Unless you recently landed on this planet, you’re probably aware that text messaging is a quick and easy way to communicate using a cell phone. Abbreviated phrases are typed out and instantly transmitted to the recipient’s cell phone screen. For … Continue reading
Category: Life’s a Beach!
Are Feelings Hazardous to your Health? (DE Coast Press)
Several months ago I was sitting at a red light on Rt. 113 when a large pickup truck sped by — on the shoulder, around stopped cars — and ran the light. He never looked. He never slowed down. This … Continue reading
Pop-Psychology vs. Real Life (DE Wave)
Pop-psychology loves to tout that the purpose of therapy is to ‘deal with the past.’ I suspect that at least part of that comes from those feel-good authors who appear on Oprah, Ellen, and the rest of daytime TV’s vast … Continue reading
Wanting What You Cannot Have (DE Coast Press)
So many people say to me, “Why is what I can’t have more appealing than what I can have?” The answer is easy: Wanting what you can’t have is the easy way out. In other words, fantasy is often preferable … Continue reading
Rushing: What’s the Point? (DE Wave)
The wonderful ‘shoulder season’ is just around the corner! The weather is still great, but the crowds are (mostly) gone. Whether you’re a resident or just visiting, you probably came here because of a desire to take things slower. Why … Continue reading
Is PTSD a Medical Disease? (DE Coast Press)
I regularly receive letters and emails asking me about post-traumatic stress disorder; predominately an issue for military personnel returning from active duty. While everybody agrees that some people certainly do suffer from PTSD, I’m often asked if others might be … Continue reading
“Victim Think” Not Good for the “Victim” (DE Wave)
People often ask me, ‘What does a psychotherapist do? What happens in psychotherapy? The short answer is that we help people identify what’s bothering them about other people in their lives, and help them figure out how to change the … Continue reading
I’m happy when you’re happy (DE Coast Press)
One of the subjects that couples bring up in my office is how to make — or keep — a marriage happy for both parties. My first reaction is to remind them that they are on the same team; that … Continue reading
Passive Anger is the Worst Kind (DE Wave)
Barely does a sitcom or TV talk show go by without the word ‘passive aggressive’ popping up. Despite its overuse, it is a very real behavior. Do any of these situations sound familiar? 1. A friend assures you that he’s … Continue reading
When Therapy is the Problem (DE Coast Press)
After my third book, ‘Bad Therapy, Good Therapy (And How to Tell the Difference)’ went on sale, I received a number of emails asking if bad therapy is better than no therapy at all. My answer is ‘No.’ Good therapy … Continue reading
If you care, don’t interfere (DE Wave)
I received an email from a reader who tells me that her best friend is unhappy in her marriage. She writes, ‘It really pains me to see her this way. I think she’s sort of looking for someone to tell … Continue reading
Break the shyness cycle! (DE Coast Press)
It’s the peak of the season, and it’s doesn’t get much more crowded than this. But for some people, the thought of walking onto a crowded boardwalk or into a busy restaurant makes them nervous. If that’s sounds familiar to … Continue reading