Sensuality Test

Summary

Sensuality can be defined as an acute awareness of what the senses perceive. This preoccupation or devotion to that which is smelled, touched, heard, tasted, and seen has significant bearing on how one experiences the many pleasures of life, including food, music and sex.   Overall results 64 Your results indicate that you are a fairly sensual person. You enjoy the sensual stimuli of everyday life; yours is a rather hedonistic attitude, and you deeply enjoy the physical pleasures that life has to offer. A good smell or beautiful color is often enough to keep a smile on your face and a song in your heart. Since you get so much pleasure from your senses, you are probably eager to experiment in life. This can prove to be quite advantageous, as you can make great discoveries as well as experience a lot of pleasure. Keep in mind, however, that being too pleasure-driven can inhibit you from persevering if an experience isn't entirely pleasant. If this rings true for you, a lack of persistence, even if only occasional, might keep you from attaining worthy goals. Sometimes, we have to wade through dull and insipid periods of life in order to reap the rewards it has to offer.

Sensuality Test

summary intro graphs details advice Hearing is one of the first senses to develop in a fetus. With some studies showing that exposure to classical music may improve academic performance, this has prompted many parents to add a touch of Mozart to the womb. Sensuality can be defined as an acute awareness of what the senses perceive. This preoccupation or devotion to that which is smelled, touched, heard, tasted, and seen has significant bearing on how one experiences the many pleasures of life, including food, music and sex. Studies have shown that people who are exceptionally sensual are very process-oriented. In life, this means enjoying the present moment and rarely getting hung up on the future or the past. What is going on at the present moment is enough to capture a sensual individual's full attention. This is an excellent recipe for happiness. Although life can be so much sweeter when we take the time to indulge our five senses, the old adage that too much of a good thing can be harmful still holds true. We've all experienced the repercussions of too much good food, alcohol, and other unhealthy (though pleasurable) addictions. As always, life is best enjoyed in healthy moderation!

Hearing is one of the first senses to develop in a fetus. With some studies showing that exposure to classical music may improve academic performance, this has prompted many parents to add a touch of Mozart to the womb.

Sensuality can be defined as an acute awareness of what the senses perceive. This preoccupation or devotion to that which is smelled, touched, heard, tasted, and seen has significant bearing on how one experiences the many pleasures of life, including food, music and sex.

Studies have shown that people who are exceptionally sensual are very process-oriented. In life, this means enjoying the present moment and rarely getting hung up on the future or the past. What is going on at the present moment is enough to capture a sensual individual's full attention. This is an excellent recipe for happiness. Although life can be so much sweeter when we take the time to indulge our five senses, the old adage that too much of a good thing can be harmful still holds true. We've all experienced the repercussions of too much good food, alcohol, and other unhealthy (though pleasurable) addictions. As always, life is best enjoyed in healthy moderation!

Overall results	64
Sense of the Aesthetic	57
Tactile Sensuality	84
Interpersonal and Sexual Sensuality	46
Sensual Perception	69

Sensuality Test

summary intro graphs details advice Overall results (score 64) Overall level of sensuality Your results indicate that you are a fairly sensual person. You enjoy the sensual stimuli of everyday life; yours is a rather hedonistic attitude, and you deeply enjoy the physical pleasures that life has to offer. A good smell or beautiful color is often enough to keep a smile on your face and a song in your heart. Since you get so much pleasure from your senses, you are probably eager to experiment in life. This can prove to be quite advantageous, as you can make great discoveries as well as experience a lot of pleasure. Keep in mind, however, that being too pleasure-driven can inhibit you from persevering if an experience isn't entirely pleasant. If this rings true for you, a lack of persistence, even if only occasional, might keep you from attaining worthy goals. Sometimes, we have to wade through dull and insipid periods of life in order to reap the rewards it has to offer. Sense of the Aesthetic (score 57) Refers to sensitivity or attraction to natural or artistic beauty. According to your score, you have some sense of the aesthetic qualities of life; you generally appreciate the beauty around you, whether in the form of nature's masterpieces or man-made designs. We often forget that beauty can be found beyond what we see on the runway at a fashion show or on TV. By taking the time to explore the beauty in the world around you ? you will develop a greater appreciation for the simple splendors in nature or the different facets of human creativity that we often take for granted! Tactile Sensuality (score 84) Tendency to derive sensual pleasure from tactile stimulation. You seem to derive total pleasure from sensations that stimulate your sense of touch. Lucky for you, unlike the rest of our senses, the sense of touch isn't limited to a one area of our body ? wherever there is skin, there is sensation! Trying different fabrics or getting a massage are just a couple of great ways to stimulate this particular sense. We put our skin through so much ? harsh chemicals, too much sun, too much cold, etc., so it's important to give it a treat once in a while! Interpersonal and Sexual Sensuality (score 46) Tendency to derive sensual pleasure from sources of an interpersonal or sexual nature. You seem to be relatively comfortable exploring the sensual possibilities that are interpersonal or sexual in nature, although you may not derive a tremendous amount of pleasure from them. Interpersonal and sexual sensuality take into account how far you stand from someone when interacting, your comfort level with publicly displaying affection, and being attuned to the different sensations one experiences during sex, among other things. Often, at least in terms of sex, we don't go beyond the immediate sensations. There is more pleasure to be found besides an orgasm! By tuning in to all our senses, whether it's when we're interacting with someone or being intimate with a partner, we can enjoy the experience so much more and on so many different levels. Sensual Perception (score 69) Awareness of things that appeal to the senses. Whether it's getting lost in the smell of a flower, the sound of music, or delighting yourself gastronomically, you take full advantage of the sensual possibilities around you. You would much rather preoccupy yourself with what's going on with your five senses than the incessant flow of thoughts in your head. You are extremely perceptive to the different sensations around you and are willing to let yourself experience them on each level. Using your senses to experience the present is excellent for your happiness, peace of mind, enjoyment, creativity, and learning. To find happiness in the faint aroma of a spring breeze, the smell of freshly cut grass, or the sound of children's laughter is truly a delight that we don't always appreciate.

