Saturday, September 29, 2012

... psychology of satanists and satanism ... (life coach, counselor, psychotherapist, clinical psychologist, psychiatrist, osteopath, quezon city, manila, philippines)


mark almajose of korina sanchez' rated k, a tv documentary on abs-cbn, got my take on the psychology of satanists.  



in my clinical practice, all sorts of people consult me, and some of them have been self-identified satanists.  i am not fazed when they tell me that they are satanists, because my professional mindset is to be non-judgmental and respectful of the religious convictions of people.  and thus, i interact with them as i would with any other client.  of course, whenever i meet people with "alternative lifestyles" who espouse "non-conventional belief systems," the psychologist in me becomes automatically curious on how they came to be.  



so far, the satanists i have met aren't sinister-looking, and neither do they have the stereotyped diabolical laughter which satan is portrayed to have in cartoons and in the movies.  



as i listened to their stories, what i find common among them is that they come from troubled families wherein they experienced some degree of emotional, physical, verbal, or sexual abuse from one or both parents.  the common emotion that emanates from their stories is anger.  and they seem to have a strong inclination towards defiant, impulsive, and sometimes addictive behaviors.  it also seems that their choice of religion is founded on rebelliousness and angst, rather than an authentic pursuit of life-giving and life-enhancing spirituality. 



like any other person, my satanist clients need to heal from their deep emotional childhood wounds, to 'rise from the ashes' so to speak, and find fresh options for living a more meaningful and joyful life.  



Friday, September 28, 2012

... the GREAT Group: Support Group for Friends with Social Anxiety Disorder ... (life coach, counselor, psychotherapist, clinical psychologist, psychiatrist, osteopath, quezon city, manila, philippines)


what inspires me most about the GREAT group is that its members are dedicated to get out of their shells to pursue personal growth and attain their fullest human potential.  


established by mother hen chevlenz buena, the GREAT group meets occasionally to make new acquaintances, to deepen existing friendships, to share stories, to give encouragement to one another, to learn new ways of coping with stress and anxiety, and to have fun.



one of the rewards of the support group meetings is the camaraderie built through the growth activities.  to pixie, tonton, blessie, mimi, and giselle, til we meet again, God bless us all! :D    



Thursday, September 27, 2012

Yahoo! Answers: What is the contribution of Dr. Randy Dellosa to Philippine psychology and psychiatry? (life coach, counselor, psychothrapist, clinical psychologist, psychiatrist, osteopath, quezon city, manila, philippines)


As I was Googling myself (and I suppose many   of you Google yourselves, too :D), I found these items on the net.  Thanks Barack for your interest in my work.  I guess, the questions are for your school work.  And my deep gratitude goes to Matu for answering Barack's questions.  My guess is that you're also a psychologist from the way you answered the questions.  Anyway Matu, I hope to meet you some day.  Your answers are too good so i decided to post them on my blog just in case Yahoo! Answers takes them down. 



What is the contribution of 

Dr. Randy Dellosa to 

Philippine psychology and 

psychiatry?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

Contributions of Randy Dellosa to Philippine
Psychology and Psychiatry

1. Psycho-educating the common “tao.” 
Dellosa’s most significant contribution to
Philippine psychology and psychiatry comes
from his frequent media exposure on reality
TV shows, documentary programs, magazine
talk shows, and news programs. As the
popular psychological expert of Philippine
television, he is able to educate the Filipino
masses by giving a psychological perspective
on a wide array of life issues.

2. Opening the Filipino mind to pursue 
psychological wellness. Dellosa’s image
as the life coach and psychotherapist of
people from show business and high society
has imparted to the masses the belief that it
is alright, and even trendy, to have a personal
life coach or psychotherapist. This has
apparently helped in reducing the stigma
which prevents many Filipinos from
consulting clinical psychologists and
psychiatrists.

3. Pioneering the practice of ‘Holistic 
and Integrative Psychiatry’ in the 
Philippines. Most Filipino psychiatrists
discredit and belittle complimentary and
alternative medicine in the treatment of
psychiatric conditions. Dellosa however
combines conventional psychiatric
treatment with natural therapies that
facilitate the patient’s capacity for self-
healing.

4. Propagating the practice of Gestalt 
Psychotherapy in the Philippines. Dellosa
co-established the Gestalt Therapy
Association of the Philippines (GTAP) which
offers training programs in the theory and
practice of Gestalt Therapy. Gestalt therapy
is a holistic approach to psychotherapy that
focuses on integrating a person’s body, mind,
and emotions, thereby bringing healing to the
“total person.”

5. Filipinizing the practice of Life Coaching.
In reaction to the western style of Life Coaching
being popularized, Dellosa co-established the
Philippine Society of Life Coaches which aims
to propagate an approach to Life Coaching
which is in sync with Filipino culture and the
Filipino mindset.

