If you are lucky in life, at some point in your professional life, you suddenly realize that you are doing the exact right thing at the exact right time.  And if you are super lucky,  you love doing it. You love that you are doing it, no matter how challenging or stressful it is. That’s me.

Right now.

Doing this.

Maybe helping you.

I’m a clinical psychologist who, for the past five years has been responding to letters from people globally, about their reactions to learning about Peak Oil, Climate Change and economic hard times. I’ve learned as much from people as I’ve offered. I’ve made some great friends I would have never met otherwise. But I’ve been writing for the ‘general public’ and now I want to talk more specifically to people who want to get into more detail about their life situation, where they’re getting stuck, and what’s blocking their progress to make real changes in their lives. Hence, this blog-Feisty Life. Let’s face it, you better be ‘feisty’ if you are going ahead in these tough times. You better not let obstacles stop you. And I find that people are a lot tougher than they even realize.

Read What I’ve Said to Others…
I want you to be sure that I’m the person who can help you, and lucky for you, you can read five years of the type of general feedback I’ve given to other people. Peak Oil Blues Letters/Stories contains many of the letters I’ve responded to over the past fuve years. Read them and decide for yourself if I’m right for you. Also, check out:

Hey, What Do People Say About Dr. K?

‘Do It Anyway’ Framework
For most of you, I’m going to work on the “Do it Anyway” philosophy mentioned by Sharon Asytk of what you should be doing to prepare. I’m going to talk to you about the kinds of things that you should be doing ‘anyway’ regardless of whether this or that happens. Most of us tend to fixate on the one thing we can’t or don’t want to do, while ignoring the tens or hundreds of things we both can do and want to do.

Calling All Couples!
I’m going to try a lot of different things to reach people. I’m hoping some couples will call me, as that’s my clinical specialty. I want couples who are both ‘reading the same book’ so to speak, but perhaps aren’t on the same page, and those that don’t even share the same library! I’ve heard a lot about “my wife/husband is not on board” and if you can get them on the telephone extension, I want to talk to both of you about that.

Coaching or Therapy?
To be honest, I prefer to do coaching, rather than therapy, but that’s because it fits my clinical style. You can read what I think are the differences in What About: Coaching and Therapy-What’s the Difference? and I offer you both, depending on your preference and your current situation. You’ll learn about  Online therapy vs face-to-face: What’s the Difference? and you’ll see that online psychotherapy is much more like coaching than face-to-face work, anyway. See how my role is different in each, and decide for yourself.

How Many Sessions/ How Often?
While I’m happy to talk with you only one time, in an initial session, I think you’ll get the most out of it if you plan on 6-8 sessions, scheduled however you’d like.  I’ve offered you a discounted rate, if you choose to go that route.  Some of you will speak with me for the initial session, which is 90 minutes long, call back for another 90 minute talk a week or two later, then check in for briefer “check in’s” once or twice a month as needed, until you feel like you are making good progress on what you want to get done, and feel like you are finally doing it.

Others really like to have more intensive 90 minute talks each time, even if they are farther apart. How you want to do it is up to you, but let me get to know you a little bit first, so I can really be useful to you in those shorter sessions.

I’m a clinical psychologist, not a mind reader or a fortune teller. I’ll only know about you what you tell me, so if you give me very little information, I can only give you limited help.

Use the initial email option, too. The initial session allows time for me to read 45 minutes worth of your writing without charge to you. It allows those of you who love to write, the chance to organize your thoughts and put it all down on paper.  But save that until after our initial consultation.  I’m happy to read about you, but I’ll want to talk to you in my response.  Just be aware that just words alone (with some emoticons) convey only 7% of the meaning in human communication.

Chat Coming?
I like chat, do you? You get to read and respond instantly, but still have the time to write down what you want to say. I’m considering something wacky like “spontaneous chat’ times, where I’ll set aside time for people to drop in as they see fit. I’ll keep it low cost or free for ongoing clients, especially if more than one of you show up there at a time. A drop in center for Transitioners, Do-More Doomers, and Fatalistic Doomers?

If you like that idea, let me know…

Chrystal Ball and Future Predicting
Some people say I’m tough, but that’s not true across the board. I’m tough with people who can take it. I don’t lie to people, and I don’t want to talk to you about something I know nothing about.

I can’t tell you what the future holds.

I can only get you to read a variety of opinions out there and make up your own mind. Then, I’m going to ask you to take yourself ‘heart attack serious‘ about what you believe. I’m never going to ask you to do something that I believe is what you should do, because I don’t have to live your life or live with your decisions.

You do.

A Little Help from My Friends…
I’m inviting people to join me here, to help in a way that suits them. I have one person in mind that can help you whip up a food storage system faster than you can say “can it!” Another with several years of clinical training who’s profession was put on hold because hard times knocked them off the game. But they are smart, very feisty, and capable of offering great coaching advice for far less money than I charge. Another will be joining us in several months, and they have done lots of research on the current state of being unemployed in the US, and how professionals can help.

Finally, I’ve got a guy with 30 years of contingency planning in his background. He’s a good friend to have, let me tell you. I’m not naming names here yet, but if I suggest you talk to any of these folks, at their own rate and within their own style of working, you may want to take the suggestion and check them out. Let me know if you aren’t delighted with the type of help you get from them, and let me know when y0u are!

Feisty Life Blog
Here, I outline my clinical work and coaching sessions-what I do, how I think about the work that I do, and how to proceed if you’d like to work with me. I correspond with people from all over the world, because all of us are impacted by Peak Oil, Climate Change, and economic hard times. So look around at the pages here. At any time, you can go to the “I’m ready to get started! Tell me how!!” page, that will explain my rates and what you need to do to schedule a session. It will direct you to Our Online Work Agreement that has to be read and sent back to me before we begin. You’ll tell me the kind of work you want to do, contact information, and you’ll email back the entire form to me with the words “I agree!” in the subject heading. And of course, you’ll pay me before we begin.

Why do I charge?

Because I eat, keep a roof over my head, and expect things to get a lot tougher for all of us over time.  For (almost) five years I’ve been offering help to people on Peak Oil Blues for free, and you are invited to use that service if you choose, for general advice.

But here, I’ll talk specifically to you, and only you in detail.  I’m here to help, but I have a limited number of hours to devote to online work. I do ‘walk my talk,’ and so I am busy with my own preparations. But if you feel the need to get a bit more feisty, I’m here to listen and help motivate you to get unstuck.

As a senior clinical psychologist, I charge a relatively modest amount for my services.  Check out professionals in your own area and see if you agree.

Hope to hear from you!

I’m Ready to Get Started! Tell me how!!