David J. Ebaugh, MSW, LCSW

Out of Office Experience

2012-01-04T23:20:00.000-08:00

Meet with a Therapist in Your Home or Office Image source: roberthuffstutterThe September/October 2009 issue of Psychology Today features an article, “Second Hand Blues”, by Michael Yapko PhD, author of “Depression Is Contagious”, which asks the question “Why is depression contagious?” More accurately, though, the question is, “Why does depression run in families?” There is good

Interpersonal Neurobiology

2009-08-15T20:59:00.000-07:00

Interpersonal Neurobiology, a term coined by Dr. Dan Siegel, studies the way the brain grows and is influenced by personal relationships. Recent studies have confirmed that we are hardwired to connect with one another, and we connect through our emotions. Our brains, bodies, and minds are inseparable from the emotions that animate them. When that connection fails, we experience significant

Couples Counseling

2009-07-14T15:30:00.000-07:00

EFT is a short term approach to helping distressed couples. It was developed by leading Canadian psychologists, Dr. Susan Johnson and Dr. Leslie Greenberg. There are 3 steps in EFT which can be accomplished in 12 to 30 sessions. These lead as many as 70% of couples to experience positive change in their communication and help them to, once again, focus on a rewarding and fulfilling

Getting More Done By Doing Less

2009-04-22T06:03:00.000-07:00

spacer Often, it's the pursuit of those things that we love that winds up making our lives more complicated. Going to the gym, meeting friends, going to church, taking care of personal errands, paying bills, waiting on hold, working on home projects, maintaining a blog, writing a book. So many things, so little time. In looking at the people around me, and the people I work with in my private

Practicing Gratitude: 7 Tips for Lifting Your Mood and Improving Your Day

2009-04-15T08:30:00.000-07:00

Research suggests that grateful people have more energy and optimism, are less bothered by life's hassles, are more resilient in the face of stress, have better health, and suffer less depression than the rest of us. Psychological research agrees. Positive emotions are associated with greater creativity, increased problem-solving ability, and greater overall success in life (here's 9 ways

Contact Me

2009-04-01T06:30:00.000-07:00

I am a licensed psychotherapist, in Portland, Oregon, with 20 years experience in treating anxiety and mood disorders, couples conflict and advanced addictions recovery. I see individuals and couples evenings and weekends, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Mondays. I work with clients, in applying mindfulness-based principles to daily living, one moment at a time, breathing, noticing, thoughtfully

Parody Ad: FDA Approves Depressant Drug For The Annoyingly Cheerful

2009-03-25T07:25:00.000-07:00

This from the humor website The Onion, is too funny for words. According to Onion News Network, the FDA has approved the first "depressant" for the 20 million Americans who are "insufferably cheery." The first ever prescription depressant hit the shelves today. Approved by the F.D.A. last month, Despondex is intended as a treatment for the insufferably cheery. Tests prove the drug is effective

Dan Ariely and the Effect of Expectation

2009-03-18T10:46:00.000-07:00

In the clip below, Dan Ariely, professor at Duke University and author of Predictably Irrational, shows us how our expectations influence our experience. In this example, he offers people 2 beers to taste, one a regular beer, and one with a drop of balsamic vinegar added.When patrons do not know the beer is adulterated with balsamic vinegar, they report preferring the adulterated beer. When

Not taking things personally when it's not meant personally

2009-03-11T09:42:00.000-07:00

Studies have shown that mindfulness, a form of meditation in which you disengage yourself from strong beliefs, thoughts, and emotions, has a positive effect on brain function, lowering the stress response and increasing feelings of relaxation and well-being. It involves being truly present, even during those simple, mundane activities like washing dishes. It can remind you of the "reality of

'Deliberate calm' and learned mindfulness

2009-03-04T12:18:00.000-08:00

"Deliberate calm" is a term airline pilots refer to in describing the ability to maintain a state of relative calm during a potentially disastrous situation. "Deliberate calm" is learned through conscious effort and regular practice. This is very similar to mindfulness, a process of engaging in a deliberate and focused awareness of your surroundings. As a psychotherapist here in Portland, OR, I

Insomnia Help / Sleep Induction

2009-03-03T18:45:00.000-08:00

Occasionally I have clients in my private practice who have trouble sleeping. I generally recommend they discuss their concerns with their doctor. In addition to talking with their doctor I'll recommend they try listening to recordings designed to induce a deep state of sleep, or brainwave entrainment.Wikipedia describes Brainwave synchronization or "brainwave entrainment," as any practice that

