Scott Polenz LMFT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cIT06K3gg8&feature=youtu.be

This month marks 30 years sinceI've seen my first client as a psychotherapist. I still maintain this is a sacred profession. each human being - each one of us - have a very personal journey we are taking called existence. For some of us, our lives start out with exceptional challenges. For others we encounter traumatic adversities that we learn to overcome. Despite these challenges (and have you noticed that every one of us have our own set of issues we are faced with?) we ar...Continue reading

I am moving my office on July 13! My new location will be: 1398 W. Indianapolis Avenue #101 - (West Ave) Fresno, CA. 93705. My phone numbers should remain the same. Please stay tuned to this FB page for further updates, etc. Thank you!

It occurs to me that we still have some talented and gifted activists

It occurred to me that our profession focuses a great deal on the lead up to the holiday stress, depression, etc. What there isn't a lot of is discussion about post holiday expectations. Sometimes the difficult emotional reaction to the holidays can either linger into January or not even show up until now. Maybe there was much anticipated joy and excitement at the prospect of reconnecting with family and friends and being in the "Christmas Spirit" and when it's over, there's ...a let down. Perhaps this was why New Year's Resolutions were invented, to off set any let downs from the holiday joy. This is what I am focusing on. How can we make each day, each season of a year as joyful as the Christmas season is portrayed to be? I try to make each day a beautifully wrapped present that I open throughout the day. In other words - minus the expense and stress of holiday shopping, incorporate into each day that simple magical feeling of fulfillment and enjoyment. Not because of something, just for no other reason than I am alive. Favorable and unfavorable circumstances will always come and go...and sometimes devastating news. However, they are circumstances, adding different flavors to our existence, yet not taking away from the brilliant fact that we are alive, breathing, and invited to this banquet of life. It does require us to connect with that place within us that is connected to the timeless within us. This may be called heart, or soul, or Godspace, or...it doesn't matter. it is an inner resource that knows automatically how to appreciate. How to seek out gratitude and experiences that elicit gratitude from that simple place of appreciation. Do we need to learn to appeciate? Did you have to study or take a class to enjoy that beautiful sunset? No, it was innate, natural, already within you to appreciate the beauty of the sunset. It's the same with life. Each of us has this built in ability to appreciate. So, regardless of what day or time of year - even in cold, dark, dreary January.....you can enjoy your life, and yourself. This is how I choose to move through the post holidays. Will you join me? See more

Hang in there people,...for it's that most wonderful time of the year,...again. It's the Holidays and it's really easy to get caught up in the excitement (and stress) of the holidays,...but maybe this year you would like to take another approach? Bah-Humbug, you're guessing....Nah...You don't want to be Grinch or Ebenezer Scrooge....You want to be You, just not spread too thin, or taking on too many other people's "expectations". So, breathe deeply NOW. Inhale/Exhale You can ...only do what you can do. We all fall prey to wanting to please everyone in our families, our friends, our co-workers who's names we drew and we don't even know them...sound familiar? I say this year, you just be yourself, on your own timeline, moving through the pre-holiday anticipation at your own pace. Christmas cards not sent yet? Breathe! Shopping not finished completely on black Friday,...??? Breathe deeply again. 'Tis the season for Joy...You are the gift. Your loved ones are your gifts, not whatever you still need to wrap and put under the tree. I think you are following me by now. Perspective. Priorities. Love, and Christmas cheer...ful. Really, this will be the best gift you can give anyone and you don't even need to wrap it. Your inner Joy bubbling over is the hot commodity for Christmas this year. Life, liberty, and the pursuit and accomplishment of happiness. Seriously. Look in the mirror and ask yourself ,"Are you happy?" This is a great place to start this year....a gift to yourself! Happiness. Now, take one more deep breath, and go have some fun! Drive gently in the rain. Do not take tings personally, and never assume! Merry, Merry Christmas! Peace is always within you.....

Come one, come all...meet your peers. No matter what your pronouns, orientation, gender, issues....Please feel warmly invited to this safe, nurturing, liberating, and purposeful group especially for LGBTQIA teens. Please invite or bring along anyone you know who might benefit from the support, camaraderie, and therapeutic benefits from this group.

The Stigma of Psychotherapy... Today I was speaking with a client in session about why some people have such a "resistance" to attending their own personl therapy. As we speculated, it became clear to me that what some of us fear about therapy is what emotions we may feel, what insights we might uncover, and perhaps some discomfort thinking that the therapist we might be working with would somehow judge us, or feel us to be inferior in some manner. Ironically, most of those ...Continue reading

I am very invested in the LGBTQIA teen (14 - 18) therapy group which meets on the first and third Sundays of each month. We meet at the Lutheran "Our Savior" Church fellowship hall from 4:00 to 5:30 pm and then a pizza/social period where parents may join in. For more information please feel free to contact me at 559-227-5500 which is my private office. I will be happy to speak with any teens or parents who are interested in more information. I have been working with the Tran...sgender population for 25+ years. These wonderfully and courageous teens and adults face every day of their lives challenges that would make most of us unravel and lose our convictions. It is my intention, with so many other clinicians like Sallie Hunt LMFT, Carol Montgomery, LMFT and many more, to champion all transgender individuals, whatever their pronouns, and place they are in their respective transitioning. It is my honor and privilege to do so. Talk about strength of human spirit...I am inspired every day by the accomplishments and goals reached by so many in this community by the sheer determination and will to feel congruent as a human being. Thank you for keeping your "eyes on the prize". Scott Polenz, LMFT See more

My heart goes out to all who are experiencing the wrath of the inferno buring through Malibu and southern Cali north of LA. Not only did Thousand Oaks endure the horror of the shootings, as if that wasn't scary enough, to have it followed up by such all encompassing and disastrous winds and fires, it feels like it's too much for one region. My love and concern is vigilant for all my friends and beautiful people who are contending with these fires, and for those incredibly brave and heroic first responders, fire fighters, medical staff, animal rescue volunteers and everyone and anyone else involved and impacted by these fires. Much Love and Grace to you all!