Cary Okano, LMFT, Expressive Arts Therapist, PLLC

03/19/2024

If you or a loved one is in emotional distress or a suicidal crisis, please call or text the Su***de and Crisis Lifeline at 988.

RULA is the new Path Mental Health that I am contracting with. They take many forms of insurance and are in many states. This may be one way to support your search for a therapist.

Affordable online therapy where you are, on your schedule. Easily find a therapist covered by your insurance.

04/18/2023

I heard Bruce Perry, Psychiatrist and Neuro Scientist, speak at a workshop at the beginning of my career and he influenced how I approach trauma work. This book, What Happened to You, follows much of what I remember him saying so many years ago. Please take care if you decide to read it, I would caution that it can be re-traumatizing and it can also be an alternative way to hold trauma within the belief that it is possible to create new neural connections to elicit change around what has happened to you.

https://www.bdperry.com/books

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=what+happened+to+you+by+dr+perry&hvadid=695537924313&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9032030&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=16228105527378587050&hvtargid=kwd-2288187325669&hydadcr=22593_13531299&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_46re8pkaxn_e

Buy a cheap copy of What Happened to You? Conversations on... book by Oprah Winfrey. Our earliest experiences shape our lives far down the road, and What Happened to You? provides powerful scientific and emotional insights into the behavioral... Free Shipping on all orders over $15.

10/08/2022

Su***de and Crisis Hotline call: 988
https://988lifeline.org/

A few weeks after Burning Man ended this year and the exhibit, "Face the FearBeast" closed, the artist, Tigre Mashaal-Lively took his own life. "Face the FearBeast" was an art piece installed on the playa at Burning Man this year. It was described by the artist and team, as a "dramatic meditation on the human struggle with fear, doubt, and trauma" and admonished to "Connect with your Inner Child and stand by our side in Facing the Fearbeast."

There is a lot more to Tigre Mashaal-Lively's story here, but maybe, if the artist had called 988 to get past the moment leading to their end, maybe, the artist would still be walking the earth. And if they were walking the earth, maybe they would create another installation like "Facing the Fearbeast," which emotionally touched so many burners, mirroring their trauma, pain and joy.

If you feel like you are at the end of your patience and time, please think about talking to a friend, discussing concerns with family and/or call 988.

And maybe consider entering therapy to begin exploring how to move towards the life you want to be living.

photos by: Warren Trezevant and BlakOpal

05/25/2022

Please learn the signs of emotional pain that can lead to the creation of a school shooter.

As a therapist, my education, experience and training indicate that the 18 year old school shooter at Robb Elementary School, is probably not "complete evil" as Lt. Christopher Olivarez of the Texas Department of Public Safety said on NBC's Today show.

I can also understand that there are parents who can't fathom that their daughter or son may be capable of becoming a shooter, but after working with so many children and transitional aged youth (TAY), I also know it may be possible, given the right circumstances and right amount of neglect. This could be your son or daughter too.

So please learn some of the signs to look for (link below) and consider creating a support team. Find a good therapist versed in helping teens (and TAY) with tools around anger management, socialization skills, profound understanding and empathy for the depth of pain they are feeling. And maybe a good family therapist with non-judgment for the student in emotional pain, who can help your family identify supports for each family member to learn communication tools that lead to expressing concerns and educate about tools to resolve conflict.

We all experience emotional pain. Many of us have mental health issues. We all need support sometimes. ❤️ (Thank you Steve Kerr... for encouraging that this post be written.)

Signs to look for:
https://www.sandyhookpromise.org/.../know-the-signs-of.../
and/or
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/creative-development/201207/school-shooter-the-warning-signs

How to see the warning signs of a school shooter. They are always there.

04/06/2022

Hello, I came across this article and wondered what people in the community think of this possible change to language:

Gender, Sexuality, and Relationship Diversity, or GSRD, is a more inclusive term put forth by Dr. Meg-John Baker and works to eliminate the alphabet soup that LGBTQ+ has become.

04/28/2021

I went to a diversity workshop which advocated for the importance of having groups where people of each diversity including race, culture and gender could fully explore the impact of their diversity factor with others who could understand from common experience.

Many Communities, One Sangha is a five-part, online self-facilitated community inquiry to support and energize sanghas and dharma practitioners seeking to create more equitable, inclusive communities. It is designed to be used by groups of five or more people, and guides participants through five se...

03/25/2021

With all the racism happening within our communities, I thought I would post some things that are possible to do for situations of all kinds where someone is being hurt and you can be an Ally.
So much love to everyone who has experienced racism and hope that we can all be allies when we are not the focus... 🙂
https://stopaapihate.org/safety-tips-english/?fbclid=IwAR28Jgb884RiR5BiAcnc2QQzs-0Lh_Q2tItd5vYaSVJl4H-Drf1mCZHiD1w

5 Things to Consider When Experiencing Hate Safety First: Trust your instincts and assess your surroundings. If you feel unsafe and you are able to, leave the area. Stay Calm: Take a deep breath, limit eye-contact, and maintain neutral body language. Speak Out (If you can do so safely): In a calm an...

11/03/2020

Do your emotions feel like this lion? So many of us haven't yet spent the time to "become friends" with our emotions so they are wild , rule us and come out in sometimes passive aggressive or bigger, emotional explosions. If you are ready to start down the path of becoming friends with your emotions, please contact me and we can walk the path together!

caryokanoLMFT@gmail.com

10/01/2020

I am offering Telehealth sessions via Simple Practice (which is HIPPA compliant). I've felt passionately about this work for the past 20 years helping clients to grow new abilities and look at existing thoughts, past trauma or the possibility of transitioning relationships that may be getting in the way of their emotional healing. So much is happening in our world that impacts our lives. Please contact me if you are interested in a free consultation! Please be kind to you.

caryokanoLMFT@gmail.com
www.caryokano.com