January Back Acha'

Yeah, it's been a long time since I've had time to do this, link back to bloggers and readers who link to me or comment below. And I really don't have the time, but you know you make time for the things you like to do, meaning steal time from the things you should do. In other words, my 3:15 canceled, so rather than call people back, which would be the logical thing to do, well, let's do this anyway.

Thanks Tara for guilting me into it. I hadn't responded to this email until now, weeks later, but that's okay, right?

Dear Therapy Doc,

I have recently been given the job of developing and promoting our blog and
while researching this new task to me I have found your excellent blog site.
I am not sure how you go about developing such an excellent collection of
links for your Blogs Roll but certainly something to strive towards!

How can I go about inclusion of my blog?

I add you is all, and finally did. (sunglasses, people, think sunglasses). And to make your own list of amazing blogs, hang around, loiter and read other writers, like . . . .

DaMama Motherhood is Not for Wimps. Find me someone who disagrees. Try.

The Second Road, the best recovery blog.

And Penelope Trunk's Brazenist Career, almost spelled brazenist wrong, seriously brazen.

UK's Community Care Blog World, cuz they care.

The Doctor's Girlfriend (great pugs on the page)


My good buddy Jack at the Shack is kvetching about tuition. Hello.

Opining online simply gives an _____

If you’re dreaming again, in no hurry to wake up, try Wanda’s Wings

There are blogs that like sharing their music, and this one liked my post about a rock star. I wish I could remember her name, Ingrid somebody.

Over at Trench Warfare you'll read yarns about social work in the trenches. It's more than one war, you know. There are so many.

Eyes opened wider, always worth a read.

Totally into The Known Universe, read TechnoBabe.

Uppity-crip might make some people think about disabilities, and you know, we should.

Retriever’s clearly got her head on straight. And that dog. . .makes me nostalgic . Not nostalgic enough to ever get another dog, although I don’t like ever saying never to anything.

Kerro’s Korner’s great, even if there’s a “K” in corner.

Shattered into one piece-- can get pretty, well, shattered, just warning you. But it’s a good shattered.

Sandy Andrews has that picture of the shrink on the Sopranos for her header. Where’d you get that, Sandy?

Tears Behind the Smile blogging about therapy and Ikea.

Calm Acceptance Patty’s got the idea.

Becky has a guard dog, Cricket. I’m new here, but love it.

Lisa Marie Always love a good dysfunctional daze, Lisa Marie.

Syd I’m just fine. The myths about 12-Steps, see his Jan 11, 2010 post is simply fantastic.

Blognut’s mindless ramblings can get poetic.

Mark, at The Naked Soul knows how to tell it like it is. People should listen. He answers the age old question, “Why do people see prostitutes?” It’s a hole in the soul, is what it is.

One Wild Ride links over to my buddy Thriver at the Thriver’s Toolbox. April the Optimist tells us that surviving s not easy, but there’s support out there.

Mean Something is about literature (it should mean something).

Lou at Subdural Flow has what to kvetch about. Kids are a challenge, never easy.

Isle Dance has some unbelievable pics up, as always.

Cassandra recommends books for 2009 at Some are classics.

Zan at My Journey So Far tells us about leaving the Jehovah Witnesses. What a story.

Definitely stop by Café Jeannie and chew a little.

Maha always says, call bells make her nervous. She and a friend, way behind on their sleep, tell us 12 mortifying ways to die.

To learn a little Torah, check out the Rebetzin’s Husband. Where else would you go? /

and while you're at it, try New York’s Funniest Rabbi , not feeling particularly funny lately. So sorry for your loss.

Sissi at is getting it on paper.

Dr. Deb is a wonderful blogger. Looking forward to reading her book.

Jew Wishes / and I also go way back. I get my booklists from there.

My Social Work Network has great daily inspirational quotes/ We could always use one once in awhile.

Miriam L paints! Check her out.

MHMS at Made You Look-- Exactly how it sounds. / a must see.

Special mentions, Seaspray, Porcini, Rachel Z for helping me out with the community crisis, Tzipporah for comments, Margo, and the other Margo my daughter for her occasional snarky comments like, Did you actually post that comment?! A Mother in Israel, MizFitOnLine, Jumping Frogs, Curiosity Killer, and Leora, and to anyone I forgot, kindly kick me in the head, just guilt me with an email.

