarding is more related to grief and loss than anxiety where it previously got associated with Obsessive Compulsive behaviors. Link to The Hoarding Project

The Affordable Care Act

It’s still uncertain what the Affordable Healthcare Act will bring once in place. Washington State finished its vetting process for insurances companies on the state exchange. And many will have subsidies available to cover the cost of healthcare for themselves and their family.

King County has provided this website full of information regarding the act and exchange:

http://www.kingcounty.gov/healthservices/health/personal/coverage.aspx

In addition this calculator is helpful in providing information regarding your own eligibility for subsidies and the likely cost of healthcare plans:

http://kff.org/interactive/subsidy-calculator/