Want to visit me in my office? Open to meet from now, til 330 pm today

I am in my office today to answer questions people may have, to have people come and meet me and to see my office. I have copies of my two books here as well, if someone is inclined to buy a copy. Remember that writing books is a hobby, unrelated to my field. Feel free to come and see where therapy occurs, and if you feel safe here. I am seeing clients late afternoon so I need to stop the meet and greet at 330 pm. Hope to see you. I am at 2045 Dufferin Street, which is between Eglinton and St Clair. I am on the East side, North of Rogers, on the third floor Room, 301 of the Dufferin Medical Building.

Satanic Temple - Phoenix City in Arizona council prayer? (Pastoral)

I first knew of this when I was watching the 24 hour news. The scroll underneath popped out at me. Initially I was amused. Jokes popped into my head such as a “prayer to satan to guide the politicians.” How about a prayer to satan with the excuse of any wrong doing, “the devil made me do it.” I went to the internet and read one article that this satanic group does not really believe in satan but that they believe that satan is a concept who was against the establishment. I thought about that. It was Jesus who was always butting heads with those in power. Satan takes possession of people and animals and is always cast out by good. There is no doubt in my mind that Jesus and God is equated with goodness and satan is equated with evil. I wrote a paper about the devil which is in my blogs somewhere. It may be under Jesus and miracles because that is the course I had taken. My academic advisor had recommended I take the course because of who was teaching it. He was wrong. He was not a known scholar of repute but a Phd Student. In this particular class, I saw a different mindset from my own Catholic roots, from the Protestants in the class. There were two of us from our own college on this course and though we never thought the same when at our own school, we definitely united against the philosophy within this class room. The discussion always seemed to be about Jesus being anti women and I found myself defending Jesus as a promoter of women. Jesus had women who followed him. Women financially supported Jesus. Jesus taught both men and women. Jesus was always teaching and rebuking the thinking of the time. He healed on the Sabbath. He taught on the Sabbath etc…..What did satan do? Find my other paper on the blog for more info so I do not have to repeat myself too much. There are many who do not believe in satan. One of my professors enjoyed teasing me for my belief. However recently he spoke to me more seriously about this topic of satan. My question to him was “Why is it so different, than believing in a God?” Many cannot grasp the concept of God. They think that belief in a God is just as ridiculous. Yesterday, I sat in a pew at mass and my mind was focused on the Arizona council and this satanic cult getting ready for a prayer there. I wasn’t going to write about this, but this morning I decided that I would. The States appears to be more open about God. I don’t often hear, “God bless Canada” but I always hear “God bless America.” There have been research studies regarding the power of prayer (which I have already written about). I have taped two programs about chaplains on the PBS channel (I hope I have the right acronym) and it demonstrates the need for chaplains in the prisons, hospitals, and corporations. I associate God with goodness because of my own background. When people who are religious, especially those in leading ministerial roles commit heinous crimes, they do so much damage. To the person who survives the abuse, he/she relates the negativity of the person to their God. How can a person who is holy hurt me? Therefore God is hurting me. How can my father who believes in God and goes to church do that to me? Therefore, God is not good. When relationships are not healthy and there are associations with religion, then the religion becomes the problem. So where does satan come in? Initially I thought that this group is probably naive and harmless, a joke, an amusement. Satan according to the bible likes that you do not believe in his existence. Imagine if you actually believe in something existing that is so evil? Now here is a council group who begin their meetings, I presume with a prayer. This is diminishing in society. Now this Satanic temple group is indicating that Satan is a harmless concept. Then you have another group probably Christians who do not want this prayer to Satan at council. How do you eliminate a prayer to Satan? You eliminate prayer to God. Thus, no one is offended. What an achievement! Satan remains benign in the process, but was the main motivator. That is if you really believe in Satan. We had one College student protest about an angel on a Christmas tree in Toronto and eventually all angels were removed. We had a person complain about a Christmas tree in a building and a person who had poor judgement had the “Christ”mas tree removed. That was over ruled quickly enough. I was in 2nd Cup one morning during the Christmas holidays a few years back and one irate customer asked that the Christmas songs stop. I asked the owner about this and he said each complaint needs to be taken seriously. There is a melting pot mentality I always thought was ok. However, I am not a melting pot. Taking that course about miracles and Jesus had very little to do with miracles because there seemed to be little faith in miracles. However, I believe that life is a miracle. I realize that we need to get along with people of various faiths and religions. I certainly would never turn away any client wanting help regardless of their belief system. I have worked and studied with various religious groups, however, I am coming from my own religious concept which may be very different and therefore I am not melting into one religion. So how about this as a prayer to a Satan who does not exist: Prayer to St. Michael “Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God cast into hell, Satan and all the other evil spirits, who wander throughout the world, seeking the ruin of souls. Amen” (from prayer card) I pray that each and everyone of you have a nice day, find someway to find your own path, question and challenge yourself, and reflect on what is right for you as an individual with your own thoughts. Just saying…………….

