Faith reading from her earlier book.
Faith Bethelard
from her upcoming book, Tenderness: The Way to a Deeper and Sweeter Connection with Ourselves, Each Other and Mother Earth
Deep within each of us is a secret longing to have others understand us without having to explain or excuse ourselves. In other words, we want people we care about to telepathically just “get us,” like a mother who is perfectly attuned to her infant’s every need. At the same time, we yearn to better understand what those we love are feeling. However, we now live in a time when tenderness is far from the norm. Instead of making efforts to attune to our own and others needs, we have, often subconsciously, acclimated ourselves to a world that actively suggests our desire for tenderness is unworthy—a “softness” that deserves only scorn or contempt.
This almost universal tendency to suppress or deny such a critically important basic need and just “buck up” has a disastrous effect: it makes us prone to isolation, or has us seek self-comfort in unhealthy ways: in unsatisfying relationships, in anxiety, depression, and even serious self-medicating behaviors and addictions. This ultimately unsustainable hyper-independent stance is also seen in over-work, over activity, worrying, and general mind-numbing busy-ness.
Make no mistake: anxiety is at the core of this unmet and urgent need for tenderness. Unfulfilled, it leaves us with a disquieted feeling in our core, and drains our vital energy.
Faith reading from her earlier book.
Faith Bethelard
from her upcoming book, Tenderness: The Way to a Deeper and Sweeter Connection with Ourselves, Each Other and Mother Earth
Deep within each of us is a secret longing to have others understand us without having to explain or excuse ourselves. In other words, we want people we care about to telepathically just “get us,” like a mother who is perfectly attuned to her infant’s every need. At the same time, we yearn to better understand what those we love are feeling. However, we now live in a time when tenderness is far from the norm. Instead of making efforts to attune to our own and others needs, we have, often subconsciously, acclimated ourselves to a world that actively suggests our desire for tenderness is unworthy—a “softness” that deserves only scorn or contempt.
This almost universal tendency to suppress or deny such a critically important basic need and just “buck up” has a disastrous effect: it makes us prone to isolation, or has us seek self-comfort in unhealthy ways: in unsatisfying relationships, in anxiety, depression, and even serious self-medicating behaviors and addictions. This ultimately unsustainable hyper-independent stance is also seen in over-work, over activity, worrying, and general mind-numbing busy-ness.
Make no mistake: anxiety is at the core of this unmet and urgent need for tenderness. Unfulfilled, it leaves us with a disquieted feeling in our core, and drains our vital energy.
Here are areas where my therapeutic services and programs can help you:
Life Stage Transitions
Graduations. Big Birthdays. Marriage. The New Baby. Re-marriage. Death of a spouse. Finding yourself single, again. Promotions. Layoffs. Retirement. Relocation. Loss is part of life. These are just a few events in life where, not surprisingly, uncertainty and doubt can keep you from being fully “in the moment.” Yes, even joyous occasions can challenge your peace of mind. Managing life’s great unknowns and everyday confusions with composure take time and practice. Whatever your life stage transition, I am able and willing to help you navigate any of your critical crossroads.
Here are areas where my therapeutic services and programs can help you:
Life Stage Transitions
Graduations. Big Birthdays. Marriage. The New Baby. Re-marriage. Death of a spouse. Finding yourself single, again. Promotions. Layoffs. Retirement. Relocation. Loss is part of life. These are just a few events in life where, not surprisingly, uncertainty and doubt can keep you from being fully “in the moment.” Yes, even joyous occasions can challenge your peace of mind. Managing life’s great unknowns and everyday confusions with composure take time and practice. Whatever your life stage transition, I am able and willing to help you navigate any of your critical crossroads.
Career and Workplace
By now you know that the work/life “balancing act” is just that: an act. It’s all about priorities and figuring out when and where to put the time in, and when and how to call for a time out. Interpersonal difficulties at work, or changing jobs or careers, can have a powerful impact on one’s identity. As a clinician I am well-versed in helping you sort through the micro as well as the macro issues of your professional life.
Career and Workplace
By now you know that the work/life “balancing act” is just that: an act. It’s all about priorities and figuring out when and where to put the time in, and when and how to call for a time out. Interpersonal difficulties at work, or changing jobs or careers, can have a powerful impact on one’s identity. As a clinician I am well-versed in helping you sort through the micro as well as the macro issues of your professional life.
Family and Relationships
Whether you are starting a family or blending one, I am highly experienced in couples and family therapy. I will help you manage communication breakdowns, escalating demands, competing interests, shifting feelings and alliances. I can help you discover how to effectively relay your needs and boundaries so as to cope in clearer and more compassionate ways for the benefit of both yourself and others.
Family and Relationships
Whether you are starting a family or blending one, I am highly experienced in couples and family therapy. I will help you manage communication breakdowns, escalating demands, competing interests, shifting feelings and alliances. I can help you discover how to effectively relay your needs and boundaries so as to cope in clearer and more compassionate ways for the benefit of both yourself and others.