Overall results (score 64) Overall level of sensuality Your results indicate that you are a fairly sensual person. You enjoy the sensual stimuli of everyday life; yours is a rather hedonistic attitude, and you deeply enjoy the physical pleasures that life has to offer. A good smell or beautiful color is often enough to keep a smile on your face and a song in your heart. Since you get so much pleasure from your senses, you are probably eager to experiment in life. This can prove to be quite advantageous, as you can make great discoveries as well as experience a lot of pleasure. Keep in mind, however, that being too pleasure-driven can inhibit you from persevering if an experience isn't entirely pleasant. If this rings true for you, a lack of persistence, even if only occasional, might keep you from attaining worthy goals. Sometimes, we have to wade through dull and insipid periods of life in order to reap the rewards it has to offer.

Sense of the Aesthetic (score 57) Refers to sensitivity or attraction to natural or artistic beauty. According to your score, you have some sense of the aesthetic qualities of life; you generally appreciate the beauty around you, whether in the form of nature's masterpieces or man-made designs. We often forget that beauty can be found beyond what we see on the runway at a fashion show or on TV. By taking the time to explore the beauty in the world around you ? you will develop a greater appreciation for the simple splendors in nature or the different facets of human creativity that we often take for granted!

Tactile Sensuality (score 84) Tendency to derive sensual pleasure from tactile stimulation. You seem to derive total pleasure from sensations that stimulate your sense of touch. Lucky for you, unlike the rest of our senses, the sense of touch isn't limited to a one area of our body ? wherever there is skin, there is sensation! Trying different fabrics or getting a massage are just a couple of great ways to stimulate this particular sense. We put our skin through so much ? harsh chemicals, too much sun, too much cold, etc., so it's important to give it a treat once in a while!

Interpersonal and Sexual Sensuality (score 46) Tendency to derive sensual pleasure from sources of an interpersonal or sexual nature. You seem to be relatively comfortable exploring the sensual possibilities that are interpersonal or sexual in nature, although you may not derive a tremendous amount of pleasure from them. Interpersonal and sexual sensuality take into account how far you stand from someone when interacting, your comfort level with publicly displaying affection, and being attuned to the different sensations one experiences during sex, among other things. Often, at least in terms of sex, we don't go beyond the immediate sensations. There is more pleasure to be found besides an orgasm! By tuning in to all our senses, whether it's when we're interacting with someone or being intimate with a partner, we can enjoy the experience so much more and on so many different levels.

Sensual Perception (score 69) Awareness of things that appeal to the senses. Whether it's getting lost in the smell of a flower, the sound of music, or delighting yourself gastronomically, you take full advantage of the sensual possibilities around you. You would much rather preoccupy yourself with what's going on with your five senses than the incessant flow of thoughts in your head. You are extremely perceptive to the different sensations around you and are willing to let yourself experience them on each level. Using your senses to experience the present is excellent for your happiness, peace of mind, enjoyment, creativity, and learning. To find happiness in the faint aroma of a spring breeze, the smell of freshly cut grass, or the sound of children's laughter is truly a delight that we don't always appreciate.

