by Edna Wallace, LMFT

Edna Wallace, LMFT, is a long-time therapist at El Camino Hospital working in the Adult Mood Program for Depression and Anxiety and the OATS program for older adults. She has a private practice in Los Altos. She worked for a decade on the Luncheon Committee for SCV-CAMFT and has been a luncheon presenter as well. Edna is an avid writer in her spare time. She can be reached at www.ednawallace.com.

Back to Spring 2021 Newsletter

What’s Really Important

As a quasi-CBT, quasi-object relations-informed therapist working in the Zoom age, I have to consider what’s really important. Will the room look too bare with a chair in the background and one pot plant? No, that’s good. Can clients see that I have a bed in the room? That would be a “yes” … one side of the bed is just peeking inside the camera range. I rearrange the camera to point away from the bed. I’m a bit lopsided now, but at least there’s no bed. Can clients see that I placed a fan in front of the plant yesterday? Shoot, yes. What will they make of the fan—a new item in the room? How will they feel about the fact that it’s a Honeywell fan? That it’s yellow? Sheesh. A bit risky. Will the noise interfere? Better to turn off the fan and hide it out of sight of the camera. But I have to turn on the light. That will raise the temperature another 10 degrees. No fan, lights on. Let’s see…  what associations will my clients have with sweat pouring down my face? Or with my hand rising up to wipe off said sweat from my neck and off my chin? Will that propel Joe* into giving me the latest sexy interlude with his new partner? Geez. Maybe I should keep the fan going; that would drown out the details at least. I carefully consider my options, the pros and the cons, before my first client, before it gets too hot. I take a cool shower, turn off the fan, hide the fan, and start the Zoom session. “How are you today, Joe?” I ask him quietly.

*Made-up name

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back to the Winter 2020 Newsletter

by Edna Wallace, LMFT

Edna Wallace, LMFT, is a long-time therapist at El Camino Hospital working in the Adult Mood Program for Depression and Anxiety and the OATS program for older adults. She has a private practice in Los Altos. She worked for a decade on the Luncheon Committee for SCV-CAMFT and has been a luncheon presenter as well. Edna is an avid writer in her spare time. She can be reached at www.ednawallace.com

Zoloft I told my friend Taking my Zoloft with tea Is probably better Than washing it down with wine (which I’ve done). My friend asked why I needed Zoloft. I said so I don’t nag my son (or yell at my husband). A crumb of Zoloft does wonders, I raved. She said she takes Xanax. (But not with wine. Good girl.) I asked her why… She said the world’s going to pieces. I marvel at the help Of these little drugs And of new ways of thinking…. What we use to make our way Without driving off a cliff. All the ways we quiet the noise inside So that it’s possible To stand back From the cliff And admire the sea.

back to Fall 2020 Newsletter

by Edna Wallace, LMFT

Edna Wallace, LMFT, is a long-time therapist at El Camino Hospital working in the Adult Mood Program for Depression and Anxiety and the OATS program for older adults. She has a private practice in Los Altos. She worked for a decade on the Luncheon Committee for SCV-CAMFT and has been a luncheon presenter as well. Edna is an avid writer in her spare time.

Pandemic Therapy

I see no reason why I’ve been locked out of the second bedroom. I don’t disturb anyone. I’d just sit on my orange towel on the bed and listen to Mom, just like I do when they have their movies going. Mom’s talking to people; I guess it’s called counseling. It’s very interesting hearing about these marriage problems and these kids not doing well and folks challenged by negative thoughts. I have negative thoughts too. Like right now. I’m unhappy with Mom and Dad. What Mom tells her clients can help me too. So when Mom closes the door, I’m going to let her know that’s not okay: “Meow!” Dad scurries over, whispering “shhhh.” He picks me up and drops me in the living room. He’s telling me to be quiet. But I go back outside that door. I meow once more. Here comes Dad, running towards me. He whispers “you gotta be quiet, don’t disturb Mommy.” Back on the living room rug I land. I glare at Dad. This time, I’m going somewhere else. Somewhere close. I enter Mom and Dad’s room, right at the corner, where I can peek around and see the closed door of the second bedroom. I’m quiet, since meowing doesn't help. I can just make out Mom’s voice. She has that gentle tone she uses when she cuddles me. I can’t hear her client. What a bummer! But it’s better than nothing. I settle down to listen for the minutes left of the session. I really don’t understand why I can’t be there. Just another disappointment….

Signed, 

Hobbes

On the other hand...

In contrast to Hobbes’ intense interest in his mom’s therapy sessions, Millie (left photo) is blissfully unaware of the therapy when she is in the room with her mom, Rowena Dodson, LMFT, sleeping with her transitional object.

back to Fall 2020 Newsletter