We're good with guilt.

therapydoc

Back a' cha'

It's been awhile since I did this, and of course feel guilty because people have been linking over here and there's been no time to link back, life's pretty crazy.

On the other hand, I just told my brother that when we want to make time, when we want to do something, there really quite a bit of it. Just last night it took me three tries to beat my Spider Solitaire game. To waste less time at this, I only allow myself one game and won't play every day, not even every week, but I replay the game until I beat it unless it's obviously going to be a losing battle. Apropos of nothing.

Anyway, there are some wonderful new and old bloggers that have yet to see the spotlight on this blog, and some who have but should be getting even more attention, so let's begin with. . . .

Samurai Scientist!, always setting me straight, no puns intended. Thanks, Sam.

Enlightening Darkness. Someone has to, seriously.

Cardiogirl takes all of her readers to other people's blogs on a train. (I love trains). Visit her blog and get something of a work-out, a pleasant work-out.

Uppity-crip (a very smart, or better, intellectual to use her words, crip) rails against the Pres and the Disabilities Act and how we really aren't doing enough to help this community. This should be a priority, Mr. President, if you're listening, and I know you are.

Massage Therapy has assembled a huge list of help sources, inspirational, no less, and included you know who, thanks.

Coming out of the Trees has been journaling, which inspired a post on that, thanks.


Dr. Deb (in my top faves on the blogosphere, if not my phone, and what's with that company that only gives you like five faves for free)) writes about all kinds of things, but when she writes about the amygdalla, I'm inspired again. That post on over-eating, if I didn't put it out yet, inspired by her Thanks Doc.

Suzanne Reisman at BlogHer is on my team against poor Steve Harvey (he cannot win). She's not into faking it either, to have to raise a man's over-inflated even higher (not that we can't be esteeming, it's the way of doing it that bothers some people, like most feminists, for example.

And MoonMaid has a new baby! That can make a person want to get in touch with who they really are.

And there are probably lots of bloggers under the radar. I just found one that specializes in child abuse, one of my, Oh, yes LET'S talk about that faves. Check out the Columbia Child Psychologist.

I like One Angry Daughter, who writes about a narcissistic mother. Nothing like the personality disorders to boggle the mind. And as long as we're at war, Trench Warfare.

Wait, What just makes me happy to be her friend.

And The Retriever is always worth the ride.

BlogSocial Worker, a foodie, is married to a writer for a food and wine zine. What a match. I have to see Julia and Julia.

Then there's Anti-social Social Worker, of course.

Now That's Nifty is as what it says it is, check 'em out.

Interesting Pile included my list of famous bi-polar personalities. Thanks, Pile, for reminding me to post more lists.
Everyone loves a post with a number in front of it. Five Ways to . . .

Of course I link to myself, from The Second Road. Talk about narcissistic, self-serving, self-indulgent, oh, drop it.

And The Modulator has a huge assortment of modules to choose from. You're probably in there, too.

My buddy Jack has been busy. If you have a little time, check it out. Jack generally blogs at Random Thoughts.


If you like good photography and art, and who doesn't, check out Leora in HP.

And I get great chizuk (strength) from one of our rabbi bloggers, this time kvetching about aging. Oy. As old as you feel, dude.

This Time, This Space, well, how great a name is that for a blog?

Visit Isle Dance, get away. I do.

More Mindless Rambling keeps it short and sweet, not an easy task, you all know it if you like to write.

Subdural Flow put up a Dancing in the Streets vid, Martha (she's stunning, and check out the pant suit)and the Vandellas, tells us where she's at, this is a good place.

Technobabe tells a mother-daughter saga, lots of us like these.

Wendy lost her son and leaves a tribute for us.

Can't forget Bird on a Wire or Laura's psychology blog.

Harriet, To Meat or Not to Meet, has some great recipes. Oh, you foodies. I aspire to even trying, and you just put it out.

Marie isn't shying away from trauma. Read her at Coming out of the Trees.

Dreaming Again posts at Wanda's Wings, is definitely depending upon a higher power.

Shades of Ivory found an even better Come Back to Me song, and tells a really sad story, but it's a goodie.

