Category Archives: Professional Development

Negative Thoughts Lead to Negative Performance

Posted on by Phil Boissiere
04 May

Negative thoughts can zap your performance. We have all experienced negative self-talk about our abilities, self-worth, future success, etc. This negative self-talk almost uniformly has a negative effect on performance. When we are engaged in goal focused activities we need adequate levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine in order to reach our goals or desired outcomes. When we are in a positive space and feeling confident, we have a higher likelihood that our brains will have adequate levels of dopamine present. When we are in a negative space and not feeling confident, we tend to have less of this very important chemical present. For adults with ADHD this phenomenon can be even worse. The reason it can be so much worse, is that people with ADHD already have a diminished amount of dopamine, so any reduction makes things far worse.

So how to do we create the patterns of thinking that lead to optimal performance?

The first step is to increase awareness. Awareness is absolutely critical to creating any change in thinking. We often take our thoughts as they come, never naming them or trying to change them. When we are not fully aware of our thoughts and feelings, we are prone to fall victim to unchecked negative thinking.

The next step is to start replacing negative thoughts with more adaptive an positive thoughts. For example, “I’m going to fail.” could be replaced with “I’m going to succeed.” or “I’m prepared and will do my best.” This obviously takes practice and for the best results it helps to work with a therapist who uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). The changes that result from CBT can be profound and last a lifetime. This is especially true for adults with ADHD as they tend to have a long list of negative experiences that drive an ocean of negative thoughts. In the video series Learn to Thrive with Adult ADHD, there is an entire module on CBT that has been shown to be very effective for all people wanting to change their thoughts, not just those with adult ADHD.

This has been very rudimentary overview of how thoughts can help or hurt your performance. If you want to understand things more, I recommend contacting a trained therapist  in CBT. I utilize CBT methods with both my ADHD clients and those who just want to find optimal mental performance. After all, the Silicon Valley is performance pressure cooker, so any mental techniques to gain an edge are important.

Success and Focus for Entrepreneurs with ADHD

Posted on by Phil Boissiere
27 Jul

What makes an adult with ADHD like Richard Branson so successful? Why do some adults with ADHD struggle to succeed in their career? There are many factors to this complex question. However, there is one overriding principal that allows entrepreneurs with ADHD to find success, and it is called focus. Focus is a big word for adults battling ADHD. The good news is that focus can be greatly improved through treatments like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), skills coaching, exercise, and medication management.

CBT specifically, is focused on treating ADHD by teaching skills that improve executive functioning, decrease anxiety, and help provide direction. For many entrepreneurs it can mean the difference between an office full of half finished projects and a handful of very successful ventures. The process and techniques work to activate the brain in a way that helps boost an individuals ability to focus and execute their innovative ideas. San Francisco and the Silicon Valley are full of incredible people doing amazing things. Unfortunately, there are many standing on sidelines struggling to break through due to their Adult ADHD. With the right help, most of these people can make the changes they need to treat their ADHD and find the success they deserve. If this article resonates with you, then reach out, find support, and take control of your Adult ADHD and your career.

 

Chicago Presentations June 2013

Posted on by Phil Boissiere
14 May

I will be doing two presentations this June in Chicago, please see the information below. Hope to see you there!

Phil Boissiere, MFT will be presenting at both The Family Institute at Northwestern University and the American Family Therapy Academy-Annual Conference on June 7th in downtown Chicago.

The Family Insitute at Northwestern University June 7th at 4pm:

Group therapy is one of the most valuable and effective treatment modalities for youth. Often agencies and programs will utilize either mental health graduate trainees or registered interns to provide these groups. The upside to this practice is cost savings for the agency and the benefit of collecting hours and gaining experience for the clinician. Unfortunately, most new clinicians and students have had little or no training in working with youth populations in a group setting. Further compounding this issue is that fact that groups are often comprised of youth with behavioral issues or other difficult psychopathology, which can make management of the group very intimidating and difficult. 

In this training Phil Boissiere, MFT uses his experience running groups with youth to teach new clinicians how to operate successful groups and build the needed confidence to be a successful group facilitator. Come ready to gain skills, ask questions, and participate in experiential learning.

Attendees of this training you will learn why it is important to do group therapy with youth, understand how to manage your own expectations around groups, capitalize on your strengths, and hold the frame of the group.  In the training we will also discuss who should be in the group, what type of group to have, what activities to have during the group, a basic structure, how to manage behavior in the group, and how to address barriers of working with difficult youth in groups.

American Family Therapy Academy-Annual Conference June 7th at 12:15pm:

Phil Boissiere, MFT will discuss what family therapists need to know in order to work with families during the elementary school years to aid in the prevention of drug and alcohol abuse during adolescence. His early intervention approach will help clinicians understand why the lure of drugs are so strong, how to understand the risk factors of children and families in their practice, and gain a reality based proactive model of prevention. He will also be discussing how cultural factors and social inequities increase the risk in many populations. His model of prevention has gained international attention and has been well received by many audiences.

For more information on either of these presentations, please contact Phil Boissiere, MFT directly here.

