Here Valerie shares her insights on creativity, addiction, recovery, healing and psychodrama.
Remembering Self-Care
It can be easy to neglect taking care of ourselves when we’re busy and overwhelmed. In fact, when we’re stressed, self-care may be perceived as an afterthought rather than part of our daily routine. Showing ourselves love and care is an active way to enhance our physical/mental/spiritual health and improve quality of life. Preference about what forms of self-care are right for us is individual and personal. However, some fundamental ideas include eating well, moderate exercise, adequate sleep, healthy relationships, creative pursuits, music, 12 step programs, meditation, yoga and more. This month, I am running an open psychodrama workshop where we’ll discover our unique forms of self-care, what gets in […]
Learning to Play in Recovery
Recovery is hard work. It involves going to meetings, getting a sponsor, working the steps, among other challenges like confronting painful emotions and dealing with old wounds. Individuals in substance abuse recovery often need to avoid past toxic party habits by avoiding people, places and things, and learn to seek other sources of sober “fun”. Recovery also involves learning how to be emotionally sober and live life on life’s terms. In my practice, I have seen transformational results with clients who have learned to let go, play, and get to know their inner child through psychodrama. This month, I will be hosting an open psychodrama workshop at my new Inner […]
Authenticity: Valerie’s Journey
In a 2010 interview, Brene Brown discussed the idea that authenticity is a practice. It is not something that happens to us, but something we choose. It is a willingness to be open-hearted and vulnerable. Over the years, my own connection to my authenticity has been transformative. Like many teenagers growing up in suburbia, I struggled with authenticity. I didn’t yet know who I was, and often tried to fit in by acting like others I saw around me. I sometimes felt sick inside when I wasn’t being true to myself and I didn’t always know it was OK to be me. I was afraid I wouldn’t belong, so I betrayed […]
Psychodrama, an Experiential Treatment, Helps Diffuse Anger: Reducing anger opens possibilities for compassion and connection
Valerie’s Psychology Today guest blog post
Four Ways Psychodrama Creates Emotional Intimacy: This visionary modality rewires the brain
Valerie’s Psychology Today guest blog post
Restart Retreats
The 2016 Restart Retreat – Awakening the Authentic Self – is designed to unblock you where you are stuck, provide a safe healing space to let go of old patterns and ideas. Using creative arts therapy techniques, you will be gently guided to become aware of and release self-damaging cycles – including codependent behavior, negative self-talk and self-sabotaging habits. The experience will take place in an 18th-century stone farmhouse atop a gorgeous hillside in Magliano, Italy, which is in the the coastal region of Tuscany. All meals will be homemade with all-natural ingredients. A large outdoor space, pool and local trails provide relaxation and decompression during the retreat. Both private and […]
Addiction Isn’t Funny
I, like so many of us, feel heart sick at the news of Robin William’s passing. How could someone so talented, so brilliant, so funny take his own life? How could his public persona and his private demons be so incongruous?
Rest in Peace, the Talented Mr. Hoffman
The tragic death of Philip Seymour Hoffman yesterday stunned us all.
Why Am I a Performer Anyway??
“Work was never about wanting fame or money. I never thought about that. I loved getting the job, going to rehearsal, playing someone else, hanging around with a bunch of actors. I needed that, the way you need water.”
Sarah Jessica Parker – Sam Magazine, 2005
Valerie Simon interview – Healing with Psychodrama
Caroline Rothstein and Valerie Simon discuss psychodrama and its benefits.
Existing clients may use Valerie’s sheduler to make and update your therapy appointments.
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