What does Connecting mean? Connecting means interacting on a level that is pleasing for both parties. It leads to understanding and clarity through discussion. It requires a willingness to step inside the world of your child; another description of this action is called empathy. Sometimes conflictual topics are discussed when you are connecting. Hopefully...
What’s the definition of the word confront? According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary confront means to face someone especially in challenge. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, confront means to deal with a difficult problem, person or situation. I believe it also means standing up for yourself. Many avoid confrontations. They may have been raised in homes...
Emotional triggers are moments when you suddenly feel anxious, overwhelmed, confused, and terrified. You often don’t recognize these experiences as being triggers. You aren’t sure what they are about or where they originate.
Triggers are created out of trauma. The following are examples of trauma: Being physically and or sexually assaulted, being emotionally abused, a parent dying, a break up with a partner, loss of a job/loss of income, poverty, being in a war and surviving a natural disaster, racisim, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, anti-Semitism or being hated because you are the “other.”
I’m continuing to uncover painful events in my life. I know that this process will be exhausting, wounding and an eventual powerful springboard. These truths will warm my body mind and soul. I will be a stronger and better man. I have always had poor penmanship as they called it in the late 1950’s and...
Please read this blog before you read https://www.boblivingstone.com/how-americas-institutions-failed-my-family-and-what-i-did-about-it/ what is below. Thanks so much I realize that most people don’t look for emotional pain. I am not afraid to dig deep inside in an effort to seek understanding, clarity, peace and joy. I believe facing and working through the pain opens the door to healing,...
My father died suddenly on Nov. 9, 1966 when I was fifteen years old. He had a stroke, went to the ICU and died two days later. When I think about this awful/pivotal time, I have a vast array of angry and sad feelings. How institutions failed my family: The hospital would not allow my...
A boundary is a line between you and others. When that line is well defined, healthy relationships are possible. When that line has broken parts to it or is blurry, relationships are not functional. They are filled with drama, stress, unrealistic expectations and emotional and financial over-giving. Example of well-defined boundaries: In a primary relationship,...
My name is Bob Livingstone and I am a licensed clinical social worker based in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1987. I work with children, teens and adults. One of my specialties is grief counseling. I became interested in this subject because my father died suddenly when I was fifteen years old. I have...
Hi. My name is Bob Livingstone and I am sixty-seven years old. I am a psychotherapist working with children, teenagers and adults. I have been in private practice for over thirty years in the San Francisco Bay Area. Some of the areas I like to focus on are grief and loss, trauma/abuse, and divorce. My...
How can you tell if your caring for a friend, lover, or family member has turned into an addiction also known as co-dependency? Being co-dependent is a means of survival in the world. This doesn’t brand you as a bad person. You’re struggling to find a new path. I hope that the following will help...
