Happy New Year

History?  A moment in time?  A year forgotten or remembered?

I just came across this article about planning for 2019.  Or should we say planning for 2025 not 2019.  Maybe this is something many of us should follow.  Maybe this should be introduced in therapy?  Or just your everyday life?!





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Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah Stories and Radio Tales

As Christmas  and Hanukkah are here storytelling should be incorporated into the joy of the holiday season.  From holiday traditions to gift giving the stories are a wonderful opportunity to bring in the holiday cheer.  I loved this NPR Christmas stories.  

Or what about Radio stories for season past.  And definitely the impacting Hanukkah light stores - the artform of listening is a powerful and artful communication.

Read more about Dr. Strayhorn's practice and philosophy...

Christmas and your Self Care and Mental health

The holidays are here!  For some of us they are joyful.  For others perhaps complicated and they return us to difficult and painful memories.  Regardless of past feelings stress is all around the holidays.  With this in mind Coping at Christmas - 5 Top Tips to Look After your Mental Health is a starting point to control your next few days.  If you do have stressors create a list of 5 categories that you can manage and control.  One key issue that often surfaces in therapy sessions is family.  If you have issues with stress or communication with family set limits.  If conflict is a predictable...

Merry Stressmas and Stress to the World!

Getting Through the Holidays Yet Again.  Will This Year Be a Piece of Cake; or Fruitcake?

I was asked in a store yesterday if I was “ready for the holidays?” With candor I said “no, ugh, not even close.”  The woman at the register seemed so happy as she replied “Neither am I.” She was relieved in a misery-loves-company-type-fashion.  My being ill prepared seemed comforting. You could see the stress on her face.

In my December 12, 2018 blog concerning holiday stress it is no secret that the holidays can cause stress for many people. Reviewing the 2015 Healthline survey that measured holiday stress shows that overall the majority of respondents were stressed. Gen Xers reported feeling stressed (65 percent) with Baby Boomers (62 percent) and Millennials (61 percent). So, stress affects all of us this time of year.

So, is managing the holidays with a happy outcome possible? I think this article from last year is still worth reviewing about managing holidays and creating memories during the holiday season.  Although there are specific items in the article that ...

Let's Light Up the Holidays

Christmas is a time of illumination. The holiday season is rich in diverse belief systems.  Thus the celebration of Christmas is for everyone should we choose to embrace it.  In fact, the holiday is so widespread many global metropolitan cities present stunning light extravaganzas.  Although many of us do not directly celebrate the Christmas holiday many of us in the United States recognize its meaning and tradition mainly from our youth.  If you know Faith you know she believes the symbols of Christmas give hope, meaning and whimsy to children.

Santa Clause, reindeer, the North Pole, decorated presents, cakes and cookies, Frosty the Snowman.  But perhaps the one thing that competes with Santa Clause is the Christmas tree.  Whether the shimmer of the artificial or the chrisp intrusion of the pine's smell we all accept that trees are the transition from make believe to the wonderland and lights of the holidays.

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Managing Social Anxiety? Or Is Staying Home your solution.

According the article 13 Useful, Expert-Backed Tips for Dealing with Social Anxiety 15 million people are affected by the disorder.  As revealed in the article the Social Anxiety Association reports “the fear of social situations that involve interaction with other people” is also the third largest mental health care problem in the world today.  With such anxiety in our culture should there be more discussion social anxiety? And should there be more thoughts about managing it?

The value of this article is that it gives clear manageable tools for working with social stressors that can be applied universally for any individual with social unease.  Such examples include Bill Koch, clinical therapist, who advocated for immediately seeking out ...

Romance & Commitment Challenges for Millennials

During the Baby Boomers and Generation X years the dating world was different. Some might say that the ideals and traditions of past generations makes dating today more complex. Simply put; dating and relationship roles were easier because they were clear. Roles were more defined.

Now with student loans, personal finance woes, and political disagreements with family and friends it is no wonder that people are anxious or depressed. It seems our societal and daily challenges are now the normal way of life. It is no wonder millennials could be set for romantic, social and career failure because of being overwhelmed.

As a society we are not addressing these issues that affect millennials as our times have indeed changed.

As our social ideals are changing how does one support independence in forming relationships while understanding the past and allowing the future to occur. Remember, just fifty years ago it was considered scandal in most American to have an affair, or sex, without being legally married. Many of these past scandals forced high profiled celebrities and socialites out of the country ultimately becoming topic for the U.S Supreme court. The times have changed. It was not that long ago that Kim Kardashian was involved with a sex tape that literally exploded her image and celebrity status to who she is today. Her mother Kris Jenner openly talked about her own affair as well as her daughter's experience. This discussion of intimate exposure and sexual experiences in the past was scandal perhaps. But for many in this country it was morally corrupt. Times have changed as these are topics of discussion not topics of "sin."

