Introducing Allie Kaelin, AMFT, APCC
Allie Kaelin, AMFT, APCC is a therapist in Dublin, CA who loves to provide therapy for teenagers, anxiety counseling for young adults, and those seeking therapy to navigate adoption issues.
A Therapist’s Top Mental Health & Wellbeing Book Recommendations
Therapy is a big investment of time, energy, and financial resources. And while I whole heartedly believe that therapy can be a profoundly healing experience that equips people with tools to live healthier, more fulfilling lives, it really is what you put into it. Merely attending a 50 minute session each week isn’t going to magically change your life. The winning combination is a willingness to show up and do the work in session, and implement those changes throughout your week.
One of my favorite recommendations for my counseling clients is to supplement our work with some intentional reading. By adding some adjunctive therapeutic reading (psychobabble term: bibliotherapy) on certain topics you want to change, then working to make those incremental changes can really help your healing process. So here are my most recommended mental health/well being & personal growth therapy books:
10 Ways to Know You’re Done with Therapy
I often tell my clients in my initial consultation call & first session that I believe if I’m successful in my role as therapist, I’ll eventually work myself out of a job. When we are successful, one day you’ll graduate therapy. To that end, it’s super important both client & therapist have a clear understanding of what success in therapy looks like in real, practical ways. That way, when we arrive there, we know it’s time to celebrate and send you on your way. Goal accomplished!
5 Minute Guided Lightstream Visualization
These are challenging times accompanied by lots of uncertainty, anxiety, fear, and big feelings. Give yourself the gift of this 5 minute guided meditation to help acknowledge your feelings while also inviting relief so you can feel more grounded & present. Add this in your tool belt for mental health resources and take it with you when you need it.
It’s Okay to Feel what You’re Feeling
How I first imagined using this time social distancing has had to change and evolve as news and my own reactions have changed (translation: I have NOT cleaned my baseboards). The effects of this pandemic are hitting everyone, and it affects people differently depending on different stages of life, personality types, family structures, socioeconomic status, occupation, living alone or with others, what was already going on in your life, etc.