The Counseling Coach
More than 20 years ago Denise Lamothe, Psy.D., H.H.D., began her career as a psychological counselor and soon became known as a specialist in issues of self-confidence and self-esteem.
Her comforting approach comes from a personal understanding of the underlying issues that can lead to the vicious cycle of overeating. Often beginning with childhood, one who feels alienated may seek comfort in food. If the habit of eating for psychological rather than physiological reasons becomes deeply ingrained, the cumulative results may include self-imposed shame, isolation and missed opportunities in all areas of fulfilling one’s human potential.
Denise admits that her counseling approach may sound deceptively simple.
“Beyond diet and beyond exercise, we can nurture the soul by simply slowing down. Instead of gulping coffee in the car, find a way to sip something healthy—preferably while sitting outside or at least looking out a window. Taking time to look around means we are more likely to look within.”
How do we get still enough to meditate when a work deadline literally has us trembling? Here, Denise calls on the Buddhist peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh, who likens meditation to training a puppy. Both pursuits require patient tenacity: “You gently place the puppy on a piece of newspaper, and the puppy tries to walk away. So you gently re-place the puppy, without anger, how ever many times it takes until the puppy learns a new behavior.”
And speaking of puppies…
Five years ago, Denise added a very popular counseling partner to her practice. Sapphi (Saffy), a spirited yet gentle West Highland Terrier, is a registered therapy dog who can lighten up any situation.
Scientists no longer question the healing effects of being in the presence of an animal. But beyond companionship and the joy of taking care of a loved one, “being with an animal makes it very easy to be in the moment,” Denise observes.
“When Sapphi is chasing her tail or cuddling on a client’s lap, that’s all she’s doing. Rapt in the wonder of each experience, she freely expresses her feelings and she doesn’t harbor grudges. Sapphi helps whoever is with her to focus outside ourselves, and reminds us that life need not be so complicated and serious.”
Saphhi’s simple life lessons fit hand-in-paw with what Denise strives to teach her clients. In the workplace, sometimes we can sidestep office politics by simply being true to ourselves. By finding internal balance we un-trigger our reactions to other peoples’ outbursts. Taking care of our own needs makes us more confidant and more effective at taking care of business.
For more information: www.deniselamothe.com
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