I greatly enjoyed* and have already reaped much therapeutic mileage from Pixar's summer film, Inside Out, with its reminder that exiling the experience of sadness can often leave our lives psychically poorer, and that the basis for human empathy and connection resides in our ability to have full access to our entire range of feelings.
I also appreciated the ability of this film to portray our core emotions as incredibly salient, caricatured personalities, as this directly mirrors the work that I often do with my own clients. Externalizing strong feelings, inner states, or critical voices into visible entities can be helpful in partially de-identifying with our impulses, allowing us to view ourselves with greater neutrality and compassion. It can also be helpful in facilitating much-needed conversations with these parts of ourselves while in a supportive therapeutic atmosphere. I can't imagine that I was the only therapist or healer to get excited over the potential applications of this film, and I would be very curious to hear from others about how they have integrated this artful bit of pop culture into their practice. Please do feel free to reply back to me with any thoughts you might have on the matter! * Though I entered the theater expecting to cringe at least once over the portrayal of complex neuroscience and cognitive psychology concepts, I found that the only truly upsetting element was the highly size-negative/fat-shaming representation of Sadness (as held in contrast with Joy and Disgust). A less stereotypical approach at constructing their appearances would have been much welcome.
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My focus during this next phase of my practice is to exponentially grow my referral network, and develop a strong base of professional colleagues. My main motivations for this are:
Greetings! I'm excited to share some recent changes to my practice. The summer of 2015 brought major changes, as after almost a decade at PAES Counseling Services, I stepped down from my Clinical Supervisor position, and into my own practice full-time. It was indeed a bittersweet departure, as I will acutely miss all of my wonderful RAMS, Inc colleagues, as well as the wonderful clients this program serves. However, I continue to maintain strong ties to this community, and am also extremely excited to be able to devote my full attention to my private practice, fostering its growth over the months and years to come.
I continue to supervise for Queer LifeSpace, a nonprofit providing long-term, low-fee mental health and substance use services to the LGBTQQI community. I have also taken on a postdoctoral intern from CIIS, as well as a trainee from Haight-Ashbury Psychological Services (HAPS), a sliding scale psychotherapy clinic. (HAPS was actually my initial practicum site--way back in 1999--and current collaborations with my very first supervisor has lent a wonderfully rich coming-full-circle feel to this phase of my career!) In addition, I have a new contract with Episcopal Community Services, providing consultation and supervision for the case management team at the Navigation Center, the city's newest homeless shelter pilot program. Supporting their staff is a natural extension of my last decade within San Francisco's welfare-to-work program, and I am pleased to maintain a link to services for San Francisco's neediest populations. Please feel free to update me on your professional developments, and thank you for your continued interest and support! San Francisco’s Housing Authority is now accepting applications for its public housing wait-list for the first time since 2010. Homeless adults and families may apply, as well as unstably housed families, and those who wish to move from a supportive housing unit into a public housing unit.
Beginning January 13, homeless San Francisco residents will be able to place their names on the public housing waiting list. Applications will be received online only, and the list is only open until January 17th at 11:59pm. You may go to this page to apply, or to help someone with the application process. Homeless residents throughout the City will be able to access the online application at libraries and select Housing Authority sponsored sites, where staff will be available to assist applicants with the online application process. Please see this flyer for information and locations. You can learn a little more about background behind this current effort in the Examiner article. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions about this process! I am now an in-network provider for Managed Health Network (MHN), and am credentialed to provide services for their Behavioral Health Plans. I also offer Employee Assistance Program (EAP) support for both employees and employers/management.
If you have an behavioral health plan and/or EAP services via MHN, visit their Member Resources site or call the number on your identification card to inquire about your eligibility. Second Chance Legal Clinic assists those who are working to overcome barriers to employment and housing due to past arrest and conviction records. The Clinic is offered at two community-based locations:
Last Tuesday of Each Month at 6pm West Bay Community Center, 1290 Fillmore Street (at Eddy Street) Please see the Lawyer's Committee for Civil Rights page on Racial Justice Direct Services for more information. I am extremely pleased to announce that I am now part of the San Francisco Private Provider Network!
This means that I may provide services to beneficiaries of Medi-Cal and Healthy San Francisco, or those with limited income. These services are usually provided at no cost, depending on your specific plan. To find out if you are eligible, and to ask for a referral to my practice, you may call the CBHS 24-hour Access Helpline at (415) 255-3737. I have greatly enjoyed the thoughtful seminars facilitated by Reflective Spaces/Material Places, a local collective of practitioners in community mental health settings. Their goal is to bring dynamic thought to our work, address the considerable pressure to continually deliver more services with fewer resources, and discuss meaningful interventions that address the social, psychic and justice demands of those facing the most oppressive circumstances.
They are responding to current civil action with an impromptu meeting to provide a space for reflection and community amongst mental health practitioners. Please see the flyer before for more information. Catalyst Project is a center for political education and movement building. Please join me in attending their upcoming speakers panel of local Black organizers, followed by a discussion and skill share on how to move ourselves and other white people to take bold and accountable action against racism. Sunday December 14, 5-8pm
The Omni, 4799 Shattuck, Oakland Snacks provided Wheelchair accessible Childcare provided upon request This event will focus on white people taking anti-racist action, but all are welcome. Speakers on the panel will include:
Harm Reduction Therapy Center just announced that they are offering a FREE 4- week harm reduction class and support group through December and into January.
(About Resource Mondays: I share my favorite local community resources on my blog each week, and I invite you to respond with your own suggestions, referrals, and helpful information. You are welcome to share and re-post any form of support you see here.)
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Jessica Katzman, Psy.D.I'm a psychologist with a private practice in San Francisco's Castro District. I'm interested in harm reduction, LGBTQQIAAP issues, psychedelic integration, social justice conversations, size acceptance, and any intersections of the above. I welcome your comments! Categories
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