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Age of Majority: 18 and 19-Year-Old Adults Have Agency and Can Exercise Personal Ownership
[DISCLAIMER] When serving in the United States (U.S.) Marine Corps, as a Marine Security Guard (MSG) in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, I was introduced to the sister of a Marine’s girlfriend—to whom I’ll refer as “Mousey.” I was 21-years-old at the time and Mousey had recently turned 18-years-old. Noteworthy, in both the U.S. and Brasil, a person aged 18 is within the age of majority (the age defining legal adulthood, as at majority, a minor becomes an adult, assuming legal cont
Deric Hollings
14 minutes ago12 min read
All Ass
[DISCLAIMER] When listening to an episode of the Due Dissidence YouTube channel, featuring duo Keaton Weiss and Russell Dobular, I observed the duo mocking United States (U.S.) President Donald Trump’s reported behavior relating to the complimenting of U.S. Senator Jon Husted’s ass. While the word ass sometimes regards an offense way of referring to a stupid, stubborn, or detestable person (e.g., Trump is an ass), often compounded with a preceding adjective (e.g., Trump i
Deric Hollings
3 hours ago6 min read
The Facts of Life
[DISCLAIMER] In childhood, I enjoyed watching the television sitcom The Facts of Life (1979-1988), about the character Mrs. Edna Garrett as she became a housemother and later dietitian at the fictional Eastland School, an all-girls boarding school in Peekskill, New York. Noteworthy, the show featured an opening credit theme song called “The Facts of Life”, by Al Burton, Gloria Loring, and Alan Thicke, on which Loring sang, “You take the good, you take the bad, you take th
Deric Hollings
5 hours ago6 min read
I Can’t Stand That Place
[DISCLAIMER] On the collaborative studio album Mona Lisa (2018), by the formidable lyricist Joell Ortiz and the talented music producer Apollo Brown, is the song “That Place”. As though he’s speaking to someone via telephone, Ortiz states on the introduction of the track: Here we go again, huh? I[’ll] meet you over there I can’t stand that place, man Never know what’s gon’ happen in there, man Good news, bad news, shit! The song addresses Ortiz’s displeasure with hospit
Deric Hollings
1 day ago8 min read
Life-Damning When Using the ABC Model
[DISCLAIMER] For this psychoeducational lesson on my approach to care for mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively “mental health”), I currently can’t envision a better hip hop example than lyricist Reverie. Particularly, her album Satori (2017), produced by Louden, comes to mind. For your consideration, on the track “Do No Favors”, Reverie states, “Had a bad day, fuck my life,” and, “What you gon’ do now, bitch, forfeit? Sit down, ‘cause your life is worthl
Deric Hollings
2 days ago9 min read
Risk, Rejection, and Unrequited Love: Kill That Shit
[DISCLAIMER] As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) was formed by the late psychologist Albert Ellis, who reportedly developed the first cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) psychotherapeutic modality in 1955, this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding his book, Ask Albert Ellis?: Straight Answers and Sound Advice from America’s Best-Known Psychologist. On page 32, Ellis stated that REBT “has many techniques of helping people overcome their strong tendencies
Deric Hollings
2 days ago18 min read
You Better Find Something to Say
[DISCLAIMER] When providing psychoeducational lessons on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I teach people about the ABC model of self-disturbance (how people upset themselves through use of irrational beliefs). Now, I’ll address a finer point of this psychotherapeutic model of wellness. For context, REBT uses the ABC model to illustrate how when an undesirable Action occurs and you Believe an unhelpful narrative about the event, it’s your unfavorable assumption, n
Deric Hollings
2 days ago7 min read
Schrödinger’s Consent and a Trauma Response: Consent-Based Morality
[DISCLAIMER] Schrödinger’s Cat Although I began the informal practice of life coaching in 1991, I didn’t become a psychotherapist until 2011. Prior to entering the field of professional care for mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively “mental health”), I served as a Protective Forces member. Specifically, when subcontracted to the United States (U.S.) Department of Energy, working at Pantex in the field of nuclear weapons security (2004-2008), I maintaine
Deric Hollings
3 days ago25 min read
Abulia: Lack of Drive – It Mustn’t Be This Hard!
