The summer season at the beach is all about up close & personal time together. With families, this can be good – or not so good – especially when it involves restless teenagers. My family therapy experience has revealed six … Continue reading
A reader emails that her father always cautioned her that “the grass is always greener,” i.e., that she should keep searching for something better than what she already has. She asks me if an endless quest for that “something better” … Continue reading
People sometimes ask me if clients lie to their therapists. Though it seems kind of self-defeating — considering they’re paying for the sessions — I’ll admit that I’ve gotten pretty good at figuring out when somebody’s not telling the truth. … Continue reading
Rarely does a day go by that people don’t talk to me about their jobs. The best motivation for work is happiness and fulfillment, and though that fulfillment might not happen all at once, the activity should be productive, and … Continue reading
Marriage and commitment are often at the top of the list when I talk to people in my office. And for good reason! Research shows that in the U.S., about half of first marriages fail, as do two-thirds of second … Continue reading
People are often surprised when I suggest that one of our therapeutic goals will be to help them think, i.e., trusting their senses, and integrating reality into abstract conclusions. Rational thought is necessary to intelligently answer big questions like, “Should … Continue reading
A couple of years ago I came across a fascinating case involving a friend who had been morbidly overweight for years. She contracted a bad sinus infection that left her without the ability to smell. The sense of smell is … Continue reading
I seem to be getting more and more emails from readers and site visitors about this subject. And sadly, it never gets old. “I’m the primary caretaker for my aging mother who is suffering from advanced Alzheimer’s. Unlike death, where … Continue reading
A regular reader emails that he is having difficulty coming to terms with his girlfriend’s sexual history. He says that they are very much in love, but that he obsesses over her past with other men. He asks if it’s … Continue reading
How many times today will somebody ask you how you’re feeling? But is feeling good the primary goal of our human experience? Before you turn the page, think about it: Does it always feel good to do the right thing … Continue reading
People often tell me that they don’t feel motivated to do something because they lack the conviction that they have a good reason to do it. In other words, that reason must be connected to one’s self-interest. If your child … Continue reading
How often have we heard – or even said – “I need a drink! I’ve had a hard day. I need a nice big meal — or a cigarette….” In the face of stress, it can be tempting to self-medicate … Continue reading