From Both Sides of the Couch

Trauma

A Life Divided Into Before and After

Andrea Rosenhaft LCSW-R on March 18, 2024

Personal Perspective: Dividing my life into before and after mental illness has raised questions. But are they questions I should be asking myself?

Personal Perspective: Dividing my life into before and after mental illness has raised questions. But are they questions I should be asking myself?

Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia Is a Cunning and Insidious Illness

Andrea Rosenhaft LCSW-R on February 26, 2024

Personal Perspective: A return to the office has triggered thoughts and feelings about my weight and body image.

Personal Perspective: A return to the office has triggered thoughts and feelings about my weight and body image.

Fear

My Rescue Dog May Have Night Terrors

Andrea Rosenhaft LCSW-R on February 19, 2024

Personal Perspective: I feel scared and sad when I watch my rescue dog experience apparent night terrors.

Personal Perspective: I feel scared and sad when I watch my rescue dog experience apparent night terrors.

Career

Reflections on a Year as a Clinical Supervisor

Andrea Rosenhaft LCSW-R on February 5, 2024

Personal Perspective: It took me over 20 years to be hired in my first clinical supervisor role. At the end of my first year, I have some thoughts.

Personal Perspective: It took me over 20 years to be hired in my first clinical supervisor role. At the end of my first year, I have some thoughts.

Loneliness

Warding Off Loneliness by Joining a Writing Community

Andrea Rosenhaft LCSW-R on January 25, 2024

Personal Perspective: I'm part of a writing group for the first time in over ten years. It's the highlight of my week and a way to combat isolation.

Personal Perspective: I'm part of a writing group for the first time in over ten years. It's the highlight of my week and a way to combat isolation.

Motivation

Am I Motivating Myself or Just Pushing Myself?

Andrea Rosenhaft LCSW-R on January 7, 2024

Personal Perspective: Do I use the phrase "Keep Going" as a way to push through or as a way to motivate myself?

Personal Perspective: Do I use the phrase "Keep Going" as a way to push through or as a way to motivate myself?

Therapy

Don’t Call Them Resolutions

Andrea Rosenhaft LCSW-R on January 1, 2024

Personal Perspective: Instead of making resolutions, I've set five attainable goals I can work on throughout the year.

Personal Perspective: Instead of making resolutions, I've set five attainable goals I can work on throughout the year.

Depression

The Vicious Cycle Linking Depression, Insomnia, and Apnea

Andrea Rosenhaft LCSW-R on December 24, 2023

Personal Perspective: I was hopeful that a CPAP machine would relieve my insomnia and help my depression, but that has not been the case yet.

Personal Perspective: I was hopeful that a CPAP machine would relieve my insomnia and help my depression, but that has not been the case yet.

Borderline Personality Disorder

Revealing Your History to a New Therapist

Andrea Rosenhaft LCSW-R on December 18, 2023

Personal Perspective: Borderline personality, stigma, and the challenges of finding a new clinician.

Personal Perspective: Borderline personality, stigma, and the challenges of finding a new clinician.

Imposter Syndrome

When a New Job Leads to Imposter Syndrome

Andrea Rosenhaft LCSW-R on December 11, 2023

Personal Perspective: I landed a second job and immediately thought, Who am I to be able to pull this off?

Personal Perspective: I landed a second job and immediately thought, Who am I to be able to pull this off?

Depression

A Year of High-Functioning Depression

Andrea Rosenhaft LCSW-R on December 3, 2023

Personal Perspective: This is what a year of high-functioning depression looks like.

Personal Perspective: This is what a year of high-functioning depression looks like.

Dementia

The Link Between Mental Illness and Dementia

Andrea Rosenhaft LCSW-R on November 12, 2023

New research is showing that there may be a link between later-in-life mental illness and developing dementia.

New research is showing that there may be a link between later-in-life mental illness and developing dementia.

Therapy

What Is Your Therapy Termination Style?

Andrea Rosenhaft LCSW-R on October 30, 2023

Personal Perspective: My termination with one provider was planned and productive. Another was not.

Personal Perspective: My termination with one provider was planned and productive. Another was not.

Anxiety

Stop Relying on External Validation

Andrea Rosenhaft LCSW-R on October 22, 2023

Personal Perspective: Like many others, I needed to work on my constant need for external validation.

Personal Perspective: Like many others, I needed to work on my constant need for external validation.

Aging

Apprehension About Aging Alone

Andrea Rosenhaft LCSW-R on October 16, 2023

Personal Perspective: As myriad health concerns accumulate, those of us who live alone become more worried.

Personal Perspective: As myriad health concerns accumulate, those of us who live alone become more worried.

Depression

Reflections for World Mental Health Day

Andrea Rosenhaft LCSW-R on October 10, 2023

Personal Perspective: Today is World Mental Health Day, four decades after I first stepped foot in a therapist’s office.

Personal Perspective: Today is World Mental Health Day, four decades after I first stepped foot in a therapist’s office.

Aging

Aging: An Opinion

Andrea Rosenhaft LCSW-R on October 2, 2023

Personal Perspective: Lines, wrinkles, and a couple of age spots don’t bother me. But I want to keep working.

Personal Perspective: Lines, wrinkles, and a couple of age spots don’t bother me. But I want to keep working.

Depression

The Dilemma of Self-Disclosure

Andrea Rosenhaft LCSW-R on September 26, 2023

Personal Perspective: When therapists should self-disclose, and what they should tell.

Personal Perspective: When therapists should self-disclose, and what they should tell.

Health

Waiting for the Doctor, and Then Waiting Some More

Andrea Rosenhaft LCSW-R on September 15, 2023

Personal Perspective: Do appointment delays affect our medical care, or our satisfaction with it?

Personal Perspective: Do appointment delays affect our medical care, or our satisfaction with it?

Confidence

We Miss Out on Events When We Don't Like to Go Alone

Andrea Rosenhaft LCSW-R on September 8, 2023

Personal Perspective: I'd love to see Bruce Springsteen play, but I don’t like to fly solo.

Personal Perspective: I'd love to see Bruce Springsteen play, but I don’t like to fly solo.