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Welcome to Iron Couch!
Remember how it was when you were a child? Life had structure and purpose; go to school, play with friends, do homework, do shores, maybe some after school activities. You had a schedule of what to do. You knew what to do, the next week, month and most likely the following number of years.15- 30 years later, If you are living in a democracy, you have the freedom to choose what to do, where to live, pick friends, select partners. With that freedom comes plenty of responsibilities and for many of us stress and anxiety. Sometimes we lose track of what we REALLY want to do in life; work, hobbies, partner, where to live, friends. We become dissatisfied with our situation. As a result, we might lose our humor and become grumpy, impatience, and cynical, stop taking care of ourselves, overeat, and the wrong food. You might seek comfort in the bottle and drink too much alcohol. Exercise is only something you used to do. |
Chris Kallevag
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I believe we all need professional help now and then to figure things out. It could be support and guidance to unblock ourselves, to become "unstuck." To become a happier, healthier, and more content person, basically to live a more fulfilling and stress reduced life with fewer regrets.
I know how it is to be sixteen with barely any friends looking like nerdy twelve-year-old, feeling out of place when classmates are talking about girlfriends and boyfriends. Fast forward fifteen years, I can relate to how good it feels having discussions with orthopedic surgeons and they listen to you because they realize you know the subject discussed better than them. Almost fifteen years later, and I found myself in Israel, not speaking the language, not having work, and no friends. In between these thirty odd years, I know how it is if you are not as handsome as Brad Pitt or beautiful like Gal Gadot. Some of several ways to make up for this is to exercise your body and mind. The positive results from studying, reading, and training is a better, more rewarding job, and the attention from the opposite sex (or same if you prefer). Not to mention feeling good about yourself. |
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After a short time in Israel, I felt an enormous frustration, and it wasn’t practical for our family to move back to Canada. I had to do something about my situation. My dissatisfaction led me to psychology as a result of going to a questionable psychologist. I was starting to feel that I had a vast practical experience of how to feel miserable and frustrated, and I wanted to help others.
Freud wasn’t always wrong. He thought a majority of humans’ problems have to do with sex in one way or other. This is not correct, but plenty of our issues, problems in life have to do with what we have experienced while growing up.
Why should you talk to someone in general and particular to me? Because winter is coming. Things won’t get better by themselves, your friends, spouse, or workmates might have complained about how you behave, or most commonly, people drop off, disappear from your life without a word, and you don't understand why you haven’t done anything wrong, or…
Do you like to have a better quality of life? Less low-quality people in your life and more high-quality people who don't disappoint you and are there for you when you need them? Of course, you do! I can help you to accomplish that. I will be there for you and listen to you. I won’t hesitate to share my own experiences during sessions if it can help you. Psychologists/therapists have been stereotyped being this calm person talking in a very soft voice dressed in corduroys pants, orthopedic shoes and a knitted sweater. Due to enter this profession in midlife, I’m different from many of my colleagues, both personality wise and politically. In additon I have decades of expereince in the healthcare field as a nurse, physio, and fitness trainer. Please, check out my blog to get to know me a little better.
In the last 20 years, it has been popular to do Cogitative Behavior Therapy CBT, It's about to change the way you think about things, and by doing that, you will change the way you behave and feel. Usually, it’s short term therapy, and it’s structured with questionnaires and ratings. You have many variants of this form of treatment. It’s popular because it claims to be evidence-based and shows results. One has to remember though, how these studies are done, usually with young inexperienced therapists who follow a specific pre-set format to be able to show reliability and validity. The follow up is often very poor. A majority of leading psychotherapists conclude, for a client to improve, the relationship with the therapist is extremely important, the single most crucial factor if the therapy will be beneficial or not. The legend in the pshychotherapy world is Dr. Irvin D. Yalom, a psychiatrist who worked with indivudals and groups for 60+ years. He is very critical to the manage care promoted short term cognitive behavior therapy. Dr. Yalom if anyone knows what he is talking about.
I use a combination of psychodynamic and existential therapy and also when needed to use more cognitive ways of dealing with issues. Sometimes I incorporate techniques from other therapies like Gestalt therapy. Bottom-line, I use the therapy format and techniques I think is most suitable for the person in front of me. Every session is different, tailored for the unique challenges we deal with that specific day. That said, we always agree about a plan on how to accomplish your goals at the beginning of therapy. We check in regularly how you are doing and how we are doing. Yes, usually a session doesn’t go by without I’m asking how the relationship (the so important process) is between us.
