Tag Archives: Ellen Anmuth Psychotherapist

James Taylor and Carole King at the Troubadour: PBS Special

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Have you seen the current PBS special where James Taylor and Carole King play together live at the Troubadour?  They are joined by 3 band members from the 70’s: Russel Kunkel, Lee Sklar and Danny Korchmar.

Peter Asher introduced James Taylor to Paul McCartney and George Harrison. The song, “Something in the Way She Moves” was played to these Beatles, and James Taylor was immediately signed to Apple Records.  James spoke fondly about this as a breakthrough moment in his career.

This PBS program means to much to me…I grew up listening to the James Taylor albums, learning to play his songs on my guitar, trying to copy his  style of finger-picking.  Fire and Rain, Blossom, Country Road, and so many of the songs he played in this PBS special inspired me to grab my guitar again and play these songs.

What a treat to watch these music legends singing together, harmonizing, and enjoying playing music like it was 40 years ago.  Their voices still beautiful….their spirit of joy and pleasure still there.

You may want to also donate to PBS, to keep amazing shows like this still broadcasting. Can you imagine a world without James Taylor, Carole King, and PBS?  I certainly feel blessed that my life was enhanced by experiencing these gifts during my lifetime.

As a licensed psychotherapist, I have encouraged my patients  to listen to music as an adjunct to therapy.  When  you feel down, give your favorite tunes a chance to be heard, and see how it can lift your spirits!

 

Feeling Helpless? 3 Tips for Empowerment and Self Confidence

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At times, do you feel powerless or helpless? Do feelings of despair creep in during the day? Are you in a situation that feels to have no solution?

The purpose of this article is to present a simple approach to handling feelings of helplessness, so that you can easily devise a step-by-step approach to empowerment and decisive action.

Tip #1:  Check into your family history and  beliefs. Did you grow up in a family where your parents felt dominated or pessimistic?  Did your parents discourage you from asserting your opinion or your power? Did the family system ascribe to the belief that it is better to eat cold soup at a restaurant, rather than to send it back to be re-heated?  If yes to any of the above, perhaps you may need some help from a trusted friend or a licensed psychotherapist in order to better evaluate your perception of helplessness. It may be your own resistance to addressing an issue that gets in the way.  Ask for some help to be more comfortable being assertive.

Tip #2: If your situation is very challenging, evaluate if your feelings of despair are being “clamped down” by unexpressed anger. There are situations in which a little healthy anger, expressed in a safe and healthy manner, can energize a person to take action.  When anger is not expressed, depression and despair can take over.

Tip #3: Do your research. If you are feeling helpless, powerless, or discouraged, seek information. There are very few situations that have absolutely no solution. By brainstorming creative approaches, you may be happily surprised to find a simple solution was always there, waiting to be discovered and implemented.

Hopefully, your next bout of helpless or despair can be rapidly transformed into a powerful strategy  for decisive action!