[DISCLAIMER] Three years ago, I sat with my friend “Blanca” at her residence in Virginia. Not long thereafter, for a number of reasons, we went our separate ways. Understandably, people in both my personal and professional life may experience self-distress or self-disturbance about the loss of friendship. Regarding this matter, I consider my approach to care for mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively “mental health”). Specifically, I frame this topic throu

[DISCLAIMER] As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is informed by Stoic philosophy, this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding a book entitled The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman. In part, REBT serves as a philosophical approach to mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively “mental health”). The ultimate aim (to direct toward a specified object or goal) of this

[DISCLAIMER] In the above photo, intentionally not edited so that I could authentically present a moment of imperfection (the quality or state of being imperfect—fallible, such as flawed in form, structure, or function), as a teenager, I knocked upon the hotel door of a female adolescent. For clarity, when referring to the physical action of hitting a door to announce one’s presence, the standard phrasing is “knock on a door”. Still, “knock upon a door” is also grammatica

[DISCLAIMER] As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is informed by Stoic philosophy, this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding a book entitled The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman. The authors quote Zeno of Citium, considered to be the founder of Stoicism, who stated, “If you lay violent hands on me, you’ll have my body, but my mind will remain with Stilpo” (page 298). Regar

[DISCLAIMER] Earlier, when listening to 2010 A.D. (2015) by lyricist Planet Asia and producer DirtyDiggs, I heard the track “Love Hell or Right” on which the lyricist states, “Second grade, I started playin’ soccer. Michael Jackson [MJ] was the shit!” This event spawned a psychoeducational lesson. Before I discuss the psychotherapeutic modality that I favor, Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), I thank you for bearing with me as I discuss my own perspective on MJ and

[ DISCLAIMER ] In common parlance, the term “realistic” relates to being able to see things as they really are and to deal with them in a practical way. For instance, it isn’t realistic to train (to make prepared , as by exercise, for a test of skill) in unrealistic settings (e.g., training to swim while lying in sand). As well, the American Psychological Association (APA) defines “training” as systematic instruction and practice by which an individual acquires compete

[ DISCLAIMER ] As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is informed by Stoic philosophy , this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding a book entitled The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman . The authors quote ancient Stoic philosopher Epictetus who stated, “Consider who you are. Above all, a human being, carrying no greater power than your own reasoned choice , which oversees

[ DISCLAIMER ] When assigned to the Marine Security Guard (MSG) detachment in Lima, Peru (2000-2001), I attended a United States (U.S.) Marine Corps Birthday ball without a date. A fellow MSG, who often expressed disdain for me, took as a date someone to whom I’ll refer as “Chaparrita.” Regarding how I met her, I stated in Non-Monogamous Desires that “there was the matter of another Marine’s date in Lima, Peru who liked me more than him, and who became my rave partner wh

[ DISCLAIMER ] Looking back at my time in the United States Marine Corps (1996-2007), as military police (MP) when stationed aboard Camp Kinser in Okinawa, Japan (1997-1999), I realize how shortsighted (lacking foresight—a view forward) I was. To elucidate this point, forgive me an anecdote. When initially introduced to the provost marshal office (PMO) in Camp Kinser – affectionately referred to as Mayberry , Killer Kinser PMO, and Kinser County PD [police department

[ DISCLAIMER ] From time to time, people contact me regarding care for mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively “ mental health ”) for so-called porn addiction. For clarity, it may be worth stating that the American Psychological Association (APA) thusly defines pornography: [W]ritings or images (e.g., illustrations, films, digital media) with blunt, often exploitative sexual content designed solely to arouse a sexual response and to satisfy the sexual urg

[ DISCLAIMER ] As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is informed by Stoic philosophy , this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding a book entitled The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman . The authors quote ancient Stoic philosopher Seneca who stated, “Inwardly, we ought to be different in every respect, but our outward dress should blend in with the crowd” (page 255). H

[ DISCLAIMER ] Message to the Grass Roots On his 2018 album I Self Lord and Master (I.S.L.A.M.) , lyricist Recognize Ali released the song “ Liftin Me Higher ” that featured a sample of the 1963 speech “ Message to the Grass Roots ” by the late black nationalist leader el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz (better known as Malcolm X ) who said: All the revolutions that’s going on in Asia and Africa today are based on what? Black nationalism . A revolutionary is a black nationali

[ DISCLAIMER ] As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is informed by Stoic philosophy , this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding a book entitled The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman . When professionally providing care for mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively “ mental health ”), I think it’s morally and ethically responsible to inform people of menta

[ DISCLAIMER ] *Spoilers for Bridge of Spies (2015) contained herein. Photo credit , property of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures and 20th Century Fox, fair use I recently re-watched a film, Bridge of Spies (2015)— said to have been based on true events, that I haven’t seen in over a decade. While watching, I thought of a psychoeducational lesson on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). For context, one source states of the film: In 1957, lawyer James B. D

[ DISCLAIMER ] When in the Marine Corps (1996-2007), I bowled quite a bit. As a matter of full disclosure, I’m not a skilled bowler. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the challenge of an obstacle (something that impedes progress or achievement). In my case, my lack of skill at bowling was the obstacle. Somehow, it was as though other Marines were naturally accomplished bowlers. Yet, my balls spent more time in the gutter than not. (If you read a sexual innuendo in that last senten

[ DISCLAIMER ] As a member of the Churches of Christ in 1992, I participated in Vacation Bible School events in Las Vegas, New Mexico during my summer break from high school. At one point, adults held down the boys from a children’s home in which I lived, spraying us with water from squirt guns. Typically, non-violence was our Christian message. Yet, the adults displayed hypocrisy (a feigning to be what one is not or to believe what one does not: behavior that contr