Cincinnati Therapy Guy's Anniversary

April 1st marks the 1 year anniversary of opening up my full time private practice – It’s been a fun year!

I had a part time private practice going for about 10 years or so – working a couple of nights a week, or on a Saturday morning. My wife had been talking to me about the work I had been doing, helping people and couples and believed that if I opened an office for a ‘full time’ practice that I could help a lot more folks. She spoke to me about this off and on for about a year before I finally agreed to her idea. She believes in me and what I do – she came up with my practice name, ‘Cincinnati Therapy Guy’; she made bumper stickers with a catchy phrase ‘He’s Hypnotic!’ on them; she convinced me to blog (she wants me to do this more often and I’m working on that), she developed my website and logo of the pocket watch (a connection to the hypnosis work I do). She was instrumental in coming up with my current brochure; she is my biggest fan and I cannot stress the importance of having someone in ‘your corner’ like this – it makes all the difference.

I remember being told by someone last year in March when I announced that I was going to start my practice, ‘this really isn’t a good time to do that sort of thing, because of the economy’ – I heard what that person said, thanked them for that feedback and pushed on ahead. I found an office site (6900 Silverton Avenue) in Silverton, near the Kenwood Towne Center, had business cards made, took my brochures, and hit the town making calls on Doctor’s offices, businesses and any place I could put up a card on a wall. I joined the Greater Cincinnati Regional Chamber of Commerce and have since renewed my membership with them; a very good thing to do.

The first couple months were spent networking; getting my name ‘out there’ in the community (I still need to do this) and making contacts and connections. Talking to people about the work I do, how long I’ve been doing this work, and answering questions.

And as I did this, my anxiety was pretty high. My wife though, she reminded me ‘trust - The Universe will provide’ – a difficult message for me to hear. I had spent my life relying on myself and my own abilities and skills, but I had never done before what I am doing now. And I listened to her, and I did, and I still do, and The Universe provides. But that doesn’t mean I sit on my butt and wait for The Universe to drop people in my lap. My job is to keep my eyes open for opportunities that present themselves and then act on those opportunities. It means presenting topics to organizations, and talking to people.

So the year has been fun. I’ve met a lot of people and look forward to meeting even more folks. My wife likes to tell me that I help people who are ‘stuck’ somewhere in life. I agree with that. I help people get ‘unstuck’ and move forward on their life path.

If you feel stuck, if you’re in pain and you’re not feeling like what you are doing is working or relieving your pain, give me a call – 471-2250 or email me and we’ll talk about what we can do together. I have been doing this for over 30 years because I believe people get unstuck.

Namaste
Dennis Mendleson/The Cincinnati Therapy Guy

Support Systems

Recently I read where a man killed his wife, their children and then himself. Both he and his wife had lost their jobs.

I don’t think we need any clearer sign our economic meltdown has reached a crisis state.

A difficult thing, losing your job. Much of our identities are tied up in work. We talk about what we do for a living when making small talk; one of the first things we ask when meeting someone is ‘what do you do for a living’?

My wife and I each have had our positions at work eliminated, and lost our jobs. When it happened we each said, ‘this isn’t fair’ and ‘I did everything right, everything they asked of me’, and ‘this shouldn’t happen to me’. I know that my wife and I each grieved our loss; I was really pissed off, and my wife cried. But what I know is that when it happened to me she was there to help me back to my feet, dust me off, and set me on my way again. And I believe she felt the same support from me when it happened to her.

It is that thing; having at least one person in life that is supportive to you, who is in your corner. It may be a family member, it may be a friend, but it is someone (or more than one person) who says ‘c’mon, let me help you back to your feet – you can do this’.

This person (or these people) love you. Period. They know you are not perfect. They see your warts, and they call you on your shit. They support you and they are your cheerleading section when you need one.

Do you have that person or those people in your life? Do you have someone you can allow to see you cry; to see you at your most vulnerable moment?

If you do, then let them know how important they are in your life. Take them to lunch or dinner. Buy them and ‘Thank You’ card and mail it to them, even if you live together. Give them a really nice ‘Valentine’s Day’ card.

If you don’t, you really do. I know that probably doesn’t make sense but my point is, you do have someone in your life, somewhere, right now who can be that person. You have to be ‘open’ to finding that person. And by ‘open’ I mean willing to begin talking with someone, talk about you, listen to the other person, develop a relationship, and then a friendship. It starts there, and then grows.

It doesn’t happen overnight. And not everyone is willing to be that kind of person in your life. But don’t give up. Don’t stop looking.

If you’re not sure how to do this, then find a counselor who can help you learn.