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Lately, I’ve realized how much I rely on ChatGPT—not just for writing or research, but for things like fixing my pool filter, ID’ing...

Some thoughts about being a supervisor of others By Lex E. Santí, LCSW, MFA I didn’t become a therapist in the traditional way. In fact,...

Lex Enrico Santí, A Key Therapy LCSW, PLLC (With gratitude to Matt Kahn) In my practice, one of the teachings I return to most often—particularly with clients struggling with self-doubt, anxious thinking, or intrusive thoughts—is a talk by Matt Kahn titled The Will of the Heart. In this deeply compassionate lecture, Matt unpacks what he calls the most self-defeating phrase in the human language: “I hope this doesn’t happen.” The first time I heard this I was taking a drive to

Lex Enrico Santi, LCSW MFA Walking in my woods in Trumansburg, NY. Photo credit: Jesse Winter I did not always want to be a...

Lex Enrico Santí, A Key Therapy LCSW, PLLC The intricate relationship between gut health and mental well-being has garnered significant attention in recent years. Emerging research suggests that the state of our digestive system can profoundly influence our psychological health, particularly concerning anxiety. This connection is often referred to as the gut-brain axis, a complex communication network linking the gastrointestinal tract and the brain. While I am a licensed the

I found Careless People to be an enthralling and deeply troubling read. It is a riveting page-turner that holds nothing back, written...

Reflections on identity based support By: Lex Enrico Santi, LCSW, MFA -- A Key Therapy PLLC My experience in higher education and...

Lex Enrico Santí, LCSW, MFA As a therapist working on a college campus, I see daily the battle between the heart and the mind play out in students, faculty, and staff. Academia is a space that deeply values intellect—the ability to analyze, critique, and rationalize. In many ways, this environment conditions people to depend on their minds above all else, often at the expense of their hearts. I work with students and professors who are deeply entrenched in this way of being,

Lex Enrico Santí, LCSW, MFA Ramakrishna, the great Indian saint, often told the story of the three robbers as a metaphor for the different forces that shape our lives. As a social worker at Cornell, I saw parallels between this story and the challenges students faced in understanding themselves, navigating external expectations, and ultimately striving toward personal freedom. Sri Ramakrishna The Story of the Three Robbers A traveler is making his way through the forest when