Health
The shocks and demands of managing a serious health condition of your own, or of a family member, can be highly stressful. Our therapeutic sessions will help you develop coping skills, tools, and resources to assist you in this complex process.
Health
The shocks and demands of managing a serious health condition of your own, or of a family member, can be highly stressful. Our therapeutic sessions will help you develop coping skills, tools, and resources to assist you in this complex process.
A new option: Extended 90 Minute Sessions
Think of your therapy hour—whether weekly or occasional—as essential to your overall health and wellness. We all know that good nutrition and exercise keep the body vital and fresh. The mind and the emotions are too often neglected, left in states of paralysis, disconnection, fear, negativity. Confused thoughts and stony hearts become the new normal. That’s because most often you either dwell in the past or worry about the future. You imagine that too much time has passed to change things, or too little lies ahead. Here’s the truth: The time that is given to us is right now. Use it wisely!
Speaking of time, the reality of therapy sessions today is that they have dwindled down from a 50 minute hour to a pretty much standard 40 minute hour. A new social phenomenon mirrors this change: fewer people, as they race through their busy personal and professional lives, want to commit to regular weekly therapy sessions. Nonetheless, since many of them still face all-too-familiar stresses that threaten to derail them, they need more time for their fewer sessions—not less.
And those stresses can be anything—-an illness, a death, a divorce or dealing with any difficult relationship, or perhaps a wayward or a distressed adult offspring. It may be losing a job or career, dealing with retirement, or any source of money issues. The list goes on, and, far from least, includes today’s cycle of in our faces “breaking news” and world events.
A new option: Extended 90 Minute Sessions
Think of your therapy hour—whether weekly or occasional—as essential to your overall health and wellness. We all know that good nutrition and exercise keep the body vital and fresh. The mind and the emotions are too often neglected, left in states of paralysis, disconnection, fear, negativity. Confused thoughts and stony hearts become the new normal. That’s because most often you either dwell in the past or worry about the future. You imagine that too much time has passed to change things, or too little lies ahead. Here’s the truth: The time that is given to us is right now. Use it wisely!
Speaking of time, the reality of therapy sessions today is that they have dwindled down from a 50 minute hour to a pretty much standard 40 minute hour. A new social phenomenon mirrors this change: fewer people, as they race through their busy personal and professional lives, want to commit to regular weekly therapy sessions. Nonetheless, since many of them still face all-too-familiar stresses that threaten to derail them, they need more time for their fewer sessions—not less.
And those stresses can be anything—-an illness, a death, a divorce or dealing with any difficult relationship, or perhaps a wayward or a distressed adult offspring. It may be losing a job or career, dealing with retirement, or any source of money issues. The list goes on, and, far from least, includes today’s cycle of in our faces “breaking news” and world events.
For questions and inquiries on any service or program, or how you can become part of the Tenderness Community, contact Faith Bethelard to set up a phone call.
O: 212-737-6063 • M: 917-658-2100 • faith@thetendernessway.com
PSYCHOTHERAPY
Individual & Family Sessions
Individual & Family Sessions
Contact Dr. Bethelard for a free discussion of your situation and which type of therapy will best serve your needs—whether standard weekly therapeutic services or the occasional extended 90 minute sessions. Consultations can take place in my New York City office or the Haverford office outside of Philadelphia, PA.
When in-person meetings are not possible, consultation is available by phone or face-to-face conferencing on Zoom Video or FaceTime. This offer is available for people with busy schedules, inconvenient geography, those that need flexibility due to other commitments, or an occasional additional session to augment your in-person therapy.
This five (5) sessions innovative course in the art of infusing more tenderness into every aspect of one’s life, personally and professionally, is for a select group of women and men. The workshop is being offered in person and on Zoom Video. Enrollment is limited. Contact Dr. Bethelard for information and availability.
ONLINE
CONSULTATIONS
CONSULTATIONS
THE TENDERNESS WAY
WORKSHOP
WORKSHOP
For questions and inquiries on any service or program, or how you can become part of the Tenderness Community, contact Faith Bethelard to set up a phone call.
O: 212-737-6063 •
M: 917-658-2100
faith@thetendernessway.com
PSYCHOTHERAPY
Individual & Family Sessions
Individual & Family Sessions
Contact Dr. Bethelard for a free discussion of your situation and which type of therapy will best serve your needs—whether standard weekly therapeutic services or the occasional extended 90 minute sessions. Consultations can take place in my New York City office or the Haverford office outside of Philadelphia, PA.
When in-person meetings are not possible, consultation is available by phone or face-to-face conferencing on Zoom Video or FaceTime. This offer is available for people with busy schedules, inconvenient geography, those that need flexibility due to other commitments, or an occasional additional session to augment your in-person therapy.
This five (5) sessions innovative course in the art of infusing more tenderness into every aspect of one’s life, personally and professionally, is for a select group of women and men. The workshop is being offered in person and on Zoom Video. Enrollment is limited. Contact Dr. Bethelard for information and availability.
ONLINE
CONSULTATIONS
CONSULTATIONS
THE TENDERNESS WAY
WORKSHOP
WORKSHOP