York author pens dating advice book for men

York author pens dating advice book for men

Homosexuality/suicide and Therapists

I was at a conference and a therapist who was a speaker told us that in 1987 she was disturbed that a youth had committed suicide because he was homosexual. She felt so bad about someone killing themselves over sexual identity that she decided to do something about it. 10,000 flyers went out to therapists but only 21 people came. The low turn out was because they didn’t want people to think that they were homosexual. I had actually thrown out this information after reading it because I didn’t have the speakers name and I couldn’t remember exactly which conference this had been because it was a leaf that had fallen from my other notes but I do believe it was at an OAMFT conference. I do however remember the speaker well, because I thought she looked rather youthful after being a therapist for so long. I had actually torn the notes into the waste basket and after a bit, decided to take it out, place the notes together, because this is too important even though I didn’t have as much info as I wanted. Her speech had been brief and I do wish that there are handouts at these seminars. People are always trying to save paper. I never did get the notes that were promised by the ethicist regarding “Physician Assisted Dying.” I realize that everyone is busy but if you can’t put out, then don’t say you will. He told me he would send the slides to the co-ordinator and she told us that she would send them out. Never happened. But now back to this. I placed the puzzle back together again because when people kill themselves for any reason I think we are all responsible to pay attention. I make no qualms that I am there to help anyone who comes to me. What surprised me initially is that people who are prejudiced or biased have an expectation that I should be as well. I grew up in a very homophobic community and I just accepted that. However, after much and I mean much education and working with people who are gay, I slowly turned my own views around and realized that I was a bigot. This is how prejudice is learned. We are exposed to it from an early age, from our families and communities and we grow up thinking that this is the way it is, and everyone else is wrong who thinks differently. Not everyone has the benefit of my education and exposures. If I get a call from a parent who is upset that their child is a homosexual, I cannot do what they want which is to magically transform their child to be a heterosexual. What I can do is counsel them so that they can have a different perspective based on facts and not ignorance. I have heard so many heart breaking stories of how children were abandoned by parents who could not accept their orientation. I have also seen organizations however claim youths as their own when the youths are confused about their orientation. Instead of trying to change the child, one can just listen and try to understand the child and what the child is dealing with rather than ridiculing or abandoning him or her. I take a person’s right to their own identity for granted. I live in a city and I have the advantage of diversity surrounding me. I grow and foster. I do understand that in some communities that are close knit or in isolation there can be some time warp. But, if you are a teen or adult struggling in one of those communities, do not think you have to kill yourself because there is something wrong with you or because you feel that you do not belong. Find someone to talk to, who can help you. There is a change in the education system and I must admit that I am glad. As a society we need to educate and protect each other from any bias. One person killing himself for any reason, is one person too many. Parents, remember that your children are a gift. They are not your personal property. They have their own personalities and their own identities. What you can do is provide love to your child, stability for your child and have your children feel safe. Let them be children and try to teach them goodness rather that hostility. Love them. What do you think?