6. Developing and teaching innovative 
psychotherapies. Integrating his learning and
experiences as an osteopath, physician,
psychiatrist, and clinical psychologist, Dellosa
has developed Dellosa Touch Psychotherapy
and Dellosa Energy Pychotherapy- two body-
based psychotherapy approaches that release
unresolved emotional experiences, forgotten
memories, buried feelings, and unconscious
attitudes that had been stored in the body.
Dellosa has also taught non-conventional
psychotherapies such as dream analysis,
regressive-cathartic psychotherapies, and
drama-art-movement psychotherapies at the
University of the Philippines and in workshops
for the general public.

7. Developing an innovative addiction 
recovery program for Filipinos. Dellosa
established the Life Change Recovery Center
which is a treatment facility for psychiatric
patients and addicted individuals. Unlike other
rehabilitation centers that employ the 12-Steps
or Therapeutic Community program, Dellosa
has conceptualized a ‘life-transformation
paradigm’ which helps addicts forsake their
addiction in favour of assuming a healthier
identity and lifestyle.
Asker's Rating:
5 out of 5
Asker's Comment:
You summarized his contributions
well. I am sure Doc Randy will have more
contributions to Philippine psychology and
psychiatry in the years to come. I think I'll
get a good grade with your help 👦






What is the theory of Filipino 

clinical psychologist and 

psychiatrist Dr. Randy 

Dellosa?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

Seven Organizing Principles of The Randy
Dellosa Holistic Emotional Healing System

1. Holistic Emotional Healing is concerned
with the ‘total’ person. It considers and
involves the physical, cognitive, emotional,
energetic, spiritual, relational, cultural, and
ecological aspects of the client’s personality
in the healing and integration process.

2. Holistic Emotional Healing considers
different dimensions of time: The client must
release emotional baggage from the distant
past and immediate past. The client must
deal with current dysfunctional attitudes and
behavioural patterns, as well as successfully
manage the challenges of the present life. In
so doing, the client can plan to make
meaningful choices for his immediate future
and distant future.

3. Holistic Emotional Healing deals not only
with healing emotional wounds or overcoming
current frailties. More importantly, it places
people on a lifetime path of pursuing growth,
wholeness, and wellness for themselves.

4. Holistic Emotional Healing enters the
client's internal reality, respects it, and works
with all the resources available within it,
including the client's personal belief and value
system, strengths and competencies, as well
as weaknesses and vulnerabilities.

5. Holistic Emotional Healing encourages the
active collaboration of the client in his/her own
healing and growth process.

6. The seven primary goals of Holistic Healing
are: emotional healing, personal growth,
physical wellness, spiritual nurture, integration
of body-mind-emotions-spirit, relational
authenticity, and conscious and joyful living.

7. Holistic Emotional Healing is expected on
both sides of the therapist-client relationship
and demands from the therapist to actively
and intentionally pursue healing, growth,
wholeness, and wellness as they help clients
attain the same.
Asker's Rating:
5 out of 5
Asker's Comment:
Thank you for the information. I remember these
points from a workshop that Doc Randy
conducted at a convention. 😊

... gestalt therapy growth group: sunog! sunog! ... (life coach, counselor, psychotherapist, clinical psychologist, psychiatrist, osteopath, quezon city, manila, philippines)


love nagpala and ronald miranda, both doctors-to-be from the u.p. college of medicine, dropped by for an experience of gestalt therapy.



the theme that emerged from today's growth activity was on "self-nurture and self-care."  many of the roles we play in life require us to take care of other people.  however, in putting the need of others ahead of ours, we place ourselves at the risk of burning out.  



what comes to my mind is this verse in the bible which says, "love others as you love yourself."  it is a verse that implies self-love as a pre-requisite for loving others.  we simply cannot give what we do not have.  and we cannot fully give what we ourselves are deficient in.  



just to put this "preaching" into practice, ronald and i decided to do cranio-sacral therapy on love nagpala, whose stream has run a little dry from helping others.  notice her delight as she gets recharged! :D



Wednesday, September 26, 2012

... christian zen meditation as psychotherapy for the monkey mind ... (life coach, counselor, psychotherapist, clinical psychologist psychiatrist, osteopath, quezon city, manila, philippines)


a "monkey mind" is a mind that restlessly swings from one thought to another, from one concern to another, from one worry to another.   by joining a 3-day zen meditation retreat, i gave my "monkey mind" a well-deserved opportunity to rest. 




Sr. Sonia Punzalan, describes a Christian zen retreat as "an invitation to a prayerful path 

through alertness in solitude. It is a time of seeing our Belovedness before God, and a 

time to develop an attitude of mindful living that heals and relaxes."