Cardiogirl gives a nice account of getting over some social insecurity stuff. Gotta' love that.

Sandy, PhD is Bloggin' Behavioral. I love her post on "shoulds". And that pic from the Sopranos, priceless.


Lola's Diner is a definite must. I've got to find time to get over there for real.

I've not told too many people about my obsession with those little rubber yellow ducks that you put in the bath for little kids, mainly so they don't notice you're giving them a bath. So how could I not love Duck and Wheel with String?

Kewie and Smithie are moving, maybe this is why they're not blogging much.

SYD is my first blogger friend to works an Al Anon program, so I stop by at his blog to get chizuk (strength, rhymes with me-too, soft "ch") when I need it. Thanks, Syd. Everyone should work a 12-Step program, I feel. Addiction has nothing to do with it (well, that's debatable, I guess).

And I LOVE A Quarter Life Crisis.

Battle Weary and Mercury in Pisces took off for the summer, or so it seems. Not that's a novel concept.

Chris is a coach, and since trainers and coaches make our lives more manageable, check him out. I imagine a coach is a trainer, right Chris?

And Mark, my buddy at the Naked Soul, is about as soulful as it gets. You have to read him.

April the Optimist, over at Thriver, never fails, either.

White Trash Academic is awesome, always throwing it around, that phrase, white trash, which I love.

Imagineamaste is working on focus. Good luck, bubbala.

Lisa Marie's occasionally in a Dysfunctional Daze, but like, who isn't? Check her out.

Positively Present has hit the six month mark in blogging. Don't leave us! Going great!

Transitions and New Beginnings is getting good at transitions and new beginnings, a lesson, here.

Jim, of the water method, doesn't mind telling us that he played with GI Joe.

SocialWorker24/7, at Eyes Opened Wider, tells it like it is. 24-7.

Cate, at Project Subrosa, is, well, still expecting. b'shaah tovah (meaning, in the right time)

A Midianite Mama isn't something to miss, and she's blogging that he's just not into you, which he might not be, unfortunately.

And the link I missed somehow, Uppity. Sorry, C. and Third Time's a Charm.

Maybe best of all, Motherhood is Not for Wimps. Read DaMomma, she don' disappoint. And she agrees with me about the therapy thing, too.

Okay, who else did I miss? Let me know. No problem adding you.

therapydoc

Last Back 'Acha of 2008

I feel terrible for forgetting to do this. It's one of those things that hangs in the back of your head, like, Make your bed, or Bring up the laundry.

This feature links to bloggers who have linked to me, but it means that I've actually paid attention to statistics and have tracked you down, unless you were kind enough to send me a note, like they did over at On-line Education. At O-E, they basically put you in touch with online education, and since I happen to teach an on-line course, it feels right, somehow to start you off with a link to that website. Check it out. A list of 100 brain-bloggers.

Most of you are brainy bloggers, and there are some of us, who by virtue of the sedentary nature of our jobs, are tush bloggers. If there were a list of t-b's I'd be at the top, for sure.

Sometimes (often) I discover amazing blogs because I do this researching statistics ritual instead of doing things I should be doing. There are bloggers who have their GED, they'll tell you, despite ADD who live over at Maggie's Farm, which seems like a 2008 commune. But they eat meat, so they are obviously not as sixty-ish as they seem.

On the other hand, they're no longer seventeen. They also like the strip of Calvin and Hobbs they posted over there, which is informational, something out President Elect Obama and smoking. I still don't believe this. But if it's true, you heard it over at Maggie's and we're thinking they might be smokin' over there, (forgive me, say it ain't so), too. I particularly liked the rein deer. They linked to my 51 rule for marriage. I had totally forgot I wrote that post.

Ars Psychiatrica is a brainy place, brooding a bit about the DSM, but who isn't?

And BiPolar Lawyer Cook is cooking up a storm of therapy bloggers on her blog. Definitely a way to go.

Mother-in-Israel, speaking of hell on wheels (in a good way, in a good way, always worth the ride) has listed ALL of the WebBlog Awards for 2008. So if you're looking for a good blog, well, you can not go wrong here.

