group therapy

Day 4843: Self Doubt

Posted on April 6, 2026 by Ann Koplow

When I saw a psychic in Salem this weekend, she suggested several times that I let go of self doubt.

When I do my Coping and Healing groups, I often suggest that people throw self doubt away in the magic waste paper basket.

If I’m allowing AI to generate information about self doubt today, it’s not because I have self doubt.

Journaling is a strategy for dealing with self doubt and does anybody doubt that a daily blog is a form of journaling?

I have no doubt that I’ll find something about self doubt on YouTube.

I hope people don’t have any self doubt about leaving comments, below.

Thanks to all who have dealt with self doubt, including YOU!

Categories: group therapy, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: April 5 2026, bunnies, Carl Jung, cats, Easter, Fried Matzoh, strategies for challenging self doubt, The Daily Bitch Calendar, The Philadelphia Fringe, Thynksee, Twitter and Bluesky | 4 Comments

Yesterday, in my Coping and Healing group, we talked about how we don’t have to be doing it right all the time to survive. If we are constantly in fear of not doing it right, we may constrict ourselves lest we say or do the wrong thing.

I could tell that the discussion was doing it right for the group participants as they tried to let go of perfectionism and the unhelpful messages they had gotten from their families of origin.

As I face another day of internal pressure of doing it right, I will remember the guidelines we talked about in yesterday’s group:

Show up.
Be gentle.
Tell the truth.

I hope I’m doing it right by sharing these images today.

I’m actually not dead inside because I just saw that the interview about me and music is available on the Therapist Uncensored podcast.

When I listen later today, I hope I’ll be doing it right.

Many thanks to all who are here for this “doing it right” blog post, including YOU!

Categories: group therapy, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: cats, healthy choices, March 17 2026, The Daily Bitch Calendar, Therapist Uncensored podcast, Twitter | 12 Comments

Day 4818: Dreams

Posted on March 12, 2026 by Ann Koplow

I believe that sharing dreams connects people in profound ways.

My dreams usually involve trying to get tasks done, running into endless obstacles, and unsuccessfully trying to communicate with somebody about this.

Last night, I asked a question about dreams on social media.

Do you see dreams in my other images for today?

Here’s what I find on YouTube when I search for dreams.

What dreams do you have?

Thanks to all who are here for this dreams post, including YOU!

Categories: group therapy, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: audiobooks I’m listening to, barbecue chicken w cornbread stuffing, March 12 2026, Niveaux Patisserie, TEDed, The Daily Bitch Calendar, Twitter and Bluesky, Why Do We Dream? — Amy Adkins | 13 Comments

Day 4816: Great Gifts

Posted on March 10, 2026 by Ann Koplow

Yesterday, a great co-worker who is leaving gave me a great gift.

Ruilin has been such a great gift to us and our patients. He is going back home to share his therapy gifts there.

Do you see great gifts in my other images for today?

Here’s what I find when I search for “great gifts” on YouTube:

I look forward to the great gifts of comments, below.

Thanks to all who give me great gifts, including YOU!

Categories: group therapy, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: "The gift and power of emotional courage", a Lego Me, accepting all feelings, healthy food, hospital gift shop, March 10 2026, National Napping Day, Susan David TED talk, The Daily Bitch Calendar, Twitter and Bluesky | 14 Comments

Day 4811: You’re not alone

Posted on March 5, 2026 by Ann Koplow

“You’re not alone” is something I say and learn in my therapy groups all the time.

“You’re not alone” is something I say to myself when I’m scared, sad, angry, or convinced that I am alone.

Do you see any evidence that you’re not alone in my images for today?

Here’s a song I wrote that includes the lyrics “you’re not alone.”

Thanks to all who help me remember that I’m not alone, including YOU!

Categories: group therapy, original song, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: cats, March 5 2026, pot roast, snacks, The Daily Bitch Calendar, the South Shore of Boston, triggers, Twitter, worries | 8 Comments

Day 4810: Nervous System Regulation

Posted on March 4, 2026 by Ann Koplow

From the comfort of my own home, I am attending a two-day experiential group on nervous system regulation through the American Group Psychotherapy Association. Considering the world we’re living in, many of us need to practice nervous system regulation.

Do you see nervous system regulation in my images for today?

Here’s the first song I ever wrote, which was a way of practicing nervous system regulation.

Here’s what I find when I search for “nervous system regulation” on YouTube:

Thanks to all who help me with nervous system regulation, including YOU!

Categories: group therapy, original song, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: "I Don't Like You", cats, coconut encrusted tilapia, March 4 2026, Simplify Your Life Day, The American Group Psychotherapy Association, The Daily Bitch Calendar, Therapy in a Nutshell, Twitter and Bluesky | 10 Comments

Day 4806: Do No Harm

Posted on February 28, 2026 by Ann Koplow

Yesterday, when I was presenting about my Coping and Healing groups to social work interns, we had a discussion about the obligation and wish to do no harm.

Therapists, of course, avoid causing harm, pain, or suffering to patients during care; however, we can also feel paralyzing self doubt because of the fear of “saying the wrong thing.” I told the interns that people in my groups wished to do no harm, sometimes caused temporary pain in each other anyway, discussed that, and grew from the experience.

I try to do no harm when I ask questions.

Perhaps it’s a no brainer that despite your best intentions, someone may feel hurt.

I hope to do no harm by sharing my song “Triggers” right now.

I’ll try to do no harm with my other images for today.

I hope it will do no harm that today is International Sword Swallowers Day. I believe it will do no harm to share this photo on National Chocolate Souffle Day.

Here’s what I find when I search for “do no harm” on YouTube:

Thanks to all who do their best to do no harm, including YOU.

Categories: group therapy, original song, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: Adakemi Oguntala TED talk, cats, delicious food, February 28 2026, International Sword Swallowers Day, no brainer, The Daily Bitch Calendar, triggers, Twitter and Bluesky | 7 Comments

Day 4805: Life saving

Posted on February 27, 2026 by Ann Koplow

Last night, somebody in my Coping and Healing group said they found the group life saving. This was very gratifying to hear.

In a few minutes, I’ll be getting ready to go to the hospital to give a presentation about these life saving groups to a group of life saving interns.

Let’s see if there’s anything life saving in my images for today.

My hope is that this song of mine might be life saving.

Thanks to all who are life saving (even if you don’t know it), including YOU!

Categories: group therapy, health care, original song, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: “Don’t Kill Yourself”, coping and healing groups, doctors, Dr. Laura K. Snydman, February 27 2026, pets, The Daily Bitch Calendar, Twitter | 8 Comments

Day 4804: What other people are thinking

Posted on February 26, 2026 by Ann Koplow

As a group therapist and a curious citizen of the world, I’m often thinking about what other people are thinking. Because I’m not a mindreader, I ask questions about what other people are thinking.

Now I’m wondering what other people are thinking about this blog post.

I don’t know what other people are thinking about my attempts to share my music.

I wonder what other people are thinking about the first song I ever wrote.

I can’t wait to read what other people are thinking in the comments section below.

I’m grateful for what other people are thinking, including YOU!

Categories: group therapy, original song, personal growth, photojournalism | Tags: "I Don't Like You", “Uncool” by Cameron Crowe, cats, February 26 2026, Mexican meatloaf, mindreading, The Daily Bitch Calendar, The Singing Therapist, Twitter and Bluesky | 12 Comments

Day 4803: Coping

Posted on February 25, 2026 by Ann Koplow

In yesterday’s Coping and Healing group, we talked about coping strategies to reduce panicking, freaking out, and (as one member calls it) “tripping.”

A group member told us how kids today use the word “coping.”