Progress Notes

Authenticity

Nostalgia to Authenticity: Taylor Swift's Existential Shift

Blake Griffin Edwards LMFT on April 10, 2024

Currents of existential self-reflection ebb and flow among Swift's melodies across a music catalogue that includes continuous dialogue with the past, present, and future Taylor.

Currents of existential self-reflection ebb and flow among Swift's melodies across a music catalogue that includes continuous dialogue with the past, present, and future Taylor.

Artificial Intelligence

Why the Writing Produced by Generative AI Feels Counterfeit

Blake Griffin Edwards LMFT on March 15, 2024

The text produced by generative AI is a sterile echo, devoid of intuitive leaps, nuanced understanding, and the deep connections and ripple effects that define human discourse.

The text produced by generative AI is a sterile echo, devoid of intuitive leaps, nuanced understanding, and the deep connections and ripple effects that define human discourse.

Philosophy

4 Ways to Find Greater Fulfillment in Life

Blake Griffin Edwards LMFT on March 1, 2024

Kierkegaard's philosophy offers insights into living authentically and finding fulfillment amidst the distractions and pressures of the modern world.

Kierkegaard's philosophy offers insights into living authentically and finding fulfillment amidst the distractions and pressures of the modern world.

Relationships

These 4 Qualities Are Highly Attractive, but Beware

Blake Griffin Edwards LMFT on February 24, 2024

We tend to be drawn toward people who are funny, smart, confident, or physically attractive. But these qualities don't actually matter so much in the long run.

We tend to be drawn toward people who are funny, smart, confident, or physically attractive. But these qualities don't actually matter so much in the long run.

Personality

The Persona, and Where to Get to Know Your Naked Personality

Blake Griffin Edwards LMFT on December 8, 2022

While underlying typological features are more or less immutable, archetypical persona is a thin veneer representing compromises between self and society.

While underlying typological features are more or less immutable, archetypical persona is a thin veneer representing compromises between self and society.

Career

Why Brainstorming Is Worthless, and Groupthink Is Dangerous

Blake Griffin Edwards LMFT on November 18, 2022

When we work in groups, it can be extremely difficult to discern what an individual actually thinks about something. And who is doing most of the talking? The most assertive.

When we work in groups, it can be extremely difficult to discern what an individual actually thinks about something. And who is doing most of the talking? The most assertive.

Personality

How Shadow Becomes Personality and Society

Blake Griffin Edwards LMFT on October 31, 2022

Of what we are oblivious about ourselves, others may find obvious. We face an unrelenting hazard of projecting regrets, wishes, and defenses onto every person we encounter.

Of what we are oblivious about ourselves, others may find obvious. We face an unrelenting hazard of projecting regrets, wishes, and defenses onto every person we encounter.

Health

Behavioral Health Care "Transformation" Is a Distraction

Blake Griffin Edwards LMFT on August 29, 2022

Many transformation efforts push for systemic changes in behavioral health care that amount to medicalization of a sector of health care that evades much medicalization.

Many transformation efforts push for systemic changes in behavioral health care that amount to medicalization of a sector of health care that evades much medicalization.

Personality

Face Your Shadow to Grow Beyond Your Personality Type

Blake Griffin Edwards LMFT on August 15, 2022

Psychodynamic psychology and the Enneagram offer different typological models for understanding personality yet agree on the virtue of facing shadow and integrating personality.

Psychodynamic psychology and the Enneagram offer different typological models for understanding personality yet agree on the virtue of facing shadow and integrating personality.

Introversion

4 Ways Introverted Leaders Excel

Blake Griffin Edwards LMFT on July 15, 2022

For organizations aiming to grow a well-organized, resilient workforce of competent, motivated professionals, an introvert could be the best pick for the job.

For organizations aiming to grow a well-organized, resilient workforce of competent, motivated professionals, an introvert could be the best pick for the job.

Introversion

How to Be a Happy Introvert

Blake Griffin Edwards LMFT on June 3, 2022

Introversion has its liabilities. Yet, repeated acts of pretending to have characteristic traits that do not match your underlying experience have the potential to poison your well-being.

Introversion has its liabilities. Yet, repeated acts of pretending to have characteristic traits that do not match your underlying experience have the potential to poison your well-being.

Anxiety

What Is Psychological Freedom?

Blake Griffin Edwards LMFT on May 6, 2022

Not everyone is willing to endure the possibilities of freedom. Many are uncertain how to manage the dialectical anxieties of a free existence.

Not everyone is willing to endure the possibilities of freedom. Many are uncertain how to manage the dialectical anxieties of a free existence.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

5 Distinctive Characteristics of Person-Centered Therapy

Blake Griffin Edwards LMFT on April 15, 2022

Carl Rogers clarified distinctions setting person-centered therapy apart from other psychotherapies, distinctions which have by-and-large persisted for nearly a century.

Carl Rogers clarified distinctions setting person-centered therapy apart from other psychotherapies, distinctions which have by-and-large persisted for nearly a century.

Friends

The Essential Discipline of Turning Otherward

Blake Griffin Edwards LMFT on February 25, 2022

The more we allow our strengths to become enlivened within the frictions of life together, the more creative and loving we become.

The more we allow our strengths to become enlivened within the frictions of life together, the more creative and loving we become.

Introversion

3 Common, Cringeworthy Introvert Experiences

Blake Griffin Edwards LMFT on February 4, 2022

It is not unusual for the last pair of chatters in a room to include one introvert who secretly has been attempting to escape the conversation for some time.

It is not unusual for the last pair of chatters in a room to include one introvert who secretly has been attempting to escape the conversation for some time.

Neuroticism

Mass Neurosis Through the Life and Lens of Erich Fromm

Blake Griffin Edwards LMFT on January 7, 2022

Fromm viewed certain social dynamics as neurotic and their impact on the individual as a projection of societal dysfunction.

Fromm viewed certain social dynamics as neurotic and their impact on the individual as a projection of societal dysfunction.

Psychiatry

Taking Stock of "Evidence-Based Therapy"

Blake Griffin Edwards LMFT on November 11, 2021

The behavioral sciences do not deal in the absolutes of mathematics or physics, where studies of cause and effect are more realistically isolated into forces and impacts.

The behavioral sciences do not deal in the absolutes of mathematics or physics, where studies of cause and effect are more realistically isolated into forces and impacts.

Health

Why We Fail Patients with Comorbid Mental and Physical Illness

Blake Griffin Edwards LMFT on November 9, 2021

We have devoted resources for many, yet we have not cared well for the severely and persistently mentally ill—for their mental health needs, or their addiction and medical needs.

We have devoted resources for many, yet we have not cared well for the severely and persistently mentally ill—for their mental health needs, or their addiction and medical needs.

Empathy

The Man Behind Unconditional Positive Regard

Blake Griffin Edwards LMFT on October 23, 2021

Carl Rogers provided a vision for reformation, challenged conventions, engaged in qualitative research never before tried, and established much-needed new ethical guidelines.

Carl Rogers provided a vision for reformation, challenged conventions, engaged in qualitative research never before tried, and established much-needed new ethical guidelines.

Extroversion

Why Extraverts Talk So Much

Blake Griffin Edwards LMFT on October 1, 2021

The world around extraverts is their psychological space. Therefore, they occupy it to experience it and, in so doing, experience themselves.

The world around extraverts is their psychological space. Therefore, they occupy it to experience it and, in so doing, experience themselves.