Okay, new idea. Since I didn't check the stats, I'm going to edit this and add any bloggers who feel they should be here. (email me at therapydoc@gmail.com) This is a great idea, I think, since you do the work, not me. Forgive me in advance, please, for missing you if I did, but let this be the cure before the malady.

This month was a real doozy of a month to be a therapy doc, and I had a couple of new grandchildren that my son and d-i-l added to the family on the first day of December, and we haven't even begun to talk about those two. But we will, when I land on my feet.

Happy 2009, it should be, it has to be, a better year for us all.

therapydoc

Here are some more:
Canadian Girl Post Doc in America
Mental Deviant
More Mindless Ramblings
http://blognut-moremindlessrambling.blogspot.com/2008/12/road-rage-or-winter-rant-from-blognut.html

LIFE IN THE SHORT LANE love her bio.

Retriever has a bunch of them. Try Fantasy Shrinks and Real Shrinks, or Trauma and Meaning, Requium or Imagination.

If you really want to imagine, check out Imagine If Child Protection Became Serious Business.

And, the links I forgot these, places I actually guest blog at, or will be in the future.

The Second Road, a recovery blog for people who have or who have to deal with other people's addictions.

My Gorgeous Somewhere, a writer/poets blog.

September (so I'm late) and October back a' cha

I almost forgot. Here it is, Halloween, and I haven't thanked anyone in months for linking to me. I'm going to be in trouble for sure for forgetting or missing some of you, so please forgive me in advance.

It's like making a wedding. You're always afraid you're going to insult someone you forgot or decided to leave off the list.

There's an old therapy intervention for anger, if it applies.

The idea is that you can't just go off on people. It's nobody's right to rant and scream, insult others. This is called verbal violence. It's frowned upon in therapy, even when someone deserves it, as is plotting revenge. Anger gets us into trouble.

People who drink or use drugs to cope tend to drink more when they get angry, which tends to make things worse, jack up anger even more. So the 12-Step program recommends that they keep a lid on it, anger, even in sobriety, which is hard since it can become a defining emotion.

So how do you keep a lid on it?

(a) We first look at our own piece of a problem, however tiny that might be, and work on that, own it and change it.

(b) Then we go ahead and forgive the other person. Right off. No questions. Do not pass go, assume that individual has his or her reasons for upsetting others, isn't being intentionally malicious. And even if the other person is malicious, he or she must be malicious for some reason, maybe a good reason.* Oy vey.

There's much more to anger management, for sure, but this can really work for your every day narcissistic injuries. So if you think you should have been included below. . . (smiley emoticon here)

I personally use cookies as peace offerings.

Okay, in no particular order, let's start with Amanda at This crazy miracle called "life," because face it, she's got the right perspective. Dear, don't change.

The latest mental health professional to read Everyone Needs Therapy is already getting beat up on the job. Welcome to the family X-Addicted.

Check out Raising a Healthy Family. It might come in handy.

The Secret Shadows is promoting awareness about Dissociative Identity Disorder, always a good thing. Very sneaky disorder, DID.

A Barbaric Yawp is seeing things, people in cow suits. You need two people, I'm telling you, for a cow suit.

That's Enough is weighing in on shoulds, as everyone probably should, shouldn't we?

Amy's writing Whatever I Feel Like, which, as you know, is what we get to do before we get married.

Blinds blogs at Keeping the Blinds Open, awesome pic.

A Sideways Look at Social Care: The Social Work Blog is worth at least a sideways look if not a full-size look.

The Amazing Adventure is much better than the not so amazing adventure, and the people in the pic seem to love one another, so check it out, too.

Joylene talks stress therapy over at Therapy. Someone has to do it. And a real therapist, Melissa, is working hard.

Bookwormmom is an amazing blogger, who really reads real books. Thanks for the link, BWM.

WWright is on a campaign to make poverty history. You have your work cut out for you. You rock.

Simple.ology linked here thinking blogging therapeutic. Thanks, Bean.

Evergreen Help Line can tell you a few things about positive thinking and the subconscious.

The Second Road is great for people in recovery or people dealing with people who have addictions.

