by Joel Blackstock LICSW-S MSW PIP | Feb 5, 2025 | History of Psychotherapy, Psychology
What are our psychological blindspots in mass and individual psychology? “Maybe the only thing each of us can see is our own shadow. We are all like the blind man in the dark room looking for the black cat that isn’t there.” – The Great...
by Joel Blackstock LICSW-S MSW PIP | Jan 19, 2025 | 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)....
by Joel Blackstock LICSW-S MSW PIP | Jan 19, 2025 | Chronic Pain and Chronic Illness
How does Therapy Treat Fibromyalgia? Fibromyalgia is a complex, chronic condition that affects millions of people worldwide, primarily women. It is characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, cognitive difficulties, and a range of...
by Joel Blackstock LICSW-S MSW PIP | Jan 19, 2025 | Chronic Pain and Chronic Illness
Can Therapy Treat Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)? Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) are two complex, often co-occurring conditions that present significant challenges for both patients and...
by Joel Blackstock LICSW-S MSW PIP | Jan 18, 2025 | Chronic Pain and Chronic Illness
Can Psychotherapy Treat POTS and Dysautonomia? Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and dysautonomia are complex conditions that significantly impact the lives of those affected. These disorders of the autonomic nervous system cause a wide range of...
by Joel Blackstock LICSW-S MSW PIP | Jan 15, 2025 | Anthropology and Evo Psych, Jungian Concepts
The Competing Elements of Human Consciousness Introduction The quest to create artificial consciousness has long captured the human imagination. From the golems of Jewish folklore to the robots of modern science fiction, we have dreamed of breathing mental life into...
by Joel Blackstock LICSW-S MSW PIP | Oct 22, 2024 | Neuroscience and the Brain
Why do Humans Need Justice? Our powerful instinct for fairness and justice is a key part of what makes us human. We expect rewards to match efforts, punishments to fit crimes, and people to be treated equally (Starmans et al., 2017). This drive for equity shapes our...
by Joel Blackstock LICSW-S MSW PIP | Oct 7, 2024 | History of Psychotherapy, Models of Psychotherapy
What is PACT Therapy? The Psychobiological Approach to Couple Therapy (PACT) is an innovative and integrative form of couples therapy developed by Dr. Stan Tatkin. PACT combines attachment theory, neuroscience, and arousal regulation to help couples create and...
by Joel Blackstock LICSW-S MSW PIP | Oct 7, 2024 | History of Psychotherapy, Models of Psychotherapy
What is NARM Therapy? The Neuro-Affective Relational Model (NARM) is an advanced therapeutic approach designed to address developmental trauma and attachment issues. NARM integrates top-down (cognitive) and bottom-up (somatic) interventions to work with the link...
by Joel Blackstock LICSW-S MSW PIP | Sep 14, 2024 | Anthropology and Evo Psych, Neuroscience and the Brain
Reckoning with the Spiritual and Mystical in Neurology The Polyvagal Theory and Attachment Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal Theory has revolutionized our understanding of the autonomic nervous system’s role in regulating emotional states and social engagement...