Sr. Sonia Punzalan, Zen Roshi and Catholic Cenacle Sister 
facilitated the 3-day Zen Meditation retreat.   

a zen retreat consists of 20-minute periods of sitting meditation, alternated with 5-minute periods of walking meditation.  there is no talking during the retreat as strict silence is observed.  



zen master taisen deshimaru roshi says this of zen:   "True Zen consists of sitting quietly in the correct posture. It is not a special state, it is the normal state: silent, peaceful, without agitation. Zen means to put the mind at rest and to concentrate the mind and body. In zazen (sitting meditation), there is no purpose, no seeking to gain something, no special effort or imagination. It is not knowledge to be grasped by the brain. It is solely a practice, a practice which is a gate to  peace and freedom."



here are some zen stories for you:


Letting go

A senior monk and a junior monk were traveling together.

At one point, they came to a river with a strong current.  As the monks were preparing to cross the river, they saw a very young and beautiful woman also attempting to cross.  The young woman asked if they could help her.  The senior monk carried this woman on his shoulder, crossed the river, and let her down on the other bank.
  

The junior monk was very upset, but said nothing.  They were both walking when the senior monk noticed that the junior monk was silent.  He asked, "Is something the matter?  You seem upset."   

The junior monk replied, "As monks, we are not permitted to interact with women.  How could you then carry that woman on your shoulders?"  

The senior monk replied, "I left the woman a long time ago at the bank.  However, you seem to be carrying her still."  


The Other Side

One day, a young monk on his journey home came to the banks of a wide river. Staring hopelessly at the great obstacle in front of him, he pondered for hours on just how to cross such a wide barrier. Just as he was about to give up his pursuit to continue his journey he saw the senior monk, his teacher, on the other side of the river. 

The young monk yells over to the teacher, “Teacher, can you tell me how to get to the other side of this river”?

The teacher yells back to the young monk, “My son, you are already on the other side!”





... Major Depression Treatment Therapy Mood Clinic in the Philippines (life coach, counseling, psychotherapist, clinical psychologist, psychiatrist, quezon city, manila)


Kimberly Go and Nino Manalo of Solar News Talk TV passed by my clinic for an interview on depression.



Major depression, also known as clinical depression, is a mood problem caused by a serotonin imbalance in the brain.  Since serotonin imbalance is the culprit for major depression, it follows that the condition should be treated with serotonin balancers.  These serotonin balancers are what we call anti-depressants.  




Taking anti-depressants is the fastest way to get rid of the depression.  While all anti-depressants are clinically researched to be effective, it is important to find the anti-depressant which matches your body system.  In order to know which anti-depressant best suits you, I have two criteria that must be met:  First of all, there should be no side effects.  And secondly, you should feel significant improvement within 2-3 weeks.  Unfortunately, the only way to know whether you've found the right anti-depressant for you is through trial and error.  



In the internet forums, a lot of people bash anti-depressants for their side-effects.  My question for these bashers is, why in the first place would you continue taking an anti-depressant that makes you feel worse?  If the anti-depressant has side-effects or makes you feel more depressed, or if you've been taking it for more than month and you're still depressed, then it only makes sense to stop taking that anti-depressant and try another one.  



Oh and by the way, it is unfair to bash or heap accolades on a particular anti-depressant because the choice of anti-depressant for each person is very individualized.  The anti-depressant that best suits you may be the worst anti-depressant for another person, and vice versa.  Like they say, one man's trash is another man's treasure.  



Best thing to do is find a shrink who you can collaborate with in finding the right medication, because once you've found the right medication and taken the right dosage, then you should be back to your old happy self within 2-3 weeks.  Yes, recovery from major depression is generally that quick!



Hhmm, this is a pretty depressed kitty cat, don't you think? It looks like it needs a lot of tender loving care!




Thursday, September 6, 2012

... gestalt therapy growth group activity: puno na punong-puno ng snakes ... (life coach, counselor, psychotherapist, psychologist, psychiatrist , quezon city, manila, philippines)


after a long while, i facilitated a gestalt growth group activity for some wonderful students from the u.p. college of medicine students- hadi mahammad-isa, sheryl manalili, kris mangunay, patricia nacienceno, and christine olivar.  




in processing the growth group activity, a lot of themes came up.  of all the themes, what struck me the most was the theme about the "little snakes on the road."  these snakes are those little problems or challenges in life that I'm still able to run away from.  



but then, at the dead end of the road i'm treading, I come face to face with this "tree full of snakes," and this time, there is no recourse but for me to confront what I've evaded and feared for so long.





what i love about gestalt therapy growth groups is that it enriches everyone.  i may play the role of facilitator, but i am as much a student of life as the participants in the group are.  so to hadi, sheryl, kris, patricia, and christine,  thank you so much for life lessons I've learned from you.