Heather's become a cat lady and worries it may get out of hand, but managing, it seems, and having an Amazing Adventure. SYD at I'm Just Fine and I go way back in the blogosphere. Thanks for being there, Syd. And MamaMPJ will give you an earful at A Room of Mama's Own

Frumhouse and Mother In Israel , In the Pink, Juggling Frogs, Nad-Nad, New York's Funniest Rabbi, Coffee Yogurt, Cranky Fitness, and Feminist Gal always make me happy, brighten my day, and The Rebbetzin's Husband teaches me a thing or two.

Great comments and links from Leora, Jack, Wendy, Mark, Porcini66 , Anti-Social Social Worker, Barbara K. SeaSpray, White Trash Academic, Not Faint-hearted, All Rileyed-Up, Dr. Deb, Author Mom with Dogs, Shosh, In the Nuthouse, Looking to the Horizon, April, Rambling Woods (such photos), Jendeis, Auntie Om, Pinky RN, The Fringe, IlanaDavita, Dream Lover, Miriam L, LCSW Mom, RZ, barfly, Karen, Greeny, NashBabe, Lin Rob, Rosey Sunset, Margo, and all of you anonymouses out there, you know who you are.

Thanks everyone.

therapydoc


*None of this, by the way, works for me when it comes to victims of violence, especially sexual violence. Things get much more complicated when you get hurt like that.

August Back A'cha

Wasting no time, here's the short list of bloggers who linked here last month, I think. Let me know if I missed you.

Let's dive right in with Melissa at the pretty GoodPracticeInstitute in New Jersey. She says that not every therapydoc takes a full month off for vacation out East (but many do). I had to ask, How does anyone get away with this? I mean, without punishment. Her other blog address is at Hope Forward.

Over at Her Family Blog they appreciate a good enmeshment story, the one about teaching the class and spilling the glass of water. What would people say if I said I made it up? My mother-in-law tells me to believe half of what I read. Should you guys?

Kathy with a K works with kids with autism and she is a ballet dancer, too! She writes The Fringe, and has some terrific recommendations for children's books. I also love the lay-out of her blog. Check her out.

Isle Dance liked my post on therapeutic boundaries. I'm pretty sure, living on an island, she's got her own.

Oh, You're a Feminist is still at it, giving us the news about the news.

Master of Irony's suffered some tough times. And grandma's not doing so well.
A speedy recovery.

Sprittibee's into home schooling. I sure hope they have recess, although they're definitely making the most of education indoors and out.

All Rileyed Up is very cute. Her five steps to problem resolution are a must read.

Fighting Monsters is grousing and observing the opening day of grousing season. People hunt. Who knew?

Leora liked that post about the little girl and has some great thoughts on the subject, the Little Girl Syndrome.

Keith is a 40-something Registered Nurse, and he says he's happily married. See there are a few out there and mostly they're happy because they're spouses let them blog. Anyway, he's hot on the blogging trail, writing early and often, and making sense at the same time (although he's terrified we'll all be in senescence at the same time).

Syd likes the Cubs so we love Syd! Yes, it's that simple, ladies and gentlemen.

Gossiperia is, well, gossip about celebrities. But it's good gossip.

Modern Parent is our latest addition to the mommy bloggers. What happens when they grow up? Do you become Modern Grandparent? I sure hope so.

Little Frumhouse on the Prairie is my favorite place to check out how late I am for Shabbas. She's a wealth of Chicago information and, uh, news about people and things. One of my fave Jewish bloggers.

Another blogger, In the Pink is getting used to having a smart phone. It's like having a smart kid, Pink, you just have to keep up with it.

A Room of Mama's Own is renaming herself, or thinking what she would have named herself, if she had the power, which she does, of course.

Some bloggers are obsessed with lists, and being a person who has running lists of all sorts posted in all kinds of places, I admire them. Here's a list of 100 health-related blogs from Online Nursing

So I did a couple of depressing movie reviews and there are links to those at Missy's Window (you can find other movie reviews there, too.)

The Movie Guru also threw me a crumb.

The Weight Master took me seriously about Wall-E, included that post in a fitness carnival. Thanks, WM.

And those crazy business marketing people over at Network Marketing included Faking It til You Make It in theirs.

Another awesome new social work blog. Welcome Just When I Think I've Seen It All!

