Pop psychology loves to tout the purpose of therapy as “dealing with the past.” I suspect that at least part of that comes from the feel-good prattle that pervades Oprah, Ellen, and the rest of daytime TV’s vast wasteland. But … Continue reading
We all know people who overdo things. Clients ask me about their loved ones and wonder if excessive habits such as smoking or drinking could open the door to something more harmful, like addiction. The essence of addiction is that … Continue reading
We all know at least one person who complains about pretty much everything. He or she has nothing good to say, and (gleefully) zeros in on other people’s weaknesses — real or exaggerated. I’ve learned from experience that people do … Continue reading
We’ve all heard the phrase, “blaming the victim.” Normally, this expression applies when one party blames another — the actual victim — for something he or she did not cause. Things have become so backwards and upside down in our … Continue reading
“Do you crave Facebook likes?” asks Martin Graff, Ph.D., in a recent article and study. People say it all the time: “The attention I get from social media is important to me,” or, “I consider someone to be popular based … Continue reading
Many people are trained to believe that the reasonable thing to do is to compromise; to meet the other person halfway. That might sound nice, but in my experience it doesn’t always work. All action needs to be purposeful. And … Continue reading
A popular misconception about psychotherapy is that it’s all about the past. This probably stems from the clichéd image of the bearded Freudian psychoanalyst quietly dozing in his leather chair – not to mention the circus parade of insipid “self-help” … Continue reading
The new year can bring new ideas and new relationships. And first impressions can often determine if those relationships will last. Michelle T. Sterling, founder of Global Image Group and an expert on “image, impression and impact”, says, “The first … Continue reading
In spite of the best of intentions, pretty much everyone will admit that most new year’s resolutions fail. Why? Because they’re artificial. You can’t resolve to do something just because it happens to be January 1 – or any date, … Continue reading
With the proliferation of TV shows centered around the paranormal, even skeptics might wonder if belief in the supernatural serves any purpose. Clay Routledge, Ph.D., a researcher on the subject and author of “More Than Mortal” thinks it’s about meaning … Continue reading
In my clinical experience over the years I’ve seen many human relationships that are not everything they could be. Marriages routinely end in chronic dissatisfaction and eventually divorce. More and more I see people treating one another poorly. I suspect … Continue reading
In the comic strip “Peanuts,” Lucy van Pelt referred to this time of year as “post-Christmas letdown,” when you mourn for the gifts you wanted but didn’t get. It’s also during this season when I get questions from parents asking … Continue reading