[DISCLAIMER] On Driver or Driven (2023), by lyricist Es and music producer Das Da Beat Junkie, is the song “Driver or Driven”, on which Es states, “Got drive (or given)? Rock live (or given)? Pop five to industry high-fives (this isn’t). Driven, ‘cause my inward remains focused on my mission.” For context, the American Psychological Association (APA) defines drive as “a generalized state of readiness precipitating or motivating an activity or course of action. Drive is hy
Deric Hollings
3 days ago10 min read
Fear of Success or Failure
[DISCLAIMER] As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) was formed by the late psychologist Albert Ellis, who reportedly developed the first cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) psychotherapeutic modality in 1955, this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding his book, Ask Albert Ellis?: Straight Answers and Sound Advice from America’s Best-Known Psychologist. Now, consider the album What Has Been Blessed Cannot Be Cursed (2022), a collaboration between rapper Conwa
Deric Hollings
5 days ago10 min read
Will, Willpower, Self-Control, and Volition
[DISCLAIMER] If memory serves, it was during high school that my older sister introduced me to the work of dancehall artist Shabba Ranks. For instance, on his studio album X-tra Naked (1992) was the song “Will Power”, which I enjoyed. Using Jamaican Patois, lyrics include the following: [Intro] Mind over matter Will take yuh everything proper Will power Strong mind and ability caan affi yuh prosperity Shabba Ranks say, and that the world say Yuh nuh know seh that the yute
Deric Hollings
6 days ago8 min read
Every X Is a Worthless Thing That I Can’t Stand, Is Awful, and Shouldn’t Exist
[DISCLAIMER] I view many events through the proverbial lens of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). Herein, I’ll provide a psychoeducational lesson that involves thinking and believing which is rational (in accordance with both logic and reason), or not (i.e., irrational), as it regards REBT. Here, “logic” is the interrelation or sequence of facts or events when seen as inevitable or predictable, and “reason” is a statement offered in explanation or justification. Fo
Deric Hollings
Oct 2210 min read
Monsters What You Make of Us
[DISCLAIMER] When providing psychoeducational lessons on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I teach people about the ABC model of self-disturbance (how people upset themselves through use of irrational beliefs). Now, I’ll address a finer point of this psychotherapeutic model of wellness. For context, REBT uses the ABC model to illustrate how when an undesirable Action occurs and you Believe an unhelpful narrative about the event, it’s your unfavorable assumption, n
Deric Hollings
Oct 228 min read
Environmental Determinism: I Blame My Environment
[DISCLAIMER] When practicing personal and professional care for mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively “mental health”), I often encounter unproductive narratives related to one’s environment, which the American Psychological Association (APA) thusly defines: [T]he aggregate of external agents or conditions—physical, biological, social, and cultural—that influence the functions of an organism. The physical environment may be measured in terms of temperatur
Deric Hollings
Oct 2212 min read
I Gotta Face It, ‘Cause I Know I’m Living Through It
[DISCLAIMER] When providing psychoeducational lessons on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I teach people about the ABC model of self-disturbance (how people upset themselves through use of irrational beliefs). Now, I’ll address a finer point of this psychotherapeutic model of wellness. For context, REBT uses the ABC model to illustrate how when an undesirable Action occurs and you Believe an unhelpful narrative about the event, it’s your unfavorable assumption, n
Deric Hollings
Oct 218 min read
Pushing Upstairs and Downstairs: We Do Not Completely Know if We Own Our Actions
[DISCLAIMER] In 1999, British electronic dance music (EDM) collective Underworld (the principal collaborative project of Karl Hyde and Rick Smith) released their fifth studio album, Beaucoup Fish. It contained the track “Push Upstairs”. Per one source, “In business, to ‘push upstairs’ means to promote someone either unwillingly or with an ulterior motive,” as I liken this phase to one aspect of mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively “mental health”). Speci
Deric Hollings
Oct 2112 min read
Let Me Be
[DISCLAIMER] When providing psychoeducational lessons on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I teach people about the ABC model of self-disturbance (how people upset themselves through use of irrational beliefs). Now, I’ll address a finer point of this psychotherapeutic model of wellness. For context, REBT uses the ABC model to illustrate how when an undesirable Action occurs and you Believe an unhelpful narrative about the event, it’s your unfavorable assumption, n
Deric Hollings
Oct 207 min read
Other-Damning When Using the ABC Model
[DISCLAIMER] From time to time within my blog, I’ve referenced two of my favorite animated television series—Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Boondocks—both from which I’ve learned invaluable life lessons. The current blogpost regards the latter series. Specifically, there’s a scene in The Boondocks featuring a character known as Colonel H. Stinkmeaner who has a displeasing temperament, as he’s killed accidentally by character Robert Freeman (also known as “Grandad”). I
Deric Hollings
Oct 209 min read
It Goes On and On: Negative, Though Unhealthy Agitation
[DISCLAIMER] When listening to an electronic dance music (EDM) DJ set by Tryad, I heard him spin the song “On & On (JOA Extended Remix)” by Armin Van Buuren, Alika, and Punctual, which is a remix by JOA of the original track “On & On” from van Buuren’s album Feel Again (2023). On both versions of the song, Alika sings, “It goes on and on. You’ll be like my favorite song. Let the beat go all night long, till the early morn’.” It’s a subjectively catchy EDM track that leads
Deric Hollings
Oct 208 min read
Till It’s Gone: Self-Reliance and Personal Ownership Regarding the Past
[DISCLAIMER] On his third studio album, Love Story (2015), rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer Yelawolf released the song “Till It’s Gone”, which was produced by WLPWR. On the chorus and hook, Yelawolf sings: Ain’t much I can do, but I do what I can But I’m not a fool, there’s no need to pretend Just because you got yourself in some shit It doesn’t mean I have to come deal with it You handle your own when you become a man And become a man when you handle your
Deric Hollings
Oct 2014 min read
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