We hear over and over that ‘money is the root of all evil,’ or that ‘money can’t buy happiness.’ So how come it’s such a major part of our lives? Couples fight over it so much that it’s one of … Continue reading →

People often ask me if anything annoys me about my job. I love what I do. But if anything gets to me, it’s when a client pays me good money to give advice, and then doesn’t take it — only … Continue reading →

A reader emails me about disagreements she has with her friend. Their differences are on very fundamental levels, and she wonders if there is a point or a line that two people reach when the gap between their values is … Continue reading →

TThe subject of spanking children is a perpetually unresolved debate. There’s a lot of emotion involved, but not a lot of reasoning. From a psychological point of view, there is in fact compelling evidence as to why physical punishment is … Continue reading →

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 →

If you’re reading this on the beach, I’m here to tell you that this is a great place to live. Shortly after I moved here, an associate from my former practice in Washington, D.C. likened resort dwellers to ‘outlaws.’ I … Continue reading →

A reader emails about her friend who is divorced from a man who was not a nice person. She enjoys being with her new boyfriend because he is kind to her. However, the reader’s friend confides in her that her … Continue reading →

A popular misconception about counseling and 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, and also the parade of insipid ‘self-help’ authors … Continue reading →

After my third book, ‘Bad Therapy, Good Therapy (And How to Tell the Difference)’ went on sale last year, I received a number of emails asking if bad therapy is better than no therapy at all. My answer is ‘No.’ … Continue reading →

Many of the comments I get from readers boil down to one basic question: “Why is what I can’t have, often more appealing than what I can have?” Wanting what you can’t have is the easy way out. In other … Continue reading →

While speaking with people who have lost someone of great value to them, I’ve learned so much about what they want (and don’t want) to hear in these situations. Most often, people who have experienced a tragic loss simply want … Continue reading →

Why are some people inclined to jump out of airplanes or risk thousands in the stock market, while others find it difficult just to meet new people? Why do some of us avoid risk at all costs, while for others … Continue reading →