Dennis Sharkey, LCSW

02/28/2023

Well, retirement has been a pleasant break, but I am feeling the desire to get more involved in advocating for mental and behavioral health. It concerns me when I see the divisions taking place in our society and the growing hostility, skepticism, and malaise that people are feeling and expressing.

While these may seem like these are the worst of times, we have been through similar periods, especially, when I was a late teen and young adult in the late 60s.

So I leave you with the lyrics of one of my favorite bands, back in the day to reflect upon. Please feel free to comment.

There's something happening here
But what it is ain't exactly clear
There's a man with a gun over there
Telling me I got to beware
I think it's time we stop
Children, what's that sound?
Everybody look, what's going down?
There's battle lines being drawn
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
Young people speaking their minds
Getting so much resistance from behind
It's time we stop
Hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look, what's going down?
What a field day for the heat (Ooh ooh ooh)
A thousand people in the street (Ooh ooh ooh)
Singing songs and they carrying signs (Ooh ooh ooh)
Mostly say, "Hooray for our side" (Ooh ooh ooh)
It's time we stop
Hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look, what's going down?
Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you're always afraid
Step out of line, the men come and take you away
We better stop
Hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look, what's going down?
You better stop
Hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look, what's going down?
You better stop
Now, what's that sound?
Everybody look, what's going down?
You better stop
Children, what's that sound?
Everybody look, what's going down?

Great version, full of energy. Live at Monterey Pop Festival. Held from friday June 16, till sunday June 18, 1967. Buffalo Springfield played on Sunday, 50 y...

05/06/2022

If you have an interest in Dreams you may want to check out this free 3-day online sumitt. I have never been a big fan of dream interpretation, but I know that dreams are essential to our emotional well-being. It's free.

This 4-day summit features varied approaches to working with dreams. Our 12 dream experts will share their unique ways of being with a dream. The talks will be full of examples and practical tools.

04/28/2022

As of April 1st, I retired from my psychotherapy practice. I don't plan on shutting down this page for now. With more time I hope to post more of my thoughts on mental health issues. I would also appreciate it if others would post some of their ideas and experiences related to mental health services.

In the last few years, I have begun promoting the mental health benefits of Meditation. I started a group page for those interested in learning about meditation and we host several online 20-minute sessions.

To learn more visit our Facebook Group Page at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/3046600805596976

01/30/2018

I have been preaching this to people for years. A mentor of mine in the 1970's predicted that in the next century, the one we are in now, the greatest survival skill would be the capacity to make friends. She predicted that with the increasing rate of mobility and change in our culture, especially with regards to the American family, if you did not have the capacity to connect with others you would be lost. I regularly encourage people to join a church, an advocacy group, a book club, any place where you can make connections with healthy people. One great tool for doing this is Meetup.com. I had one isolated patient find a roller coaster group for adults, another a hiking group, and another a mountain biking group that specialized in finding abandoned railroad tracks in New Jersey. The trick is to find people who have positive energy and enhance your life. In 12 Step programs they like to say, "hang with the winners". They don't have to be perfect, but for the most part they make healthy choices and encourage you to do the same.