Scripps Sundays

  “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given… and he will be called Wonderful Counselor.” (Isaiah 9:6, emphasis added).   In 1965, a series of monumental films in the world of psychotherapy was released titled Three Approaches to Psychotherapy I, II, and III, later dubbed “The Gloria Films.” Directed and produced by noted psychologist and psychotherapist Everett L. Shostrom, the films consist of three therapeutic sessions, with three different therapists meeting with one woman known as Gloria. The films were made to lift the shroud of secrecy that had permeated professional psychotherapy.   Textbooks gave loads of information on theories and such, but there was a scarcity of literature on what therapists actually said to clients during sessions. These films let the viewer in on real sessions between a therapist and a client, and they’ve been a source of education and discussion since their release. Before his session with Gloria, acclaimed therapist Carl Rogers...

I listened to Kelly Corrigan's podcast the first week of January (you can listen in here ) and she shared about an article she read about the power of awe. I typed out a few quotes for you from the podcast and then inserted the article that she was referring to from The New York Times.  "Being an 'awe-catcher' is pretty transformative... You can go from a really crap zone to something totally different with a walk where you are training your eye to be wowed by something.... There's something about considering the vastness that can take us into this kind of elevated state.  What Keltner is saying in The New York Times article is that awe is totally critical to wellbeing. It's as important as love. The health benefits are totally proven- calming down your nervous system and triggering the release of oxytocin which is the hormone that has been interpreted by us as love."  "It also has psychological benefits. Many of us have a critical voice in our head ...

  This was something that I read back in December during Advent, but I think these are such good words to consider as you jump back into school and consider new rhythms in the new year and semester.  Advent Attitude 9: Practicing Mindfulness Experts tell us that when patients are recovering from an amputation, they go through several steps: numbness, pining for what is lost, and disorganization (or despair) before reaching what is called  reorganization,  or a new way of thinking and living. Before reaching reorganization, however, many people who have lost a limb experience a phenomenon known as “phantom limb sensation,” which is the sensation that the lost limb is still present and active. New habits require mindfulness, because old habits are like lost limbs. Even when they are “gone,” they continue to demand attention. And so, we arrive at our ninth Advent Attitude, which is practicing mindfulness. In their book  Savor: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life , Thich N...

This is a note I wrote to you before you head back to Scripps this weekend and just wanted to post it here to have it with all the other Scripps Sundays.  January 11, 2023  Dear Anna, When we were at the labyrinth this week, I was untangling some thoughts as I always do when I walk the winding paths, and it was so wonderful to be there with you knowing you were doing the same thing. I loved your example of taking your shoes off, and I was so grateful to be able to do that for as long as I could before they got too cold as a reminder that we were on holy ground and to pay attention in a different way. As I was walking, the first thought was the unknown future, and the thought came to my mind that “I don’t know what to do, but my eyes are on YOU.” And that is my prayer for you as you go back to school that you would be able to keep turning to God for help with the questions and desire for direction in the coming months.   As I hugged you in the middle of the labyrinth, I ...