So how do we adjust for social change with the millennials as they sext and show body parts in a it's-no-big-deal-fashion. Maybe it isn’t or maybe it is a big deal. Regardless of your thoughts, shouldn't it be a discussion of inclusion with millennials? There is no easy answer to listening and good communication but we can hope that the millennials have good role models. You cannot give opinions or offer advice if you are not reflecting positives in your own relationships and social engagement. In the end, we should have faith that this smart vivacious generation can figure out their lives, as the generations did before them.

I can help...

I am a therapist that works with millennials.

The main course of my sessions is the avoidance of preaching; the avoidance of unwanted mentoring; and the avoidance of assumptions that I know what their lives are like. Unless lives are in danger or there are mandated reporting issues.

I don't interfere.

I collaborate with their goals and lives. As cliche' as it may seem, listening is a commodity that is valued. The generations before millennials are often assuming about the youth in their community. Boomers and X'ers only assume their mid-life crisis is of merit and often disregard a millennials life crisis. Older generations often lack empathy or knowledge of legitimate financial, emotional, and social stressors the youth face. 

Please contact me at your earliest convenience for a confidential appointment and let your growth begin today.

Renaldo Strayhorn, Ph.D.
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
Lic. # 45042

Servicing the Greater Los Angeles area.

renaldo@renaldostrayhorn.com

(818) 753-6606

Is your Relationship or Marriage Suffering because of Your Job?

"I bust my butt, and it is insane and I come home to trust issues and a hard time!"

This article 11 of the Worst Jobs for a Relationship got my attention. What if your profession is one of these discussed jobs? Is the article implying that you are doomed for relationships pertaining to these jobs? Would not it be advantageous to couple with someone in the same career that you are in (if in these jobs) so that you understand one another?  What if ...

Is There a Difference in Counseling, Therapy and Analysis?

Therapy is for “The Crazies.” Or for “The Weak;” or, Those Guys that “Have Problems.” --   Or is It?

Let’s assume this is true.  Is therapy really only for for the severely mentally ill, or socially vulnerable?  If we choose this belief to be true, we create an absolute and minimize the possibilities for the use of psychoanalysis for positive useful power.  Furthermore, we underscore its intent to strengthen the individual to a higher level of self awareness and social awakening that could lead the Self and culture to the greater realms of mankind. Could therapy (or analysis) be the lottery ticket; the gateway; the answer to a better happier richer life? Could it really be that simple? Yes. Yet, simple answers are often not what we wish to hear and sometimes hard to do.

The Awkward of Sexual Health and the Moments of Discomfort, or Comfort - Part 3

Sexually Awkward Norms and Shattered Myths - Continued.

Awkward = good sex = good health = good life.  Keep the "ouch" and the "uh, oh no, sorry" in the fluidity of normal.

In the initial discussion of August 10, 2018’s The Awkward of Sexual Health we explored the thoughts of sex and awkward moments being complicated. What most of us already know is that in some way sex, despite any negatives, is beneficial for our well being.  Good fun sex is not meant solely as a procreational discussion, but it is sometimes lacking in the general population’s intrigue when it relates to the positive health benefits of the individual. In fact, if one was focused on the history of sex we might learn that many religious and spiritual leaders have evolved in recognizing that sex between consenting adults could lead to a further strengthening union and bond that is added to the specific functionality of procreation (or propagation).

With this theme of fun sex and it’s linkage to improved health how do we demystify the previous discussions of glorified sex and unrealistic pressures of perfection mentioned in cinema and the media?  The Answer? ...

Generational Wounds and Systemic Damage within the Family

Each Family Member Has Their Own Vignette. What Do They Do When Each Narrative is True?

As a marriage and family therapist in Los Angeles, I am supposed to have the skills to work with individuals, families and couples.  That is a given, we get it. What is often misunderstood, and not fully recognized, is how one’s family plays an integral part in how we relate to the world, co-workers, business partners, romantic partners, marriages, children, friends and every social relationship in the lives we live.

Maria Hinojosa’s Latino USA reporting and conversations with the Quevedos family gives insight into past emotional wounds and how sensitive life experiences often shape our present and future engagement with other people.  Damage imposed upon us in our youth often reveal ...

Sociopaths are Among Us - We Might Be Dating 'em; or, married to 'em!