Sensuality Test

summary intro graphs details advice " Our dreams drench us in senses, and senses steps us again in dreams. " Amos Bronson Alcott " Not to have control over the senses is like sailing in a rudderless ship, bound to break to pieces on coming in contact with the very first rock. " Gandhi Looking for some ideas to add a little spice to your life? Although living an existence of utter hedonism probably wouldn't be very healthy, learning to be in harmony with your five senses can open up a whole new world to you. There's so much to discover...so many little things that can tantalize and romanticize our senses. Please keep in mind that sensuality need not be confused with sex ? it is an excitement of the senses; it's a matter of becoming more in tune with what it feels like to really be alive! Here are some tips to bring a little more sensuality into your life: • Practice meditation and deep breathing. With the hustle and bustle of the everyday world, meditation provides a way to shut out the hubbub around, slow down your racing thoughts and focus on nothing but inner silent peace. As you're meditating, focus on your breathing, imagining the air filling your lungs as you inhale, and slowly slipping out as you exhale. • Stop and smell the roses ? literally. Nature constantly provides us with a rich variety of sensual stimuli to excite our senses ? the smell of a rose, the smell of freshly cut grass, the smell of the air after a rain shower ? there is no man-made, expensive perfume that can compete with the aroma of nature. • Lose yourself in the music. Find a music genre that really gets you going ? dance, classical, latin, or even heavy metal. Whether you're doing the cleaning or just sitting home alone, put in a CD, blast the music and go nuts ? really let yourself go! Dance, sway, or just sit back and let the melody flow through and around you. Music is a powerful source of energy! • Get in touch with your imagination. Visualization or mental imagery occurs without the aid of external stimuli ? that is, you use your imagination to create an experience or the perception of an experience. Although imagining the smell of coffee, bacon frying, or any other pleasant aroma can be difficult for some people right off the bat, it can be achieved with time and practice: To start, find a quiet room free of distraction. Take a few deep breathes, and slowly let each of your muscles relax. Try to recall a pleasant memory from your past (or present) ? apple pie baking in the oven, fresh cut grass, popcorn, etc. At first, simply try to imagine the object itself; then picture the sounds that it's associated with (e.g. the sound of frying with bacon, the sound of a lawn mower with grass, the sound of the oven timer with apple pie, etc.). Bring to memory the last time you experienced the aroma, and the feelings it evoked. Recall how wonderful it smelled and imagine it has been placed right in front of you. What does it smell like? Can you smell it? • Don't just eat your food ? savor it! Too many of us get so caught up in our fast-paced, microwaveable-oven, disposable world that we don't take the time to actual enjoy what we eat. The next time you're eating a really good meal, take the time to chew slowly and savor every flavor that touches your palate. Food provides more than sustenance ? it's a sensuous feast for our mouth, nose, and eyes! • Bring art to life. Don't just stare at a painting or the words on a page ? fire up your imagination and bring them to life. How does the artwork or a particular piece of prose make you feel? Can you identify with the characters on the mural or the page? How do you think the artist or author was feeling before, during and after they created their masterpiece? What do like and hate about it? • Tantalize your tactility. Buy yourself some silk sheets and sleep in the nude. Enhance the bedroom romance by running the tips of your fingers along your lover's skin, lips, or through his/her hair. The sense of touch can evoke so many feelings, from comfort and content to excitement and arousal.

Our dreams drench us in senses, and senses steps us again in dreams. " Amos Bronson Alcott " Not to have control over the senses is like sailing in a rudderless ship, bound to break to pieces on coming in contact with the very first rock. " Gandhi Looking for some ideas to add a little spice to your life? Although living an existence of utter hedonism probably wouldn't be very healthy, learning to be in harmony with your five senses can open up a whole new world to you. There's so much to discover...so many little things that can tantalize and romanticize our senses. Please keep in mind that sensuality need not be confused with sex ? it is an excitement of the senses; it's a matter of becoming more in tune with what it feels like to really be alive! Here are some tips to bring a little more sensuality into your life: • Practice meditation and deep breathing. With the hustle and bustle of the everyday world, meditation provides a way to shut out the hubbub around, slow down your racing thoughts and focus on nothing but inner silent peace. As you're meditating, focus on your breathing, imagining the air filling your lungs as you inhale, and slowly slipping out as you exhale. • Stop and smell the roses ? literally. Nature constantly provides us with a rich variety of sensual stimuli to excite our senses ? the smell of a rose, the smell of freshly cut grass, the smell of the air after a rain shower ? there is no man-made, expensive perfume that can compete with the aroma of nature. • Lose yourself in the music. Find a music genre that really gets you going ? dance, classical, latin, or even heavy metal. Whether you're doing the cleaning or just sitting home alone, put in a CD, blast the music and go nuts ? really let yourself go! Dance, sway, or just sit back and let the melody flow through and around you. Music is a powerful source of energy! • Get in touch with your imagination. Visualization or mental imagery occurs without the aid of external stimuli ? that is, you use your imagination to create an experience or the perception of an experience. Although imagining the smell of coffee, bacon frying, or any other pleasant aroma can be difficult for some people right off the bat, it can be achieved with time and practice: To start, find a quiet room free of distraction. Take a few deep breathes, and slowly let each of your muscles relax. Try to recall a pleasant memory from your past (or present) ? apple pie baking in the oven, fresh cut grass, popcorn, etc. At first, simply try to imagine the object itself; then picture the sounds that it's associated with (e.g. the sound of frying with bacon, the sound of a lawn mower with grass, the sound of the oven timer with apple pie, etc.). Bring to memory the last time you experienced the aroma, and the feelings it evoked. Recall how wonderful it smelled and imagine it has been placed right in front of you. What does it smell like? Can you smell it? • Don't just eat your food ? savor it! Too many of us get so caught up in our fast-paced, microwaveable-oven, disposable world that we don't take the time to actual enjoy what we eat. The next time you're eating a really good meal, take the time to chew slowly and savor every flavor that touches your palate. Food provides more than sustenance ? it's a sensuous feast for our mouth, nose, and eyes! • Bring art to life. Don't just stare at a painting or the words on a page ? fire up your imagination and bring them to life. How does the artwork or a particular piece of prose make you feel? Can you identify with the characters on the mural or the page? How do you think the artist or author was feeling before, during and after they created their masterpiece? What do like and hate about it? • Tantalize your tactility. Buy yourself some silk sheets and sleep in the nude. Enhance the bedroom romance by running the tips of your fingers along your lover's skin, lips, or through his/her hair. The sense of touch can evoke so many feelings, from comfort and content to excitement and arousal.

