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 →

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 →

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 →

One of the biggest wastes of time in my office is working with a client who wants me to validate his or her irrational emotions. When I refuse to do that, they of course accuse me of ‘not caring about … Continue reading →

People often ask me to define cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in simple terms. A great example of CBT at work can be viewed at an unlikely source: Chef Robert Irvine’s Food Network series, Restaurant Impossible. FoodTV.com describes the show as … Continue reading →

A reader from Ocean City writes that her new HOA president is just plain obnoxious. He barks orders like they’re in boot camp, talks WAY too much, and has taken to sending nasty letters for the slightest infraction (or what … Continue reading →

Deep breathing is an effective technique for relaxation. The influx of oxygen can help relieve stress, and it’s a lot less risky and expensive than medication. But, like medication, oxygen is only a temporary fix. In other words, it’s no … Continue reading →

A subject that often arises in my office is the art (and science) of organizing schedules and planning goals. Many people tell me that they usually err on the side of making their schedules too inflexible. It is true that … Continue reading →

It’s a rare social event where somebody doesn’t ask me to tell them what spouses and couples complain about the most. I see so many problems: money, kids, in-laws (!) — it’s tough to nail it down. But if I … Continue reading →

A popular misconception about psychotherapy is that it’s all about the past. This probably stems from the clich image of the bearded Freudian psychoanalyst quietly dozing in his leather chair — not to mention the circus parade of insipid ‘self-help’ … Continue reading →

A new University of Wisconsin-Madison imaging study shows the brains of people with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) have weaker connections between a brain structure that controls emotional response, and the amygdala, which plays a key role in the processing of … Continue reading →

A reader tells me that her sister is not a good parent. Though she leaves her kids alone at all hours, speaks rudely to them and feeds them fast-food every day, she resents the fact that they don’t appreciate her. … Continue reading →