In the March 31, 2017 blog Sociopaths are Among Us it was stated that sociopaths have always been a fixture in our culture.  Additionally, it was presented that this population has a place and often a needed for our societal functioning. What should be discussed more is the person who finds themselves in union with the sociopath.  Whether romantically or coupled. Before we touch on this topic of marital relationships, or unions, with sociopaths, it might serve us to revisit NPR’s Inside the Mind of a Sociopath from several years ago.

When discussing societal functioning romance and marriage is not intended to be included as a positive.  The relationship with the sociopath as stated in the previous blog is dauntingly toxic to the spirit and overall emotional health of an individual.  Thus, if one is unaware that they have some relational union or is symbolically ...

The Awkward of Sexual Health and the Moments of Discomfort, or Comfort - Part 2

Sexually Awkward Normals and Shattered Myths - continued.

Last week presented the thoughts of sex being complicated.  The Awkward of Sexual Health and the Moments of Discomfort, or Comfort was the discussion.  What most of us already know is that ...

The City of Angels or the City of Sins

Can Managing Los Angeles or Struggling in Los Angeles Affect Your Mental Health?

Los Angeles can be seductive. And the seductress can be a beauty or a curse.  I once was asked where I lived. At the time I was vacationing in Mexico City and the response to my answer of “Los Angeles” was a whimsically cautious response. This response came from a naively appearing person of knowledge as a simple “Ahhhh, the city of sinners.” I was dumbfounded as he smiled with innocence and juxtaposed the undercurrent of personified angels who had demonic traits. Or is that demons who had angelic traits. Los Angeles indeed can be a trap. Hollywood, beautiful tanned bodies, ethnic mosaics of extraordinary beauty, Greek sculptured bodies, perfect hair, eclectic styles, alternative visuals, ink-art-tattoos of the provocative.  Seduction. Wealth. So much wealth that Los Angeles County as of 2017 reported 58 Billionaires.  With so much indulgence how could anyone be depressed or unhappy?  Moreover, how could anyone not succeed in the mecca of opportunities?  This might be answered by ...

The Awkward of Sexual Health and the Moments of Discomfort, or Comfort.

Sexually Awkward Normals and Shattered Myths.

Sexuality is complicated.  One could justify using only these three words as the entire blog. However, I haven’t gotten to that point of simplicity. Thus, too much talk and emphasis on sex. Yet not enough talk and not enough emphasis on sex. What we know based on available studies is that sex is linked to improved health. Moreover, sex can be a prescription for a longer life.  But what we need ...

The 'Tour of Grief' - Is an Ocra Mother any different than any other Mother?

Managing the Death of Your Child and How Do We Do this? There is No Correct Answer.

I came across this story of an Ocra carrying her dead calf, grieving, yet longing for the life, or rebirth, of her newborn. The story in some ways might grab the human cord of emotions.  It is a dissonant feel because although it is not a human engagement the Ocra experience represents a quest for the understanding of a mother’s most anguished plight.  I worked with pregnant teens and adolescent mothers for several years when I first became a therapist in Los Angeles. This was by far the most connected I have felt to the maternal process of life and the meaning of motherhood.

Hence, I often feel I have an appreciation for what young mothers encounter during adversities. Despite this self-proclaimed insight, I know so very little. Soon after feeling this story of an Ocra mother I read a human narrative in What It’s Like Being A Mother Of 2 When Only 1 Of My Children Is Alive. I think we often avoid embracing the loss and the lives lived of the dead.  This further had me reflect on my collegiate years as a gymnast when my coach’s wife disclosed ...

The Random and Unconditional Kindness of Strangers

Mass shootings are continuing.  Our politicians and government officials are at conflict with one another.  People are continually coming forward with stories of horrific alleged and documented assaults.  Homelessness is at an all time high. Student debt. Adult debt. Increased aging producing increased poverty, Alzheimer’s. Global warming. Personally, I had minimal reaction when my Aunt text’d me from another state that the Trader Joe’s...

THAILAND THAM LUANG CAVE RESCUE

Miracles and Mental Health and Positive vs. Negative News

On Monday July 9, 2018, the Thailand Tham Luang Cave Rescue was the leading first story on news feeds.  As we now know, this international rescue mission consisted of a 12 member junior football team ranging between 11 to 17 years of age; additionally, their 25-year-old assistant coach was among the rescued.  The team members entered the cave on June 23, 2018. Due to heavy rains flooding the cave they were forced to move deeper into the cave. At one point the locals were relying on the Rain Gods...

Not Getting Divorced Might Cost You!

For those of you who have financial security divorce can be complicated.  Navigating through life’s changes also becomes a mental health concern when the stressors of long term financial planning is involved. However, one’s financial ease and having control of finances allows for opportunities with increased happiness. I just heard an NPR podcast discussing Why Divorce Lawyers Are Advising Their Clients To Finalize Agreements Before 2019. Although my role as a therapist in Los Angeles is not to...

