Around this time of year, so many people tell me how they find the gift-giving process stressful and/or downright unpleasant. (Not everybody does, mind you, but some definitely do.) There’s got to be a better way to enjoy Christmas! I … 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
All the endless political rhetoric about bullying hits a little close to home. A while ago, a very good friend confided to me that his son, a smart, gentle and pleasant 11-year-old, was being attacked by bullies. All of a … Continue reading
I’ve written before that many people set their holiday expectations very high. So high, in fact, that the need for “comfort and joy” can sometimes set the stage for tension. Clients often admit to me that the seasonal pressure to … Continue reading
People ask me all the time, “So what’s better? Psychiatric drugs or talk therapy?” Regular visitors to this page know that ideas and thoughts are the cause of emotions and actions, and that psychiatric drugs cannot be the primary tool … Continue reading
Barely a week goes by where somebody doesn’t ask me what mistake people make most often when dealing with family and friends. Regular readers of this page can probably predict my answer: The biggest mistake people make is trying to … Continue reading
Caveat emptor: Let the buyer beware! Like any product or service you buy, you have to be sure that the mental health professional you choose is right for you. My most recent book, “Bad Therapy, Good Therapy (And How to … Continue reading
You need a license to drive a car, to open a business or to serve liquor, but you don’t need a license to raise a child. Though the word “license” suggests some sort of permission, my point is that there’s … Continue reading
The holiday buying season (and in fact, most of today’s news reports) are becoming more and more marred by reports of shoplifting. And our seemingly safe and quiet Cape Region is no exception. The nationwide Police Foundation reports that shoplifting … Continue reading
Fall is HOA meeting time, and it always results in questions about difficult people. A Delaware Wave reader emails that her new HOA president is just plain obnoxious. He barks orders like they’re in boot camp, talks WAY too much, … Continue reading
Problems in relationships and business usually boil down to one thing: Bad judgment. Good judgment is in terribly short supply nowadays. Like the overabundance of selections on cable and the Internet, we’re saturated with options and dilemmas, including everyday decisions … Continue reading
People sometimes tell me that daytime “self-help” shows leave them with the impression that their parents are to blame for many of their problems. I suspect it’s a lot more complicated than that, and, by the way, the vapid banality … Continue reading