And the Lethological Gourmet suggests that you do not throw your bike. How could I not link to a post like that? Thanks, LG.

Treppenwitz (and everyone and everything else) is making me miss Israel.

New writers (well, honestly, no idea how old she is) to watch out for: In the nuthouse, stories of my life so far. I like the one about bird-watching and the Assistocat.

And one of your more psychologically sensitive mommy bloggers, Shosh, Living, working, mothering, One glorious day at a time. Notice the mothering is last on the list, although I know it was just for lyricism.

Antisocial Social Worker is taking a family therapy elective! I can't wait to see what she learns. Anti, you HAVE to share the wealth.

That's all folks.

therapydoc

February the Leap Month of Back 'acha

Who deigned to be associated with this blog?

Well, there's Jack, who lists me as a character in his cast of characters (those California bloggers are always thinking this way).

A Mother in Israel and I have been chatting and that interview is up on her blog as we speak. I couldn't have pulled it off if I hadn't been on vacation. No guts, as you know. Check out Mom on her smart and informational blog.

I'm not going to lie, it got a little personal.

And ever since I posted about that woman who busted her boyfriend out of jail, leaving the jaildogs to fend for themselves (she trained inmates at the local prison to train dogs that might otherwise have been destroyed, then took the high road with her jailbird lover), dog bloggers are good with me, and of course, I'm good with them.

So here's Neil's collection of posts, check him out at Natural Dog, naturally. But for cats, specifically, and how to deal with them when they need baths, you have to go to Cat in sight. Which you should, if you have cats.

Some people are brave, some strong, and sometimes they write well, too. You might consider this interesting blogger who posts on the hows and whens of telling other people about not-so-obvious physical problems. I'd say it would take trust to do that, and guts. Check this one out at Brass and Ivory. Excellent, excellent post.

Mark Rayner's always got something cute to say at The Swib. He's a satire-monger.

And for shaking the family tree, try I Want to Change My Family Tree.

We've been there before, why not try it again?

Estee is an artist I happen to really like.

Then there's Andrea Hess, Intuitive Consultant, at Empowered Soul Blog. I sense good things here.

And again, great writing on the blogosphere never ceases to make me happy. The personal blogs hook us with the stories because truth really is better than fiction. Check out the Doctor's Girlfriend, volunteering at the hospital, leading with heart.

As long as we're doing medical blogs, RehabRN has plenty to tell you.

Beachbums abound, head for SeaSpray, and take her with a grain of salt (this is my attempt at a pun).

Should you have a sincere hankering to see the Loch Ness Monster, 24 miles long, and who could blame you, check out Addy's blog.

As long as we're on a water theme, there's Pollywog's Pond. She lets kids blog there, so it feels young there. And she let me bark at the carnival, to continue the dog theme.

Nursing Voices has several poignant thoughts and stories. I like these kinds of things, poignancies and am proud that she included me, a non-nurse, in the care-taking genre. The blind leading the blind, seriously.

There's the best in making money on the web, at WebDosh, I'm not quite sure what the Dosh means, but it sounds so Hebrew, seriously.

Angie's a personal blogger with a nice sense of humor, thanks for that, Ang.

NotFaintHearted has the goods on technorati and links, or perhaps technorati has the goods on her, we're not sure, but thanks NFH.

And yet another new friend, Leora, writing well and enjoying it. Is it an addiction? Just ask her.

And you have to visit Birches, a whacky mix of poetry and would you believe, basketball. Makes sense if you think about it.

This time, this space. . . what else do you need to know?
And Fitbuff would be not stay fit were it not fitting for him to post about fitness. Say that 10 times, fast. Nice pic, btw, FB, of the Monday Carnival. I love it.

And if you've ever wanted to read this blog in another language, you have to see this. Health in Action posted How to Choose a Therapist on her blog in German. I think it's German. I'm so flattered, seriously.

Kellen's Corner liked that post about leaving your religion at the door, meaning the therapist leaves his or her religion at the door when doing the job. Surely a doc can't separate the self , particularly, but it's not something you talk about.

A stamp collector somehow found the post on Obsession! Probably because there's a STAMP on the post, the only pic on the post, actually. If you're a stamp person, check this out.

and that's it for today. Guess what? March means spring!

therapydoc