Home/Accueil

Home/Accueil

Home/Accueil

Home/Accueil

Should I go or should I stay? USA have a happy holiday!

Most depressing day of the year? Well, I am feeling pretty energetic and good. I had planned to go swimming this morning (hoping that the pool has re-opened). However, the snow is falling and there is a cold weather alert, advising the good citizens of Toronto to check in on elderly neighbours etc…After listening to the weather report, I decide that it is probably best to stay put and get my exercise by shovelling snow. I have to admit, I love snow. It always seems to lift my spirits, no matter how cold. As many people I know like to go South in the winter, I wonder at times if I should do that? Can I skype with my clients and go wherever I like? I can see something like that happening in the future, but I think that right now, face to face contact is my preference for psychotherapy. I haven’t gotten the green light yet to use skype and I want to ensure security measures for clients. Hey, I can even go across Canada in a trailer with my books so I can stop along the way wherever I am and visit a book club or book store and leave some of my books behind and be available for psychotherapy sessions. I am sure that will be great for people living in isolated areas and great for me to visit all the amazing towns we have in Canada and the USA. We do live in a beautiful country. But of course with the pets I have, I am restrained and with the rules and regulations I have, I am sort of restrained there too. I love life and I love my work. My liberty is a bit constrained but that too is my choice, because of my priorities. I have always enjoyed my freedom. I think that it is one of the most important things in my life. I am at a stage in life where I have many options. I am still debating going to live in Niagara Falls so I can take a daily walk along side the falls and stop for coffee enjoying the site. I can have a home office and swim in my own pool. Compared to Toronto, Niagara Falls is very cheap. What I also like is that I can cross over to the States if they do not build a wall, and check out the sites there. They have built up the area too and there is a spot there close to the falls where you can have lunch or drink coffee and enjoy the closeness of the falls. That is a great way to retire while maintaining a practice and writing. They have high tea at Niagara on the Lake, they have great musicians at the Casino and they have a theatre again at Niagara on the Lake. The problem I have so far is when I ask if a house has asbestos no one seems to be able to say no. My health is important to me. Another problem is my professional development. The best universities are here in Toronto. There is nothing really there for me and so I would probably have to return to Toronto for my continuing education. I would also have to come back to go to the annual exhibition. Do I have to stay in Niagara if I hate living there? No, I can come back. What I think is great is that I have no time restriction. I can do that now, or in five years (which seems to be the norm now - a five year plan) or I can do it whenever. Hospitals and Doctors - again we probably have the best right here. I think people should protest to expand the wealth. Why have all the best of everything only in big city? I say spread it around. The crime? Well it is probably less than in Toronto. I personally think we need more police everywhere with a big budget. The safest city for me in my own personal opinion is New York City. I remember getting there at 10pm and there was military in the station and police on every block. That made me feel very safe. Here I am hearing too much of how bad the police are and not enough about how bad the crowd is as I noticed at the summit when our city was out of control and the police were considered the bad guys. Of course my city is also very multicultural which I love and going to a place where it is too waspish would be extremely boring and restricting for me in no time. How do you make your decisions? Do you give yourself a time frame? Do you write it out on a divided page with the pros and cons as headings? Today is Martin Luther King day in the States and it is a holiday there. When I went for a tour of Washington, I saw where Martin Luther King stood and I was surprised by how invisible it looked. I understand that this has changed and there is more elaborate recognition. I want to return to Washington one day because it is a very impressive city with lots of free museums I still need to explore. Ideally I would want to stay at the closest hotel and explore away until I had seen it all. Now that my Canadian dollar is getting close to invisible, free museums are a nice option. However, my dear pets who are now laying on my bed, keep me grounded where they can see me just for fun. Have a Happy Holiday neighbours! Now, I have to install some hinges - wish me luck. Toooooo cold to shovel. Not that bad, that it needs it. Florida? Someday? What do you think? Hey, have you read my books yet? www.silvaredigonda.com You may ask me a question or tell me what you think of either of my books. Have a nice day.