Sensuality Test

summary intro graphs details advice " Our dreams drench us in senses, and senses steps us again in dreams. " Amos Bronson Alcott " Not to have control over the senses is like sailing in a rudderless ship, bound to break to pieces on coming in contact with the very first rock. " Gandhi Looking for some ideas to add a little spice to your life? Although living an existence of utter hedonism probably wouldn't be very healthy, learning to be in harmony with your five senses can open up a whole new world to you. There's so much to discover...so many little things that can tantalize and romanticize our senses. Please keep in mind that sensuality need not be confused with sex ? it is an excitement of the senses; it's a matter of becoming more in tune with what it feels like to really be alive! Here are some tips to bring a little more sensuality into your life: • Practice meditation and deep breathing. With the hustle and bustle of the everyday world, meditation provides a way to shut out the hubbub around, slow down your racing thoughts and focus on nothing but inner silent peace. As you're meditating, focus on your breathing, imagining the air filling your lungs as you inhale, and slowly slipping out as you exhale. • Stop and smell the roses ? literally. Nature constantly provides us with a rich variety of sensual stimuli to excite our senses ? the smell of a rose, the smell of freshly cut grass, the smell of the air after a rain shower ? there is no man-made, expensive perfume that can compete with the aroma of nature. • Lose yourself in the music. Find a music genre that really gets you going ? dance, classical, latin, or even heavy metal. Whether you're doing the cleaning or just sitting home alone, put in a CD, blast the music and go nuts ? really let yourself go! Dance, sway, or just sit back and let the melody flow through and around you. Music is a powerful source of energy! • Get in touch with your imagination. Visualization or mental imagery occurs without the aid of external stimuli ? that is, you use your imagination to create an experience or the perception of an experience. Although imagining the smell of coffee, bacon frying, or any other pleasant aroma can be difficult for some people right off the bat, it can be achieved with time and practice: To start, find a quiet room free of distraction. Take a few deep breathes, and slowly let each of your muscles relax. Try to recall a pleasant memory from your past (or present) ? apple pie baking in the oven, fresh cut grass, popcorn, etc. At first, simply try to imagine the object itself; then picture the sounds that it's associated with (e.g. the sound of frying with bacon, the sound of a lawn mower with grass, the sound of the oven timer with apple pie, etc.). Bring to memory the last time you experienced the aroma, and the feelings it evoked. Recall how wonderful it smelled and imagine it has been placed right in front of you. What does it smell like? Can you smell it? • Don't just eat your food ? savor it! Too many of us get so caught up in our fast-paced, microwaveable-oven, disposable world that we don't take the time to actual enjoy what we eat. The next time you're eating a really good meal, take the time to chew slowly and savor every flavor that touches your palate. Food provides more than sustenance ? it's a sensuous feast for our mouth, nose, and eyes! • Bring art to life. Don't just stare at a painting or the words on a page ? fire up your imagination and bring them to life. How does the artwork or a particular piece of prose make you feel? Can you identify with the characters on the mural or the page? How do you think the artist or author was feeling before, during and after they created their masterpiece? What do like and hate about it? • Tantalize your tactility. Buy yourself some silk sheets and sleep in the nude. Enhance the bedroom romance by running the tips of your fingers along your lover's skin, lips, or through his/her hair. The sense of touch can evoke so many feelings, from comfort and content to excitement and arousal.

