I Appreciate You

I was preparing to see my first client of the day when a previous client came to mind. It was early on in therapy that I shared with her that "I appreciate you." She paused for a moment and then politely asked if she could ask a question without me getting offended. After assurance, she … Continue reading I Appreciate You

Adrift

After having worked with a young woman in therapy that had struggled with depression and suicidal intentions, I reflected over the course of our work and allowed my thoughts and emotions to be held within the container of paper and ink. It's emotional work to accompany individuals within their darkness, as well as their journey … Continue reading Adrift

Welcome to DrMichaelMoats: A Meandering Existential Journey through Daily Life, Nature, Beauty, Darkness, Observation, Inquiry, and Awe!

The mind is a fascinating little ball of gel. It is a network of pathways that have the ability to prune, thicken, and reroute, which keeps us questioning things, such as wormholes, more efficient technological devices, the meaning of an art piece, which underwear to buy, and even where I left the sunglasses that are … Continue reading Welcome to DrMichaelMoats: A Meandering Existential Journey through Daily Life, Nature, Beauty, Darkness, Observation, Inquiry, and Awe!

A Call for Poetry

For those of you that understand and have experienced the ability for nature to provide a space for growth and healing have an opportunity to submit poetry for an anthology that addresses this content. Even if you don't feel that this is an avenue you would like to take, feel free to share this with … Continue reading A Call for Poetry

What is Existential Phenomenology?

I was once asked how I would explain the phrase existential phenomenology. Being that I am not one to typically speak a lot of psycholog-ese, I wrote this very succinct poem: This morning I woke up. It was beautiful! Sometimes we need to get out of our heads and simply experience life. A healthy tension … Continue reading What is Existential Phenomenology?