Predicting Divorce - who can read the crystal ball?

I have revisited this article 7 Things Science Says Predict Divorce.  Whether you are in a solid healthy relationship or you suspect trouble in paradise it might be a good idea to just check in with your partner for an evaluation regarding your relationship.  If you set up a good dialogue you might learn that you have the power to enhance your happiness while making your partner’s life easier. The data supports the high divorce rates in the United States.  With understanding divorce predictors there might be ways to combat and manage a healthy marriage. Moreover, if divorce is inevitable the real question is what type of relationship do you wish to have with your partner after the end of the union.  Many people have wonderful friendships after they divorce. Other ex’s create a FWB relationship. While some vow never...

Of a Certain Age and Dating: 40 and after the divorce; 50 and suddenly single or never married?

Should we start by watching this cute video and by questioning What Happens to Your Brain When You Fall in Love?  Falling in love is like cocaine?  Wow!

Single.  Friday night and you either have found yourself to be recently uncoupled, have been single for a while and said where has the time gone, or perhaps you are thinking to explore the ykes-eek-get-out-there dating world.  Or, perhaps, so deep in the cave you have not even gotten to the point where you can even think about licking your wounds. And, what about the “How-can-I-even-think-about-dating-when-I-am-parenting-on-a-Friday-Night”? Hence the final blow, has mislabeled misunderstood Incel become

Is Alzheimer's the New It Topic?

Over the past week there have been multiple settings in which dementia overshadowed the conversations.  Ranging from office settings, to in depth phone conversations, to dinner parties, to random running into old friends at the grocery store the discussions centered around Alzheimer’s.  So, if you wish to revisit my past blog about Alzheimer’s and its links to sleep or the phenomenal story of Glen Campbell’s journey through Alzheimer’s as he storytells through music why he’s Not Gonna Miss You it might be worth the review.

Millennials and Their Role Amongst the Generation Gaps

This article What Millennials Say About Their Parents During Therapy  actually speaks for itself.  I have been having frequent conversations with all generations lately.  My conclusion?
Millennials have not been raised in social design of support and structure equipped with tools to be independent and engaged with the world in which we live.  Of the seven items discussed in the article, item number six resonates with me as an observer of all generations [ The Great Generation; Baby Boomers; Generation X'ers; Millennials; Generation Z (iGen)...

Octavia Butler - Science Fiction and Intellectualization

Happy Birthday Octavia Butler - the to wonderously ahead of her future creative goddess. Pasadena's own..

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Video-Gaming - the new drug.

Many mental health professionals have recognized video-gaming as an identified clinical problem but now the WHO (no not the rock band from the ‘60’s, but the World Health Organization) have officially taken notice.  Additionally, the United Nations Health Agency is “saying compulsive gaming is a mental health problem.” No Kidding!

Gaming is now classified as a specific addiction disorder such as gambling, or an AOD (alcohol and other drugs). Although these experts are stating that 3% of gamers are addicted I assert that this number is noticeably under representative of the true gaming addiction.  This discussion is nothing new to mental health arenas. If a new symptom or disorder surfaces the industry at large takes a while to identify, research and design strategies and treatment for the disorder.  In this instance, we see the American Psychological Association dragging their bureaucratic and often dinosaurus bones in a 2013 statement about gaming stating “a condition warranting more clinical research and experience before it might be considered for inclusion.”  Inclusion, meaning the DSM V...

Father Day? Daddy Issues? Celebrate or Pass? Sunday June 17, 2018

The Father’s Day Letter to my Estranged Dad presents as a wonderful evolutionary coming of age processing of an adult son’s cathartic reflections of his father-son relationship.  I initially started writing something light and positive but life is not always a win nor effortless. With some life experiences the struggle is part of the achievement.  With this said the Father Archetype is something that I vested six years in study.  All to say, a Ph.D. from a university that specializes in Jungian psychology has left me with an ongoing recognition that I don’t fully understand the symbolic and unconscious meaning of The Father.

There is so much to know and learn about the Father Figure.  Maybe I should have just said it’s complicated and sometimes I struggle to grasp the depth of the true meaning of the Father Figure Archetype.  Love, hate. One is the son and becomes the father. Or chooses not to become the father and a part of that branch symbolically dies? Or does more life go to ...

Divorced Men Who Knew their Marriage was Over - Melancholy or Opportunity to Move On?

Some Warning Signs from a Dominate Energy (Male) Account That The Masquerade is Over.