Go To Psychology Today to take the test! http://psychologytoday.tests.psychtests.com/take_test.php?idRegTest=1327

Sensuality Test

summary intro graphs details advice Overall results 64 Sense of the Aesthetic 57 Tactile Sensuality 84 Interpersonal and Sexual Sensuality 46 Sensual Perception 69

Sensuality Test

summary intro graphs details advice Overall results (score 64) Overall level of sensuality Your results indicate that you are a fairly sensual person. You enjoy the sensual stimuli of everyday life; yours is a rather hedonistic attitude, and you deeply enjoy the physical pleasures that life has to offer. A good smell or beautiful color is often enough to keep a smile on your face and a song in your heart. Since you get so much pleasure from your senses, you are probably eager to experiment in life. This can prove to be quite advantageous, as you can make great discoveries as well as experience a lot of pleasure. Keep in mind, however, that being too pleasure-driven can inhibit you from persevering if an experience isn't entirely pleasant. If this rings true for you, a lack of persistence, even if only occasional, might keep you from attaining worthy goals. Sometimes, we have to wade through dull and insipid periods of life in order to reap the rewards it has to offer. Sense of the Aesthetic (score 57) Refers to sensitivity or attraction to natural or artistic beauty. According to your score, you have some sense of the aesthetic qualities of life; you generally appreciate the beauty around you, whether in the form of nature's masterpieces or man-made designs. We often forget that beauty can be found beyond what we see on the runway at a fashion show or on TV. By taking the time to explore the beauty in the world around you ? you will develop a greater appreciation for the simple splendors in nature or the different facets of human creativity that we often take for granted! Tactile Sensuality (score 84) Tendency to derive sensual pleasure from tactile stimulation. You seem to derive total pleasure from sensations that stimulate your sense of touch. Lucky for you, unlike the rest of our senses, the sense of touch isn't limited to a one area of our body ? wherever there is skin, there is sensation! Trying different fabrics or getting a massage are just a couple of great ways to stimulate this particular sense. We put our skin through so much ? harsh chemicals, too much sun, too much cold, etc., so it's important to give it a treat once in a while! Interpersonal and Sexual Sensuality (score 46) Tendency to derive sensual pleasure from sources of an interpersonal or sexual nature. You seem to be relatively comfortable exploring the sensual possibilities that are interpersonal or sexual in nature, although you may not derive a tremendous amount of pleasure from them. Interpersonal and sexual sensuality take into account how far you stand from someone when interacting, your comfort level with publicly displaying affection, and being attuned to the different sensations one experiences during sex, among other things. Often, at least in terms of sex, we don't go beyond the immediate sensations. There is more pleasure to be found besides an orgasm! By tuning in to all our senses, whether it's when we're interacting with someone or being intimate with a partner, we can enjoy the experience so much more and on so many different levels. Sensual Perception (score 69) Awareness of things that appeal to the senses. Whether it's getting lost in the smell of a flower, the sound of music, or delighting yourself gastronomically, you take full advantage of the sensual possibilities around you. You would much rather preoccupy yourself with what's going on with your five senses than the incessant flow of thoughts in your head. You are extremely perceptive to the different sensations around you and are willing to let yourself experience them on each level. Using your senses to experience the present is excellent for your happiness, peace of mind, enjoyment, creativity, and learning. To find happiness in the faint aroma of a spring breeze, the smell of freshly cut grass, or the sound of children's laughter is truly a delight that we don't always appreciate.