Take On Me - An Exercise in Mindfulness

2009-02-28T16:34:00.000-08:00

This is a literal version of the 80's pop music video "Take On Me" by A-Ha. In the video the words have been changed to simply describe everything that's occuring, as it's occurring. Watch the video, it's pretty fun. Then as your own mindfulness exercise, try walking around your house or even going out to the grocery store, and silently comment to yourself about everything that you see, hear,

When Mindful Awareness Goes to Your Head - New York Times

2009-02-22T15:22:00.000-08:00

From a New York Times on the benefits of meditation.People who meditate regularly appear to undergo changes in parts of the brain that handle perception and attentiveness, a new study suggests.While early studies have found evidence that people who meditate extensively, like Buddhist monks, experience long-lasting changes in their brains, the researchers here were interested in what effect, if

Dr Mindfulness: science and the meditation boom

2009-02-17T17:30:00.000-08:00

Here's a wonderful podcast from ABC Radio National's excellent All in the Mind program. The program looks at both the neuroscience of meditation and its increasing use in evidence-based mental health treatments. How do we establish a solid scientific evidence base for what is such an introspective endeavour? The program focuses less on the actual clinical studies underway(although all the

Acceptance of Thoughts and Anxiety

2009-01-16T22:53:00.000-08:00

John Forsyth & Georg Eifert have posted a selection of audio exercises that accompany ACT for Anxiety Disorders. Some of these exercises correspond exactly to those found in the book. Others are new. These are short exercises, about 10 to 12 minutes each and they are a great way to begin learning and developing mindfulness skills. Acceptance of Anxiety (female version) Acceptance of Thoughts

Mindfulness and Acceptance

2008-10-26T19:09:00.000-07:00

The Cognitive Behavioural Therapy at Goldsmiths College blog has this very concise post on mindfulness and acceptance from an ACT perspective. In a nutshell the idea is to:1 - Accept your reactions and be present2 - Choose a valued direction3 - Take action(Acronym ACT borrowed from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)Traditional CBT aims at disputing negative thinking and expanding horizons through

Audio Mindful Awareness Exercises Online

2008-08-05T10:38:00.000-07:00

I ran across these mindfulness exercises developed by psychologist Julian McNally at RMIT University, Australia. These particluar mindfulness exercises are an essential component of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, so if you're interested in this approach, consider these a 'taster'. Make sure you read the disclaimer, too. You can download these mp3 files directly to your computer by right

Myths and Truths of Marital Dysfunction

2008-07-10T16:47:00.000-07:00

John Gottman has been conducting marital therapy research for 25 years, and is a well-respected leader in the field. He has developed his own understanding of why some marriages last and some do not, as well as an effective model for marital therapy. Gottman has studied what he calls "masters" and "disasters" of marriage, and offers that there are a number of myths about why marriages actually

Emotional Intelligence in Couples Therapy

2008-06-22T16:23:00.000-07:00

I was recently directed by a colleague here in Portland, a nurse practitioner who works with couples to the work of Brent Atkinson PhD, author of Emotional intelligence in couples therapy: Advances from Neurobiology and the science of intimate relationships. In this book, Dr. Atkinson's primary premise is that insight is often highly overrated by therapists and clients alike. The problem in

Talks by Gil Fronsdale

2008-05-28T21:23:00.000-07:00

Gil has practiced Zen and Vipassana since 1975 and has a Ph.D. in Buddhist Studies from Stanford. He has trained in both the Japanese Soto Zen tradition and the Insight Meditation lineage of Theravada Buddhism of Southeast Asia. Gil was trained as a Vipassana teacher by Jack Kornfield and is part of the Vipassana teachers' collective at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. He was ordained as a Soto Zen

The Dalai Lama on Studio 360

2008-05-09T15:12:00.000-07:00

The Dalai Lama and Me The Dalai Lama has lived most of his life in exile outside his Tibet, which has been controlled by China since just after the communist revolution. He’s become a kind of superstar in the West, not by lecturing on Buddhist enlightenment, but by preaching tolerance. The writer Pico Iyer has known the Dalai Lama for years, and tells Kurt about his new book about

