As the holidays (and increased interaction with family and friends) approach, one topic that sometimes comes up is the issue of control. The squabbles, tension and hurt feelings that often result from the behaviors of a controlling person are testament … Continue reading →

You might recall reading about the recent deaths of three people at a self-help seminar in Sedona, Arizona. The seminar consisted of a ‘spiritual awakening’ event at a sweat lodge. A woman who took part in the ceremony told The … Continue reading →

A reader sent an email telling me that she feels ‘used’ by her friends and family. She wasn’t clear on the details, but I have found that some people think they’re being used just because someone gets something out of … Continue reading →

My therapy office is exactly eleven steps from the waiting room. About a minute ago, I found myself standing out there — utterly clueless as to WHY I went in the first place. Whatever my perfectly good reason had been … Continue reading →

People often ask me if older widowed people should remarry. The obvious answer is yes, of course, if they want to. But sometimes it’s not so easy. Many widows and widowers feel it’s disloyal to their late spouse, and those … Continue reading →

There are many myths involving what actually happens in a therapy session. I think that some people actually believe all that feel-good nonsense they see on daytime TV talk shows, and expect their visit to be an instant cure for … Continue reading →

We read all the time about depression, anxiety and ‘anger management.’ But what about bitterness? Well, things seem to be looking up for the bitter among us: The American Psychiatric Association (APA) is considering classifying bitterness as a mental disorder. … Continue reading →

A regular reader sent me an email asking for my perspective on an interesting psychological oddity, namely, people who don’t like to be treated well. Of course most of us want to be treated with kindness and respect, but she … Continue reading →

I recently had a close encounter (of the obnoxious kind) in a local grocery store. My regular readers know that these little adventures of mine frequently end up as columns, and this one’s no exception. A woman who showed no … Continue reading →

According to the nationwide Police Foundation, shoplifting continues to be a major crime problem in spite of millions of dollars spent on surveillance and enforcement. Over two million shoplifting cases per year are detected but not reported. And of the … Continue reading →

Memory and emotions often work hand-in-hand. Though a person might appear to only remember what he ‘wants to remember,” it doesn’t necessarily mean that he’s deliberately choosing to forget. That would just be lying. But sometimes a person will only … Continue reading →

‘You are what you do.’ Really? Isn’t there more to life than just our jobs? For many people, the problem isn’t how much they work, but how they define themselves in relation to their work. If you ‘are what you … Continue reading →