[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

[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

[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

[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

[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

[DISCLAIMER] Photo credit, Designed by Magnific, fair use When working with client X, I recently analogized personal and professional care for mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively “mental health”) to the difference between visiting and living in a home. Client X voiced comprehension of this matter, as I’ll now share it with you. Since having begun the informal practice of life coaching in 1991, and having officially begun the practice of psychotherapy in

[DISCLAIMER] I appreciate that lyricist Awon collaborated with music producer Phoniks on the album Nothing Less (2021). In particular, I reminisce upon the song “Fatherhood”, which was produced by DJ Eveready. Through a mix of various audio samples and Awon’s contribution, the chorus states: Be a father (inspiration when I write, I see my daughter’s eyes) Be a father (resurrect through the birth of my son, and live again) Fatherhood, it ain’t nothin’ like it Baby born, an

[DISCLAIMER] When serving in the United States (U.S.) Marine Corps (1996-2007), as a sergeant (E-5), I met a female Marine (E-3) who told me that she was divorced from her male Marine husband (E-3). As it turned out, she was physically separated and going through a divorce, not actually divorced. Senior enlisted and officer personnel within my command ordered me not to maintain contact with the woman until her divorce was finalized (e.g., formal reprimand). Fellow junior-en

[DISCLAIMER] When a family with whom I attended Churches of Christ services invited me to live with them from a children’s home in which I was a resident during high school, I was used to the unhelpful practice of damning (bringing damnation—a state of being led from condemnation or ruin). In particular, I unproductively engaged in self-damning (causing or leading to one’s own condemnation or ruin, as in unfavorably criticizing oneself). Remarkably, my Christian faith tau

[DISCLAIMER] Photo credit, Designed by Magnific, fair use On the collaborative album The Darkest Hour (2017), by rapper Madchild and music producer Evidence, is the song “Club 33”, with contribution by music producer the Alchemist, on which Madchild states, “Words keep bouncin’ ‘round my head, just like a pinball.” For context, one source states, “Pinball games are a family of games in which a ball is propelled into a specially designed table where it bounces off various

[DISCLAIMER] When dabbling in amateur photography while residing in Bomb City during 2009, I met person X. She was an alternative model, associated with the scene subculture, and someone I once considered a relatively close friend (one attached to another by affection or esteem). To provide an adequate example of our tight bond, when person X told me that she received a death threat of imminent potential, not wanting to involve the police – as was the case with many of my

[DISCLAIMER] The James Talarico Fiasco In my personal and professional practice of care for mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively “mental health”), I sometimes encounter the unhelpful effects of stigma—which the American Psychological Association thusly defines: [T]he negative social attitude attached to a characteristic of an individual that may be regarded as a mental, physical, or social deficiency. A stigma implies social disapproval and can lead un

[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, REBT uses the ABC model to illustrate that when an undesirable Action occurs and you Believe an unhelp

[DISCLAIMER] I Was Once a Girl Dad, Wife Guy, and Feminist When serving in the United States Marine Corps (1996-2007), I met a female Marine (i.e., woman) who was physically separated from her male Marine husband (i.e., man). Together, they had a daughter (i.e., girl) who was six-months-old at the time when I first met her. After finalizing her divorce, the woman proposed to me and I accepted her hand in marriage (2002). Thus, her daughter became my stepdaughter. Althou

[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, as the matter pertains to this blogpost, the American Psychological Association (APA) defines social l

[DISCLAIMER] My late stepmom sometimes voiced the expression, “The same thing’ll make you laugh’ll make you cry.” Regarding this saying, it’s worth noting that the American Psychological Association (APA) thusly defines laughter: [V]ocal expression of amusement, enjoyment, or derision, characterized by inspiratory and expiratory movements occurring in rapid succession. Laughter is pleasurable because it serves to release tension built up when people listen to an amusing sto

[DISCLAIMER] Raised under the religious tenets of the Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Churches of Christ faiths (respectively), my beliefs were conflicted when later identifying as religiously agnostic and listening to the album Blasphemy (2014) by lyricist Ras Kass and producer Apollo Brown. After all, I was taught that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit was the only unforgivable sin, per Matthew 12:31. Nevertheless, given my agnostic worldview by the time Blasphemy was relea

[DISCLAIMER] In 1989, as a youth, I attended lyricist LL Cool J’s Nitro World Tour, which featured rapper Eazy-E, his group N.W.A, rapper Slick Rick, legendary group De La Soul, and though he was scheduled to perform, rapper Too $hort was unable to attend the Denver, Colorado concert. One of the songs I most looked forward to hearing by Slick Rick was “Hey Young World”, from his debut studio album The Great Adventures of Slick Rick (1988). I envisioned that the track was

[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, REBT uses the ABC model to illustrate that when an undesirable Action occurs and you Believe an unhelp

[DISCLAIMER] In common parlance, the term loser relates to a person or thing that loses (to fail to win, gain, or obtain), especially consistently. With this in mind, I now turn to the album The Last Few Years (2022) by lyricist Endr Won, on which he released the track “Flowers” and states: When they said I was a loser, I was a lost cause—long gone, don’t waste your time. Just another drug abuser, an alcoholic, and for a while I was proving you right. I started to believe