[If you just want to get to the bittersweet and avoid the reading and accept the final curtain call there is a wonderful song by Nancy Wilson and Cannonball Adderley titled The Masquerade is Over. The jazz standard plays really well in an imaginal scene with a vinyl record player and a gin and tonic, or dry martini.]

I have had male clients who have disengaged with their spouses and were not fully committed to the relationship.  The other group within this client group are the men who were blindsided. Blindsided either by their partner or their own avoidance of the facts presented them.  The writing might have been on the chalkboard but they chose to ignore the screeching sound only to plow through the homework hoping to turn in the assignment desperate to receive a mere passing grade.  

Although I mentioned “male” clients this is primarily a representation of an energy within the relationship more so than let’s say specific gender.  Quite often, ...

Suicide - the Loss of Wonderful Accessories & Digesting the Unknown of Mental Health

This morning was shocking.  Maybe for many it was just an ordinary day.  But for the majority of people I suspect there was this aftershock that was not of the natured earthquake that we Californians become accustomed.  This aftershock was Anthony Bourdain, the embrace all cultures, all hole-in-the-walls, and all foods celebrity chef and noteable star of CNN’s Part’s Unknown.  Suicide at 61 today, June 8, 2018. To receive the news of his death ...

Your 1st Therapy Session and Soon Thereafter - Conclusion

Ghosting the Therapist - We Were Getting it Long Before it was a Thing in Social Media!

I wanted to conclude this discussion from the past several weeks about the 7 Things You Should Know Before Your First Therapy Appointment. One might argue that the clients who are unfamiliar with therapy might not be able to utilize these seven items despite them being a potential for successful initiations to treatment.   Frankly, there are times ...

The Elephant in the Room - and the Spiritual Communal Pinnacle

I started the discussion April 13, 2018 about The Elephant in the Room - Adolescents can be wedges!  During these past five writings we utilized 5 Scientifically Proven Ways to Raise Happier Kids as an effective tool to start the conversation on how children can cause challenges in the communication and overall flow of the primary relationship - the two partners.  I will term two people as partners which is inclusive of married couples, domestic partners, and any union which is defined as a partnership as the people define it (This is an open definition that morphs and changes as poly-fluidity, polyamorous can be ...

Memorial Day Honored

The Fallen's Holiday and the Ease it Comforts and Provides.

Is it possible that we forget the meaning of the Memorial Day holiday?  Despite abortion and non-abortion rights, despite "taking a knee," despite political elections and party divides; despite gun control, despite countless other significant impacting events and issues that affect our local and national well being; this day has power and meaning.  This power centers at ...

More About the Elephant in the Room - If the kids are happy you will be happy.

Yeah You Have a Tone Deaf Voice!  Sing 2 Your Kids anyway! 

During the past several weeks I started a conversation addressing The Elephant in the Room and the adolescent and children as they affect relationships.  I have been providing couples counseling (or marriage and family therapy) in the Los Angeles area for the past several years.  What I have realized during this time is that couples are genuinely unaware ...

Your 1st Therapy Session and Soon Thereafter - Part 5 and 6

So we have been focusing on the article 7 Things You Should Know Before Your First Therapy Appointment.  What is interesting and expected is that these seven items (referrals, phone consultations, treatment progress, discomfort and emotional invasion, discussion of significant and life altering topics, advocacy and speaking up to therapist, and termination) often overlap and are discussions of topic over multiple sessions.

Frequently, what benefits the client is a mini-discussion on therapy and how therapy sessions are like one's birthdays. We should not expect to have surprize birthday parties with 500 people each year of your life.  Some of your best birthdays might be small intimate events that were unexpectedly magical. Also, meaningful birthdays...

Are Elephants in the Room Affecting Your Life - Kids, You and the Phone!

On an earlier blog (April 27) we addressed children's sleep schedule affecting your marriage. As previously stated, there is an elephant in the room which I have often noticed but is seldom discussed during therapy - Children. Over the course of the past several weeks the discussion in effective ways to raise happier children; which means cultivating a happier marriage during the childbearing years, is important as it relates to not just to your well being and successful marriage. The managing of or creation of happy children is vital in...

Your 1st Therapy Session and Soon Thereafter - Part 4

So this Monday’s blog is focusing on item # 4 of the article 7 Things You Should Know Before Your First Therapy Appointment.  The purpose of breaking this article into seven separate discussions is for its circulation to be broader through repetition, while reaching people as they enter into treatment (possibly for the first time).  If receptive, this article is not only insightful for new clients but it is useful as a refresher for people who are returning to analysis. Moreover, for the analyst this discussion provides as a reminder about connections, rapport building and ...