Q8 Counseling
Professional Therapy
& Assessment

Self-control is an exhaustible resource.

This bit of news comes from a study reported in a great book called Switch (Chip and Dan Heath). College students were divided into two groups and told they were participating in an experiment on temptation. Each group was put in a room with a plate of radishes, and a plate of chocolate chip cookies. One group was told, "Do N...

Forgiveness does not change the past,

but it does enlarge the future.  

~Paul Boese

It is not uncommon during couples' counselling, to have one partner say to another, "I said I was sorry. What more do you want?"

Saying 'Sorry' is often used as a magic "Get out of jail" card when confronted by another with a flaw, mistake, or offense. This is n...

One of my fellow CPCA members posted an excellent write up about forgiveness on her blog recently (read it here) and that got me to thinking about how I present the concept of forgiveness to my clients.

Almost inevitably, my client believes (consciously or unconsciously) that 'forgive' and 'forget' are synonymou...

Esther's Closet is the result of a LOT of hard work on the part of many willing volunteers. An extension of Operation Hope, this venture has moved the work of clothing farm workers and "domestics" out of a tent and into a lovely little building in Sheryll Mairza's courtyard.

Operation Hope (OH) has been around for a long time. Utilizing volunteers and donations, this group clothes farm workers in the winte...

Open House

with Keynote Speaker

Dr. Naif Al Mutawa Clinical Psychologist & Creator of THE99

Why: To meet local mental health clinicians and learn more about the practice of psychology in Kuwait

When: January 18, 2012

Where: F...

RunQ8 is happening this Saturday, and if you aren't registered, there's still time. 

The brain child of the good people at Fawzia Sultan Rehabilitation Institute (FSRI), this year's run is to raise awareness about the cost of motor vehicle accidents. I'm envious of the sponsorship (Porsche) they've been able to secure, ...

Mental Health Awareness Week ended yesterday in Canada.

There is no such day in Kuwait, and there isn't likely to be for the foreseeable future. What Kuwait does have, however, is the SPEAK Girls, Alaa and Dalal Al Homaizi. These girls (twins) are currently undergrad students at NorthEastern University in Boston, but their hearts are in Kuwait. Last...

It's already been nearly a year since I joined the Soor Center as the Clinical Coordinator!

The time has flown by. We've gone from 3 therapists to 22, opened over a thousand files, and gotten involved in projects in the community which will have an impact on the future. It's incredibly exciting to be a part of advancing the understanding and acceptance of mental health issues in Kuwait.

We're now an approved practicum site by several universities in the States and have taken on f...

Writing about my recent trip to India has proven difficult.

The country is a vast array of clashing colour and diversity. Several religions intermingle as if their basic beliefs do not contradict each other. The religions here have impacted culture so deeply that it would be impossible to function harmoniously without some degree of tolerance for other people’s religious habits. People here are predominately Indian, of course, but the diversity in appearance, class a...

Greetings from balmy Kuwait! Camping season is about to start and I've received my first invitation to a desert BBQ. The temperature here is the same inside as outside. A glorious 24°C with a lovely trade wind off the Gulf which doesn't smell too much like something nasty. It's delightful to sit out on the balcony first thing in the morning. C'mon... I know...