Tips for Achieving Your New Year’s Resolutions

Posted on by Phil Boissiere
03 Jan

New Year’s resolutions are often made with the best intentions, but with little to no attention to the factors that will lead to the greatest success (i.e. change a behavior, start going to therapy, be more healthy, etc.). In fact, the statistics about people actually keeping their resolutions are not very good. However, there is hope! By following a few techniques you can greatly increase the success of your New Year’s resolutions.

Be Realistic: Setting a goal that is too massive will surely fail. For example, many people set New Year’s resolutions that they are going to change their career, or “become healthy”, or stop fighting with their partner for family. The problem with creating resolutions in this way is that they can feel overwhelming. What does it mean to “become healthy”? A full over haul of your lifestyle is tough. Start with something more manageable, “I am going to walk more, make more of an effort to stay connected with people I care about, and explore finding a healthy outlet for stress.”

Set Objectives: Be very clear about how you will measure your progress, while allowing for some wiggle room. Remember, you are a human, not a robot. Decide what a reasonable amount of success towards your New Year’s resolution is. Then write down the steps you need to take to achieve your goal. An important rule of thumb: if you break down a project or resolution into steps and still have trouble getting started, then the first step is still too big.

Use Positive Visualization: People often tend to think of the dread of starting a project or goal, “I hate the gym.” or “I’ll never be more organized, my place is a mess!” Instead of being confronted with these negative thoughts, think about the how you will feel and how your life will be different if you meet your goal, “If I make it to the gym today I will sleep better, feel better, and get out of the house.”

Don’t Let Setbacks Stop You: There are always going to be hiccups and hassles that can impede your progress from day to day. It is totally normal for this to happen. However, when it does, get out a piece of paper and write down one small thing you can do to get started again working towards your New Year’s Resolution. The old adage of “The hardest part is getting started.” can be very true. Get started and don’t give up when you miss a step towards your goal.

I often get many calls from people this time of year wanting to start therapy or find ways to be more successful in their career or personal life.  I work with all of my client’s to identify manageable goals, capitalize on their strengths and make the most of their life and relationships, through the use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Positive Psychology, and other goal oriented techniques.

I welcome your calls and emails and hope to help you reach your full potential in 2013.

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Phil Boissiere, MFT provides goal oriented Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in San Francisco and Menlo Park.

Positive Psychology for Success

Posted on by Phil Boissiere
13 Dec

All to often people shy away from seeking therapy due to misconceptions about what therapy is. This is in large part due to psychodynamic (Freudian etc.) approaches that do a fair amount of “digging” around in peoples childhood experiences. Unfortunately, this leads to people not receiving the support they need, which in turn increases or leads to dysfunction and dissatisfaction with life. Fortunately, modern approaches to psychotherapy and counseling, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, focus on helping people reach their goals and capitalize on their strengths.

In recent years the field of Positive Psychology has come to fruition and has been shown to have a profound effect on furthering an individuals occupational, social, academic, creative, and intellectual goals. Positive psychology is a rich empirical basis for health, work, quality of life, and leadership coaching. 

So, what is Positive Psychology exactly? Very simply put, it is the exploration of processes and circumstances that lead to optimal performance, life satisfaction, and health.

Unlike psychological theories from the past, which tend to focus on “what is wrong”, Positive Psychology focuses on human strengths and healthy positive experiences to improve the lives of people.

I utilize the principals and applications of Positive Psychology to help business professionals, artists, authors, and tech leaders advance their careers, personal growth, and success. I have had great success combining Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Positive Psychology with coaching in San Francisco, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and the greater Silicon Valley. A common statement from my clients is “I didn’t know therapy could be this way!” or “This is so empowering.”

Work Performance and Mental Health

Posted on by Phil Boissiere
22 Oct

The workplace can be a stressful and demanding place for anyone. Unfortunately, when people are struggling with a psychological disorder, such as anxiety, depression, or ADHD/ADD, the workplace can be even more difficult. Below are some common ways in which psychological disorders can affect a person’s occupational performance.

  • Trouble blocking out or filtering environmental stimuli – working in a loud area or near a piece of noisy equipment may be very difficult.
  • Maintaining concentration – short attention span, fidgeting, leaving workspace, being distracted, and difficulty remembering instructions. 
  • Maintaining energy – finding the energy to complete a full day of work, fighting drowsiness.
  • Managing time pressures and multitasking– balancing assignments, prioritizing and meeting deadlines.
  • Interactions with coworkers – fitting in, talking with coworkers, reading/understanding social cues.
  • Coping with negative feedback – interpreting criticism, understanding what needs to be changed to improve, trouble changing due to low self-esteem.
  • Dealing with change – navigating unexpected changes at work, changes in protocols, job tasks, or supervisors/coworkers

It is very important that if  you or someone you know is experience work related struggles due to anxiety, adult ADHD, depression, or relationship issues, that  you seek assistance. Your career development and personal satisfaction may depend on it. A mental health professional that understands the demands of the corporate environment and can take the time to help you develop specific skills for improvement is crucial. The Silicon Valley and San Francisco are an incredible place of opportunity, but can also be a place of great pressure.