A successful person is not someone who wakes up one day and has a brilliant idea, immediately implements the idea — and enjoys massive success, just like that. Great ideas do sometimes come on suddenly, although usually they do not. … Continue reading
Category: Psychology & Self-Improvement
Review of Dr. Hurd’s New Book, Bad Therapy, Good Therapy: And How to Tell the Difference
Author Alexandra York’s review of Dr. Hurd’s new book: Dr. Hurd begins this very important, very serious book by making us laugh. Taking a hypothetical patient with a problem to seven different therapists and giving us seven different opinions on … Continue reading
The Self-Flattery of “Addiction Treatment” Specialists
Is addiction a choice? The controversy continues. One reader writes in to DrHurd.com the following: “I have done more than average investigation into the concept of addiction. I believe there can be multiple causes, both biological and psychological. This is … Continue reading
Note to Perfectionists: Don’t Try to Improve!
Perfectionists make the error of “trying to improve.” Their motivation is one of good intentions, but as the saying goes, “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.” Perfectionists will try to improve not for an objective reason, that … Continue reading
If Addiction Is an Illness, What’s The Cause — and Cure?
A reader, objecting to my article on how addiction is a choice, makes the following complaints: As a therapist you should know that addiction is generally associated with a disregulation of the reward centers in the brain — i.e., the … Continue reading
Bad Therapy, Good Therapy: Excerpts
First excerpt from Dr. Michael Hurd’s new book, “Bad Therapy, Good Therapy: And How to Tell the Difference”: Dangerous misconception #1: There are cures for all emotional problems. In reality, there are no cures. A ‘cure’ would refer to a … Continue reading
Bad Marital Therapy, Good Marital Therapy
Q: Dear Dr. Hurd: My wife and I are looking to attend marriage counseling — not because our marriage is in bad shape, but because we want our marriage to be as vibrant and healthy as possible. When seeking out … Continue reading
The Therapist You Call Doctor
Q: Dr. Hurd, I like my psychotherapist, but I’m seeking a game plan. I want to know what I’m supposed to do. Should I ask my therapist to provide this for me? Is it an example of bad therapy if … Continue reading
Not Everyone Welcomes Change
Q: Could you comment about the subject of personal growth and how it changes the roles of relationships: platonic, romantic, and family? When people improve themselves morally, ethically, and rationally, therefore increasing their self-esteem, confidence and ability, then their relationships with those around … Continue reading
OCD, Addiction: How Much is Too Much?
People often ask: At what point is something an “addiction”? At what point has someone gone too far with something, so far that it’s officially a “problem”? The problem with these kinds of questions is that they assume the definition … Continue reading
NHHD
Q: I’ve been experiencing communication recently with others that I have been trying to identify psychologically. I’m referring to: People who project their own shortcomings or personality faults onto others and hold them accountable, but not themselves, for those exact … Continue reading
Is Biology Destiny?
Dr. Hurd: I am reading your new book, “Bad Therapy, Good Therapy,” and I have been wondering what you mean by the following sentence: “Feelings and emotions are deeply rooted in our physiology and can be notoriously slow to catch … Continue reading