Talking With Dr Toy

I want to pay homage and celebrate the Life and Legacy of the late Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Thank you and all the past and present soldiers who continue to fight for civil rights and racial equality. One of the most consistent issues I've encountered as a counselor is the shame some clients experience when attending therapy. I commend them for their courage because many have the obstacles of stigmatization, etc., to overcome before even making the call. Why is there shame admitting that I'm not okay and I don't know what to do in order to be okay? Tune into the podcast via www.talkingwithdrtoy.com.

The process of restoration has it risks and rewards, however the risks may deter one from exploring the rewards. Restoration entails a process of renewing and reviving and only you can determine what that looks like for your life. Some of us may have prematurely buried aspects of our purpose, hopes, and dreams and left them for dead, however, upon re-examination, can these aspects live? Even in times like these, there remains an opportunity to embark upon a journey of restoration. Tune into the podcast via www.talkingwithdrtoy.com.

The new year is approaching and some may be unsure of what to feel or think. Some may be wondering whether expectations are in order or whether to give up and brace for whatever is to come. Approaching a new year, especially during these times can be fraught with much trepidation. Individuals may question whether they should be intentional or just totally surrender to what life brings their way. Is restoration on your agenda for the new year?  Restoration consists of both intentionality and surrender. Tune into the podcast via www.talkingwithdrtoy.com.

Many are familiar with the phrase 'tis the season to be jolly'! However, for some, navigating the holiday season may be anything but jolly. This season may be filled with profound aspects of grief, loss, sadness, anxiety, guilt, shame, and loneliness. The holidays may induce a complexity of emotions.  The tendency may be to run, distract, avoid, and mask as if all is well because that may be what others expect during this time of the year. I'm inviting you to explore and process what 'tis the season', this present moment, means for you. Tune into the podcast via www.talkingwithdrtoy.com  

Victim mentality has come to be so stigmatized that it is often used to minimize and shame individuals' traumatic life experiences. Some prefer not to even use the word victim because the connotation is synonymous with weakness. In fact, some even deny that they were ever a victim and attempt to bypass such aspects of their life as if the past is nonexistence. Some are so entrenched in the past/present of victimization that they do not know or afraid to come to a realization of a path forward. Some have learned to adapt to victimization because it has become a cornerstone of their identity. In other words, they are comfortable but miserable! Tune into the podcast via www.talkingwithdrtoy.com

Self Preservation has been defined as "The protection of oneself from harm or death, especially regarded as a basic instinct in human beings and animals." While self preservation is a protective mechanism utilized to protect, it can also simultaneously imprison individuals. Self preservation is often enacted when individuals have experienced trauma and it is utilized as an attempt to control one's world. It becomes an adaptive coping skill for functioning. However, it may also serve maladaptive purposes that may prevent one from truly living and even thriving. Tune into the podcast via www.talkingwithdrtoy.com 

Time waits for no one. We even ask the question, "where did the time go?" Towards the beginning of the year, we think time is on our side to work towards our goals and to improve some areas of our lives.  However, one day we look up and discover that it's the eight month of the year and time has flown by. Another important question to ask is where are we in relation to the goals, plans, dreams, and the visions we imagined for ourselves? It may be a good time to pause and reflect on this question. Tune into the podcast www.talkingwithdrtoy.com.

The decision making process can induce so much anxiety that individuals either experience procrastination or paralysis. The fear of making the wrong decision may stop people from making any decision which may produce unintended consequences. Sometimes the process entails gathering information and facts to ensure the decisions are well informed; however, some may forsake the faith factor. Where or when does faith factor within the decision making process? Tune into the podcast via www.talkingwithdrtoy.com. 

A portion of Talking With Dr. Toy's mission statement is to provide a holistic approach to emotional healing. Although some individuals desire the outcome of healing, it's the process that deter them from doing the work. Some may employ protective strategies of avoidance, denial, or even resignation that their current predicament is terminal so they forsake the process. Healing entails a process of exposure, vulnerability, perseverance, courage, as well as community. Tune into the podcast via www.talkingwithdrtoy.com.