I know from my own experiences that I would have benefitted tremendously in the past if I had talked to a good therapist. It’s not easy to find one who is a match. I’m personally aware of that. If you are a man, you are unfortunately predisposed NOT to seek help and many men's families, friends, and workmates suffer because of that.There are no real standards in the therapy industry, yes, you have licensing to meet minimal requirements, but this gives you an enormous spectrum of therapists with different sets of skills and personalities within the same profession.
How do you avoid wasting time and money on a therapist who isn’t a match for you and leads you to give up on therapy? Will spending $400/session on a psychiatrist give you the best bang for your bucks? Probably not. Do you need to go to therapy once a week for the next five years? Most likely not, but DO NOT expect that issues you have had for years, maybe decades will be “cured” within two - three months. Going with a therapist who is the most convenient is never a good option, like many things in life, you might have to walk the extra mile to get the help you need and deserve. For you to choose the right therapist is crucial if you will solve your problems or not.
You don’t want to spend a fortune in the next couple of years on therapy without getting good results from it. I would suggest that you look for a therapist and test if you feel you can trust this person. Remember, for therapy to be effective; you can NOT censor your thoughts and feelings; therefore, trust is crucial, and it takes time to establish that, especially if you have bad experience from people in the past. Therapy is an investment which will improve your relatiionship with yourself and others. Yes, you might think, I'm not the problem, others are. What a good therapist could help you with, let say, the 1-2% that you can control, be responsible for in the relationship with others. How you deal these tiny procentage is very cruscial!
What I suggest you don't spend more than two sessions with any therapist before you decide if this man or woman can help you or not. Remember, most of us didn’t marry our first boy or girlfriend. It could take two-three therapists until you find the one who is right for you.
You should think if you prefer a male or female therapist or it doesn’t really matter. Ask yourself if you are ready to commit. Does the age of the therapist matter do you? It's evident that with age, most of us become wiser due to having accumulated life-experience, which will help to put the therapist in your shoes, be able to look out your window.
If I were you, I would go to therapy sooner than later, think if you broke your arm wouldn’t sit around and wait for it goes become better, no, you would go to the hospital and have it examined and get a cast, right? If you have issues/problems with yourself, others or situations I strongly suggest you get help, why should you and your loved ones suffer when you don’t need to?
Freud wasn’t always wrong. He thought a majority of humans’ problems have to do with sex in one way or other. This is not correct, but plenty of our issues, problems in life have to do with what we have experienced while growing up.
Why should you talk to someone in general and particular to me? Because winter is coming. Things won’t get better by themselves, your friends, spouse, or workmates might have complained about how you behave, or most commonly, people drop off, disappear from your life without a word, and you don't understand why you haven’t done anything wrong, or…
Do you like to have a better quality of life? Less low-quality people in your life and more high-quality people who don't disappoint you and are there for you when you need them? Of course, you do! I can help you to accomplish that. I will be there for you and listen to you. I won’t hesitate to share my own experiences during sessions if it can help you. Psychologists/therapists have been stereotyped being this calm person talking in a very soft voice dressed in corduroys pants, orthopedic shoes and a knitted sweater. Due to enter this profession in midlife, I’m different from many of my colleagues, both personality wise and politically. In additon I have decades of expereince in the healthcare field as a nurse, physio, and fitness trainer. Please, check out my blog to get to know me a little better.
In the last 20 years, it has been popular to do Cogitative Behavior Therapy CBT, It's about to change the way you think about things, and by doing that, you will change the way you behave and feel. Usually, it’s short term therapy, and it’s structured with questionnaires and ratings. You have many variants of this form of treatment. It’s popular because it claims to be evidence-based and shows results. One has to remember though, how these studies are done, usually with young inexperienced therapists who follow a specific pre-set format to be able to show reliability and validity. The follow up is often very poor. A majority of leading psychotherapists conclude, for a client to improve, the relationship with the therapist is extremely important, the single most crucial factor if the therapy will be beneficial or not. The legend in the pshychotherapy world is Dr. Irvin D. Yalom, a psychiatrist who worked with indivudals and groups for 60+ years. He is very critical to the manage care promoted short term cognitive behavior therapy. Dr. Yalom if anyone knows what he is talking about.
I use a combination of psychodynamic and existential therapy and also when needed to use more cognitive ways of dealing with issues. Sometimes I incorporate techniques from other therapies like Gestalt therapy. Bottom-line, I use the therapy format and techniques I think is most suitable for the person in front of me. Every session is different, tailored for the unique challenges we deal with that specific day. That said, we always agree about a plan on how to accomplish your goals at the beginning of therapy. We check in regularly how you are doing and how we are doing. Yes, usually a session doesn’t go by without I’m asking how the relationship (the so important process) is between us.