Meditation Enhances Attention - Scientific American's Street Science

2008-04-10T07:39:00.000-07:00

Meditation Enhances Attention - Scientific American's Street Science

Meditate on This: You Can Learn to Be More Compassionate

2008-04-10T07:34:00.000-07:00

Scientific American has this article posted online.Like athletes or musicians, people who practice meditation can enhance their ability to concentrate—or even lower their blood pressure. They can also cultivate compassion, according to a new study. Specifically, concentrating on the loving kindness one feels toward one's family (and expanding that to include strangers) physically affects brain

ACT Starter Pack

2008-03-09T14:33:00.000-07:00

I've gathered a nice collection of forms and presentations in my many hours of reviewing and studying the available ACT material. I've included some material on working with couples, though there is an abundance of material on using ACT with a variety of mental health concerns.I've developed the Couples assessment form. These other materials are available at the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Psychoanalyst finger puppets

2008-02-09T10:22:00.000-08:00

Mind Hacks :What better way to spend a rainy Sunday afternoon than recreating some of the most important moments in the history of psychoanalysis with some specially made finger puppets!"

Help me discover my values

2007-12-09T01:08:00.000-08:00

Here is the link to the posting

A Nice Little Quote

2007-12-05T17:26:00.000-08:00

Recall Carl Jung'- wise words: "The foundation of all mental illness is an unwillingness to experience legitimate suffering."

2007-12-01T20:12:00.000-08:00

A Client's PerspectiveI have a new therapist. I really like her. She uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, which seems like an excellent idea. The premise is that when a person is experiencing strong emotions, such as depression or anxiety, it is the limbic system that is doing the thinking, whereas the frontal lobe is responsible for logical thinking. Therefore, appeals to the

The Intentional or Couple’s Dialogue

2007-12-01T11:14:00.000-08:00

As a couples therapist here in Portland, I've found that using questionnaires and structured exercises helps maximize communication and information sharing with couples.Harville Hendrix, author of "Getting the Love You Want" has developed a communication technique for couples called intentional dialogue. Harville Hendrix has numerous best sellers and has appeard on the Oprah Show. At her website

So Who Are You?

2007-11-29T21:32:00.000-08:00

This defusion exercise was posted by Hermann Meyer on November 29, 2006 Here is one of the bestI have come accross: "So Who Are You?" The witnessing of awareness can persist through waking, dreaming and deep sleep. The Witness is fully available in any state, including your own present state of awareness right now. So I'm going to talk you into this state, or try to, using what are known in

Embracing you demons

2007-11-01T20:27:00.000-07:00

Dr. Amy Murrell is an assistant professor at the University of North Texas and an ACT presentor. She is a recognized expert in both Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Relational Frame Theory, which underlies ACT, having conducted research in these two areas for the last 7 years. She is conducting an ACT workshop at the University of Houston-Clear Lake TUCCC 2008 Conference. This is her

Do your control strategies really work

2007-10-17T19:30:00.000-07:00

JT at yahoo groups ACT_for_the_Public shares his views on "control is the problem".In general, when it looks like some thought/emotion control strategies are working, I think the kinds of questions to ask yourself are: Do the control strategies that appear to be working work over the long term, or just the short term? Do these control strategies work in the way that you fundamentally hoped

Truth is paradoxical

2007-10-14T15:16:00.000-07:00

Bruce Clark-Kennedy, psychologist, posted this bit a musing at the yahoo group, ACT_ANZO listserv, that's ACT - Australia, New Zealand & Oceania.Lao Tzu, once said, “The words of truth are always paradoxical.” In struggling with my own understanding of ACT, I see ACT resting on the bedrock of individual workability with primary dimensions of psychological flexibility and inflexibility. I

10 core points to check with you and your client

2007-10-09T05:11:00.000-07:00

Acceptance and Committment: 10 core points to check with you and your client 1.- Your problem could not be your discomfort. The true problem could be the solutions that you, mistakenly, have been keeping trying. 2.- Evaluate the true problem: What activities are you putting off in order to feel yourself “a bit better”?: What places are you avoiding? What people are you avoiding to talk to? What

Introduction to Mindfulness and Stress Reduction

2007-08-12T11:58:00.000-07:00

Research has shown that meditation can help alleviate suffering associated with physical and mental illnesses. This is a slide presentation on the use of mindfulness medication for stress management by Canadian researchers Linda Nguyen and Tony Toneatto.Managing stress through mindfullness meditation -

