Author Archives: Karen Caffrey

About Karen Caffrey

I'm a psychotherapist in private practice in West Hartford, Connecticut. I enjoy helping people become more fulfilled and resilient, so they can lead better lives.

12 Signs Of A Better Life

How do you know if counseling could help you create a better life?  Take a look at the following 12 Signs Of A Better Life, and think about whether adding these things to your life would improve it…..counseling can help.

Posted in General, Your Better Life | 3 Comments

The Knot and the Onion

Although common lore likens the process of psychotherapy to peeling an onion, the image that more often comes to my mind is that of untangling a long chain of jewelry. Many of us have had the experience of picking up a … Continue reading

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Why Can’t Lawyers Relax? – And How They Can

The lawyers who are reading this article probably already know what I’m talking about. The case is tried, the motion decided, or the closing done. You head out for the evening or go home to celebrate, relax and just take … Continue reading

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The Muffin of Compassion

Sometimes when I sit with clients a spontaneous image will float up into my consciousness that seems to be a metaphor of what a client is talking about. This is how I discovered the “muffin of compassion”. Recently, I was … Continue reading

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Letting Go

Recently I was listening to Pema Chodrun’s lecture on Getting Unstuck. She talked about the very human tendency to seek safety by holding on, by withdrawing and cocooning into what we perceive as a safe place in the world. In … Continue reading

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Would You Like To Be Wealthier?

Although you may not often think about it this way, your mental and emotional well-being is a source of personal “wealth” in much the same way as your financial resources. And just like your money, your emotional well-being can be … Continue reading

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“Don’t Panic” (In Large, Friendly Letters)

Anyone who has ever felt panic knows that the advice, “Don’t Panic”, is usually of limited usefulness when the need arises. When rising sensations of anxiety, shortness of breath, and tightness in the chest begin, the ability of your mind … Continue reading

Posted in Anxiety, Compassion, General | 1 Comment