by Joel Blackstock LICSW-S MSW PIP no. 4135C-S | Jan 3, 2026 | Psychology, Psychology Topics and Articles
The Origin of a Word The term “gaslighting” traces to Patrick Hamilton’s 1938 stage play “Gas Light” and its celebrated 1944 Hollywood adaptation starring Ingrid Bergman and Charles Boyer. In the film, a husband systematically manipulates...
by Joel Blackstock LICSW-S MSW PIP no. 4135C-S | Oct 23, 2025 | Brainspotting in Alabama: Revolutionary Trauma Therapy for Deep Healing, Mental Health and Trauma Therapy in Alabama, Therapy Resources for Alabama
When Trauma Is Not a Single Event For many, the word “trauma” conjures images of a single, devastating event: a car accident, a natural disaster, a combat experience. While these are undoubtedly traumatic, there is another form of suffering, one that is...
by Joel Blackstock LICSW-S MSW PIP no. 4135C-S | Jul 17, 2025 | Anthropology and Evolutionary Psychology for Therapy, Jungian Therapy and Depth Psychology
The Literary Mind: Mark Turner’s Cognitive Science and Its Implications for Understanding Trauma and Consciousness in Psychotherapy In the quest to understand the complexities of human consciousness and the impact of trauma on the psyche, the work of cognitive...
by Joel Blackstock LICSW-S MSW PIP no. 4135C-S | Apr 29, 2025 | Brainspotting in Alabama: Revolutionary Trauma Therapy for Deep Healing, Jungian Therapy and Depth Psychology, Phenomenology and Existential Psychology, Philosophy for Therapists, Psychology Topics and Articles
Psychology, as a field, stands at a critical juncture. Over the past few decades, the focus has shifted away from the fundamental nature of human consciousness and towards a more mechanistic, symptom-focused approach to mental health. Manualized therapies, diagnostic...
by Joel Blackstock LICSW-S MSW PIP no. 4135C-S | Apr 29, 2025 | Christian Mysticism in Therapy, Comparative Religion for Therapy, Jungian Therapy and Depth Psychology
Gnosticism as a Metaphor for Consciousness: Meaning, Evolution, and Healing Gnosticism is an ancient spiritual and philosophical worldview that offers a profound metaphor for the nature and dilemmas of human consciousness. While Gnosticism should not be taken as a...
by Joel Blackstock LICSW-S MSW PIP no. 4135C-S | Apr 29, 2025 | Psychology Topics and Articles, Recovering from Abuse
The Counterintuitive Role of Humor in Trauma Recovery There exists a seeming paradox in the realm of trauma therapy: the juxtaposition of humor against the backdrop of suffering. For those grappling with PTSD and the horrific aspects of life that create it, the idea...
by Joel Blackstock LICSW-S MSW PIP no. 4135C-S | Apr 27, 2025 | Guided Meditations for Therapy
If you find yourself weighed down by anger, resentment, or a sense of heavy obligation, this guided meditation offers a pathway to peace and freedom. Through the power of visualization and embodied mindfulness, you will journey deep into a tranquil forest to release...
by Joel Blackstock LICSW-S MSW PIP no. 4135C-S | Apr 13, 2025 | Psychology Topics and Articles, Somatic Experiencing In Alabama
Intuition vs. Trauma One of the most common questions that I get as a trauma therapist is “How do you deal with all the crazy people that believe (insert X here) about politics, religion and conspiracy theories. It’s a fair question because I work by...
by Joel Blackstock LICSW-S MSW PIP no. 4135C-S | Mar 3, 2025 | Evidence Based Practice and Research Psychology, Recovering from Abuse, Self Help and Personal Development, Somatic Experiencing In Alabama, Trauma Treatment in Alabama
“Pain – has an Element of Blank – It cannot recollect When it begun – or if there were A time when it was not – It has no Future – but itself – Its Infinite realms contain Its Past – enlightened to perceive New Periods...
by Joel Blackstock LICSW-S MSW PIP no. 4135C-S | Jan 19, 2025 | Therapy for Chronic Pain and Chronic Illness
How Can Psychotherapy Treat Pure OCD? Pure Obsessional OCD (Pure O) is a subtype of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) characterized by intrusive, unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that cause significant distress and anxiety (Williams & Wetterneck, 2019)....