I know from my own experiences that I would have benefitted tremendously in the past if I had talked to a good therapist. It’s not easy to find one who is a match. I’m personally aware of that. If you are a man, you are unfortunately predisposed NOT to seek help and many men's families, friends, and workmates suffer because of that.There are no real standards in the therapy industry, yes, you have licensing to meet minimal requirements, but this gives you an enormous spectrum of therapists with different sets of skills and personalities within the same profession.
How do you avoid wasting time and money on a therapist who isn’t a match for you and leads you to give up on therapy? Will spending $400/session on a psychiatrist give you the best bang for your bucks? Probably not. Do you need to go to therapy once a week for the next five years? Most likely not, but DO NOT expect that issues you have had for years, maybe decades will be “cured” within two - three months. Going with a therapist who is the most convenient is never a good option, like many things in life, you might have to walk the extra mile to get the help you need and deserve. For you to choose the right therapist is crucial if you will solve your problems or not.
You don’t want to spend a fortune in the next couple of years on therapy without getting good results from it. I would suggest that you look for a therapist and test if you feel you can trust this person. Remember, for therapy to be effective; you can NOT censor your thoughts and feelings; therefore, trust is crucial, and it takes time to establish that, especially if you have bad experience from people in the past. Therapy is an investment which will improve your relatiionship with yourself and others. Yes, you might think, I'm not the problem, others are. What a good therapist could help you with, let say, the 1-2% that you can control, be responsible for in the relationship with others. How you deal these tiny procentage is very cruscial!
What I suggest you don't spend more than two sessions with any therapist before you decide if this man or woman can help you or not. Remember, most of us didn’t marry our first boy or girlfriend. It could take two-three therapists until you find the one who is right for you.
You should think if you prefer a male or female therapist or it doesn’t really matter. Ask yourself if you are ready to commit. Does the age of the therapist matter do you? It's evident that with age, most of us become wiser due to having accumulated life-experience, which will help to put the therapist in your shoes, be able to look out your window.
If I were you, I would go to therapy sooner than later, think if you broke your arm wouldn’t sit around and wait for it goes become better, no, you would go to the hospital and have it examined and get a cast, right? If you have issues/problems with yourself, others or situations I strongly suggest you get help, why should you and your loved ones suffer when you don’t need to?
Remember, your life is your life; you got ONE!!! It's not a rehearsal for the real one. I advise you to live it accordingly and take the actions needed to make it as good as possible. It's time for YOU to stop piling up regrets!
"I have known Chris Kallevag for a number of years; first as a trainer and then as a friend. I came to know Chris when I was looking for a personal trainer who could help me increase my strength and stamina. I found Chris to be very competent and knowledgeable – he always went the extra distance to help me reach my goals.
Chris is a very personable guy and works well with others. I only know him to be responsible and focused on achieving his goals and helping others achieve theirs.
I would not hesitate to recommend Chris for any endeavor he chooses to pursue.
Sincerely,
Michael MacDonald"
Mickey MacDonald, CEO & President Micco Companies. Halifax, Canada
Chris is a very personable guy and works well with others. I only know him to be responsible and focused on achieving his goals and helping others achieve theirs.
I would not hesitate to recommend Chris for any endeavor he chooses to pursue.
Sincerely,
Michael MacDonald"
Mickey MacDonald, CEO & President Micco Companies. Halifax, Canada
For more testimonials please go here: Testimonials
How does it work?
We offer one hour, half a day, or full day appointments
We could meet anywhere there we have privacy, including my office, your place, the beach, or over the phone.
Examples of topics you may want to talk about:
We offer one hour, half a day, or full day appointments
We could meet anywhere there we have privacy, including my office, your place, the beach, or over the phone.
Examples of topics you may want to talk about:
- Lonliness
- Change of lifestyle
- Motivation and discipline to take care of your
- Strength training, cardio, & nutrition
- Rehabilitation and rebuilding after serious
- Weight-loss
- Marriage, Sex, & Children
- Work
- Relationship with others
- Social skills training
- Rehabilitation & exercise of the aging body
- Living in Israel or do you thinking of moving to
- Understand different cultures
- Career choice
To be alone should be a choice!
Photo: Chris Kallevag
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-Chris Kallevag, M.Sc. Psychology (student, will graduate 2020), Licensed Physiotherapist (swe), Personal Trainer, Photographer & Writer. Lived: Sweden 33 years, Australia 1year, Canada 11 years, Israel since 2010 . |