Sensuality Test

summary intro graphs details advice " Our dreams drench us in senses, and senses steps us again in dreams. " Amos Bronson Alcott " Not to have control over the senses is like sailing in a rudderless ship, bound to break to pieces on coming in contact with the very first rock. " Gandhi Looking for some ideas to add a little spice to your life? Although living an existence of utter hedonism probably wouldn't be very healthy, learning to be in harmony with your five senses can open up a whole new world to you. There's so much to discover...so many little things that can tantalize and romanticize our senses. Please keep in mind that sensuality need not be confused with sex ? it is an excitement of the senses; it's a matter of becoming more in tune with what it feels like to really be alive! Here are some tips to bring a little more sensuality into your life: • Practice meditation and deep breathing. With the hustle and bustle of the everyday world, meditation provides a way to shut out the hubbub around, slow down your racing thoughts and focus on nothing but inner silent peace. As you're meditating, focus on your breathing, imagining the air filling your lungs as you inhale, and slowly slipping out as you exhale. • Stop and smell the roses ? literally. Nature constantly provides us with a rich variety of sensual stimuli to excite our senses ? the smell of a rose, the smell of freshly cut grass, the smell of the air after a rain shower ? there is no man-made, expensive perfume that can compete with the aroma of nature. • Lose yourself in the music. Find a music genre that really gets you going ? dance, classical, latin, or even heavy metal. Whether you're doing the cleaning or just sitting home alone, put in a CD, blast the music and go nuts ? really let yourself go! Dance, sway, or just sit back and let the melody flow through and around you. Music is a powerful source of energy! • Get in touch with your imagination. Visualization or mental imagery occurs without the aid of external stimuli ? that is, you use your imagination to create an experience or the perception of an experience. Although imagining the smell of coffee, bacon frying, or any other pleasant aroma can be difficult for some people right off the bat, it can be achieved with time and practice: To start, find a quiet room free of distraction. Take a few deep breathes, and slowly let each of your muscles relax. Try to recall a pleasant memory from your past (or present) ? apple pie baking in the oven, fresh cut grass, popcorn, etc. At first, simply try to imagine the object itself; then picture the sounds that it's associated with (e.g. the sound of frying with bacon, the sound of a lawn mower with grass, the sound of the oven timer with apple pie, etc.). Bring to memory the last time you experienced the aroma, and the feelings it evoked. Recall how wonderful it smelled and imagine it has been placed right in front of you. What does it smell like? Can you smell it? • Don't just eat your food ? savor it! Too many of us get so caught up in our fast-paced, microwaveable-oven, disposable world that we don't take the time to actual enjoy what we eat. The next time you're eating a really good meal, take the time to chew slowly and savor every flavor that touches your palate. Food provides more than sustenance ? it's a sensuous feast for our mouth, nose, and eyes! • Bring art to life. Don't just stare at a painting or the words on a page ? fire up your imagination and bring them to life. How does the artwork or a particular piece of prose make you feel? Can you identify with the characters on the mural or the page? How do you think the artist or author was feeling before, during and after they created their masterpiece? What do like and hate about it? • Tantalize your tactility. Buy yourself some silk sheets and sleep in the nude. Enhance the bedroom romance by running the tips of your fingers along your lover's skin, lips, or through his/her hair. The sense of touch can evoke so many feelings, from comfort and content to excitement and arousal.

Recommended Books for Counseling Interns

Grief Counseling and Grief Therapy: A Handbook for the Mental Health Practitioner, Third Edition

The Psychotherapy Documentation Primer (PracticePlanners?)


The Child Psychotherapy Treatment Planner (Practice Planners)


The Complete Adult Psychotherapy


Treatment Planning in Psychotherapy: Taking the Guesswork Out of Clinical Care


The Mental Health Diagnostic Desk Reference: Visual Guides and More for Learning to Use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV-TR)


Case Studies in Child and Adolescent Counseling (3rd Edition)


Interviewing Children and Adolescents: Skills and Strategies for Effective DSM-IV Diagnosis


The Elements of Counseling


Counseling Techniques: Improving Relationships with Others, Ourselves, Our Families, and Our Environment


Clinical Handbook of Couple Therapy, Third Edition



All of these are part of my professional library and I recommend them for any person who is going into the field.  They're all on Amazon and the prices are better there. You can also get them used on Amazon. Just click on the book of interest. Erin




                            
























































                                                                                                                                                                         

How to Meet Healthy Singles

Where can single people meet other (healthy) single people? As a therapist, I have mixed feelings about the online dating thing. It sort of takes away from old-fashioned healthy socialization. When I interview people who have been married for 30, 40, 50 years, I realize that none of them relied on any online dating sites; they met people in person and got to know each other. When I talk to people who are happily single, these folks also get out and engage in social activities. I did some "research" and interviewed people to get ideas of places to meet singles. And notice, no one mentioned a club or a bar!

At the gym — Your local gym (especially the one you already belong to) is the perfect place to meet other health conscious singles. People at the gym are already interested in the healthy and active lifestyle you want. People who take the time to go to the gym and improve their bodies are also willing to work out in front of others. This means they’re super receptive to making new friends.

Go to a park — Setting up a blanket post-workout at a park near your house is good for people watching and healthy singles meeting. If nothing else, there will be plenty of healthy bodies running by for you to enjoy.

Join a church — If you’re not religious there are even churches you can join — look up the local Unitarian church for a group of like minded and usually healthy people to meet. Most churches these days have health clubs or even in-house gyms where you can meet other healthy singles. People who care about their spiritual well being tend to be more healthy.

Volunteer — When you get active with a charity or volunteer group, you improve your own life and give yourself a chance to be involved with healthy people. Habitat for Humanity requires active participation, so that’s a great place to find physically fit singles. People who volunteer are open minded and generally concerned with some aspect of health, be it physical or mental.

Take an evening class or lesson — Community colleges in your area have plenty of night classes or other activities in which you can enrich yourself and meet single people. Whether you want to take a class in dance, art, music, or whatever topic, college campuses are full of healthy people of all ages looking to make new friends.

Join an environmental group — Environmentalists tend to be healthier than the average population — people with a “green” lifestyle are naturally healthier and take care of their bodies and minds. Looking for a healthy single that is in tune with nature? Try joining a local environmentally minded group.