Improving communication

2007-06-10T15:28:00.000-07:00

Psychologist John Gottman has spent 20 years studying what makes a marriage last. In his book Why Marriages Succeed or Fail: And How You Can Make Yours Last, he describes a characteristic behavior of successful couples he refers to as "bids for connection". These bids for connection are small physical gestures, or even fairly mundane comments to our partner that help us stay connected with him or

Leave me a question

2007-06-10T13:19:00.000-07:00

I am a mental health couselor, psychotherapist and coach in private practice in Portland, Oregon. I see individuals and couples at my office location. In addition to office sessions I offer a suite of counseling and coaching packages to fit into any calendar or schedule. These packages include counseling and coaching by email, Skype, webcam and by telephone. Telephonic counseling and coaching,

Overview and Resources

2007-06-10T00:31:00.000-07:00

This is the blog of David J. Ebaugh, LCSW, mental health professional and psychotherapist in Portland, OR. This blog has been developed as a resource for individuals pursuing a course of personal development through the implementation of mindfulness practices in everyday life. The material posted on this blog is intended for those who wish to improve their own psychological well being, including

Helpful Handouts and Homework Exercises

2007-06-01T20:36:00.000-07:00

These materials have been developed by my colleague, John Flannagan, LCSW. I found that my clients respond positively to this homework. Clients tell me these help them to develop coping skills and track their progress in therapy. These are and other worksheets are available at John's website, http://www.johncflanaganlcsw.com/. John has been in practice for thirty-five years. He currently

Contact Me

2007-03-31T22:06:00.000-07:00

Compulsive Shopping and Spending

2007-03-15T14:39:00.000-07:00

Are you an over-spender? Compulsive shopping and spending is described as a pattern of chronic, repetitive purchasing that becomes difficult to stop and ultimately results in harmful consequences. It is defined as an impulse control disorder and has features similar to other addictive disorders without involving use of an intoxicating drug. This information on compulsive shopping and spending

Tips To Avoid Letting Your Emotions Take A Bite Out of Your Budget

2007-03-15T12:47:00.000-07:00

Here are some tips I found googling "emotional spending" from Tips To Avoid Letting Your Emotions Take A Bite Out of Your Budget Resist Buying On Impulse: Just as impulse eating will destroy your waistline in no time, impulse spending will destroy your budget. Most impulse purchases are “great deals” you hadn’t expected to find—such as a piece of clothing you bought on sale, only to get it

The Man Who Planted Trees

2007-03-12T17:06:00.000-07:00

Jean Gionos extraordinary fable brings to life a shepherd who plants one hundred acorns a day for thirty years. The shepherds tireless efforts transform the countryside, revitalize his community, and teach us about hope, humanity, and our own ability to create change in the world Jean Giono (1895-1970), the only son of a cobbler and a laundress, was one of France’s greatest writers. He was a

2007-03-12T10:52:00.000-07:00

Men are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own minds. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt

Recommend books for Mood and Stress Management and Couples Therapy

2007-03-10T14:41:00.000-08:00

Nonviolent Communication 2ND Edition Marshall Rosenberg / Puddledancer Press Trade Paper / Us Emotional Intelligence in Couples Therapy: Advances from Neurobiology and the Science of Intimate Relationships (Norton Professional Books) Brent J. Atkinson / W

Schema Therapy Inventories

2007-01-14T21:19:00.000-08:00

The goals of Schema Therapy areto help clients to stop using maladaptive coping styles (or schemas) and thus get back in touch with their core feelings; to heal their early schemas, or harmful coping styles; to recognize when you're in an emotional downward spiral as early as possible; and eventually to get their emotional needs met in everyday life.This is initially done through a series of

Early Maladaptive Schemas

2007-01-14T20:32:00.000-08:00

Young Schema Questionnaire

2007-01-12T21:58:00.000-08:00

Young Parenting Inventory

2007-01-11T21:23:00.000-08:00

The Young-Rygh Avoidance Inventory

2007-01-10T21:42:00.001-08:00

Young Compensation Inventory

2007-01-09T21:48:00.000-08:00

The website disclaimer

2007-01-02T18:51:00.000-08:00

This website is meant to deal broadly with the application of mindfulness and emotional awareness techniques for professionals and their clients. Accessing this web site in no way constitutes an implied or explicit contract for services between David Ebaugh and any person. Documents are for informal information purposes only. Please speak directly with a qualified professional regarding any