Check out the farmer’s market — When you buy from the farmer’s market, you’re supporting local agriculture and eating healthier food. Thus, people at the farmer’s market tend to be healthier than those at the grocery store. Looking for healthy eaters? Meet new friends at the farmer’s market.

http://www.relationshipquestions.net/blog/relationships/how-to-meet-healthy-singles/

So once you meet someone, what is the next step? Here are some pointers:

• Instead of going out to dinner or a movie, have your date meet you for lunch or coffee. Dinners are more "intimate" than a casual lunch in the middle of the day. Movies are dark and intimate. There is no opportunity to talk and get to know each other.

• Continue to meet at some of the same locations where you initially met, like the gym, church, volunteer locations.

• Each person should pay his/her own way.

• Go to gatherings together. Try not to spend too much time alone because either it will feel awkward, or there will be expectations.

• Play games like Conversation Pieces, to encourage self-disclosure.

• Stay away from sexual topics, religion (unless you met at church), and politics.

• Engage in activities that are out-of-the-box, like Painting With A Twist, or skydiving!

• If you do decide to make the relationship sexual, USE PROTECTION and don't be shy about TALKING about sex. Remember, if you take that step, you will be engaging in the most intimate, personal activity that you ever will (with someone that you do not know well).

What are some RED FLAGS?

• Be aware of a person who tells you his/her whole life story in one or two dates! This suggests that the person has boundary issues.

• Be aware of liars! Of course, you should expect a person to be a little guarded, but not blatantly lying.

• Be aware of any signs of jealousy or possessiveness.

• Pay close attention to rebound people. They are vulnerable and have baggage.

• Pay attentions to any signs of mental health issues, alcoholism, and substance abuse.

Please, I welcome comments on this one! I'm curious!

Erin

Asking Clients for Payment for Services Rendered

As I continue in my private practice, I am finding it easier to request payment from clients when services are rendered. I remember when I first began as a counselor, all of the billing, payments, and scheduling was done by administrative staff. I also recall when I first began my private practice, I was reluctant to ask for payment. I felt like I was insulting or offending people by asking for payment.

It did not take long for me to lose that “shyness”. I began to see that I needed to make a real living! I began to understand that the services that I offer are just as billable as the services in a medical or legal office. When a person goes to the doctor, he/she expects to pay a fee, whether it is a co-pay or full price. When people retain an attorney, they are expecting to pay for the services. The same goes for other services. From another perspective, I thought about how much time I spent in school. I am just as much of a professional as a doctor or lawyer.

I have come to several other realizations:

·         People are not shy or reluctant to ask for services, whatever they may be

·         People can afford anything they really want (cell phones, gym shoes, name-brand clothing, vacations, entertainment, video games, iPads)

·         There is more motivation and participation in counseling when people pay for it (since people have the expectation that they will gain something in return for payment)

·         Many times clients don’t think of “social services” as something they should pay for (I have actually had a client tell me that he should not have to pay to talk to someone!)

What I have done over the last couple of years is to develop better financial policies. I take time to look at some of the financial policies that other entities have developed for their businesses. Here are some of them:

1.      If there is an authorization code needed for services, please provide this information on or before the initial visit. If not, then the full payment will be due at the time of service.

2.      All payments, deductibles and/or co-pays are due at the time of service.

3.      The patient is responsible for all amounts that are not covered by the insurance plan.

4.      Cancellations must occur at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled appointment, or a ___ fee will be assessed.

5.      Patient must provide a valid credit card that will be billed for late cancellations and no-shows.

6.      A $--.00 fee will be charged for any returned checks.

7.      There are fees assessed for phone consultations, letters, and court appearances.

I also have my website set up in such a way that people can feel secure making payments online. The financial policies are spelled out clearly on my website, and clients read/sign a copy of the policies at the time of the first visit.

So what about the various fees for services? Should I do sliding scale fees for people or not? I see now that my fees need to remain set. Creating a sliding scale is tedious. It means that the rules/policies do not apply equally to everyone. What about people who cannot afford to pay for services? The best option is for them to find someone they can afford. A second option is for me to periodically offer coupons for certain services. A third option is to have a lower cost private pay situation, but interns will actually provide the services under my supervision.

Now, since I do my own billing, I am more cognizant of the financial aspects of my business. I make sure to communicate very clearly with my clients. I believe that it helps when clients can see me as a person, as a small business owner. Most hard-working, responsible people have no problems paying for services.

To conclude, I decided that paying for services is actually a part of the treatment process. It’s about accountability and motivation. As I mentioned before, people are more motivated in counseling if they are paying for the services. That has been my experience.

It Could Never Happen To Me, by Heather Seeman

SPECIAL EDITION AUGUST 2011 NEWSLETTER

Heidi Search Center

When it comes to things like child abduction, this has got to be one of the first things to run through the minds of the family. I’m sure my parents thought the same just before my family realized that no one knew where Heidi was. The first reaction of course is going to be vehement denial, a self-rationalization that there has to be another explanation. The panic a family member feels once comprehension sets in can be paralyzing, and as I have seen first-hand, assistance is definitely needed.

Learning that it can happen to anyone was a very difficult lesson at 13 years old. That one hot summer day, 21 years ago, stretched into an exhausting 21 days. It remains the most painful string of memories I carry with me.  Though I remember that time quite vividly, it is not my focus for today.

For the purposes of this article, I would like to focus on a little bit more of a hopeful topic. If nothing else, I sincerely hope that sharing the story of my journey home might at least bring some hope to those who are still suffering and wondering if the pain will ever subside. I cannot say that it ever disappears, but one can come to a point where they feel at least some semblance of peace after such tragedy. Right now, I’d like to devote my attention on the light that can shine through such tragedy, the awakening from a nightmare, and the idea that anything beneficial could emerge from such an abominable action.

I have recently moved back to San Antonio after an absence of nearly 17 years. After graduating from Florida State University about two years ago, moving back to San Antonio has been a frequently revisited option. It did take me quite some time to mentally prepare myself for the journey home and make sure I felt as if I had fully come to terms with moving back here. After cautious preparation the time came to move back.

I am not sure I was quite as prepared for the emotions and memories that would flood me both on the long drive as well as once here. It was just me and my dog pulling all of our possessions loaded in a trailer; I had an overabundance of time to really think about what I was doing. I went through an incredibly odd myriad of emotions from fear to sadness, and dread, slowly becoming excitement and the general peace I felt the closer I got to San Antonio.

I am pleasantly surprised that so many more fond memories so long forgotten keep resurfacing, especially with the re-acquaintance of old friends. Simple things like driving around awaken dreamlike memories: going to the movies with my friends, the time a friend of mine and I tried to tint our hair with Kool-Aide for a football game we never ended up going to, or getting lost downtown for hours and having a great time nonetheless. These are great memories I forgot about years ago, that I am more than happy to have regained.

On the other side, there are still the hard memories. The ones I wish I could forget. I do think the hardest was driving over to my old neighborhood, which took me over a month to go and do. To be honest, when I turned on Stahl Road from Judson I unconsciously took a deep breath and held it, feeling a bit shaky. I was momentarily overwhelmed with the incredibly vivid memory of Heidi, and unfortunately the memory of her tragic story.

Despite the more unpleasant memories, I still feel that moving back was the best decision for me and I am relieved to still feel this way. There is still a sense of excitement, mixed history and all. The reminder of the simple things I always loved about San Antonio makes the move worth it. Most of all, I am grateful to just be here. If nothing else good came out of what happened to Heidi, there is still the remembrance of the tremendous outpouring of assistance, prayers, sympathy and love from the entire city of San Antonio that surrounded my family through the horrific ordeal. This amazing unity of spirit and hope shown by the community during that time has forever been what made San Antonio the place I call home. It has been wonderful to come home.

The Heidi Search Center sprung from our tragedy, started by those people who were active in the search for my sister, and it continues to shine as a beacon of hope, providing the same care to thousands of families facing the same ordeal my family did 21 years ago. It warms my heart to know it is still going on, still in operation, and I am thankful not only to the people who volunteer their time and effort, but to those in the community that contribute enough to keep it going. They understand the need to change the idea "it could never happen to me" to "when it does happen there is hope" through education on prevention and accessibility to tools and resources available to those in need- things not available to my family at the time. Now after 21 years, I am looking forward to playing a more active role in the HSC and giving back to the community that reached out to my family in our most dire of hours.

Heidi Search Center, Inc. 4115 Naco Perrin Boulevard San Antonio, Texas 78217-2505 Office: (210)-650-0428 Fax: (210) 650-3653 Email: heidisearchcenter@yahoo.com www.heidisearchcenter.com

Kate Shields Executive Director

 

Employment Workshops

Employment Workshops

By Brighter Future E-Counseling

6:00pm – 7:30pm, Thursday

August 11th& August 18, 2011

The Goliad Bldg.

4203 Woodcock Dr.

Conference Room, 1^st Floor

San Antonio, TX 78228

210-632-1849 (Carolina’s Cell)

Agenda                                                                                                                             

Workshop I August 11^th -Job Searching & Creating your Resume

Workshop II August 18^th – Interviewing: How to Land the Job                            

**FREE career consultation and FREE Resume assistance w/class

Instructors

Carolina Garcia              Licensed Professional Counselor Intern

 Erin A. Alexander                             Licensed Professional Counselor

Registration and Other Information

Go to https://brighterfuturee-counseling.com to complete the intake form. Be sure to provide an email address. Each class is $50.00 and lasts for 1.5 hours. The class must be paid for 24 hours before the class starts. To receive a certificate of completion for the 90-min course, you must have your balance paid and you must be present for the entire class. Please make all payments online at the above site. Brighter Future E-Counseling is a state approved Continuing Education Provider.

Visit http://hotfrog.com for discounts on services