After practicing psychotherapy professionally for almost 30 years, one can’t help but notice patterns. Problems may take different forms, but the core issues often fall into just a few categories. Life doesn’t need to be as hard as some people … Continue reading
In my 30+ years talking to people professionally, I have discovered that most people’s fears are not rational, i.e., not based on facts. Most fear results in nothing more than avoidance just for the sake of avoidance. “If I avoid … Continue reading
My daily experience repeatedly debunks the myth that good relationships require constant work. Good relationships already work well, because each partner is getting what he or she wants. Anyone in a happy, mutually satisfying relationship will tell you that he … Continue reading
After a holiday, clients occasionally admit to me that interactions with family, grown children, aging parents and old friends were often tinged with guilt. In spite of all the jokes (“What? You can’t call your mother once in a while? … Continue reading
How many times have we heard people say, “It’s all ego.” Or, “He did it out of ego.” Or worse yet, “I don’t want this to be about ego. I want it to be about something better, or higher.” All … Continue reading
In spite of all the political rhetoric about bullying going on here in Delaware, the subject still hits a little close to home. A good friend confided to me that his son – a smart, gentle and pleasant 11-year-old, was … Continue reading
I used to love the annual “Peanuts” comic strip where Lucy Van Pelt suffered from “Post-Christmas Letdown” over gifts she wanted but didn’t get. In like fashion, the holidays are over, but the sad remnants still linger some of us. … Continue reading
The new year brings all sorts of resolutions and promises, and one of the most popular is to get things clean and in order. People often ask me if it’s obsessive or neurotic to enjoy cleaning, and I have good … Continue reading
Several months ago I was sitting at a red light when a large pickup truck sped by — on the shoulder, around stopped cars – and ran the light. He never looked. He never slowed down. This is not a … Continue reading
I think pretty much everyone will admit that most new year’s resolutions fail. In spite of the best of intentions, most are destined for disaster. Why? Because they’re artificial. You can’t resolve to do something just because it happens to … Continue reading
Champagne and too many of those little cocktail wieners can result in some pretty outlandish new year’s resolutions. It’s tricky to say what you mean and mean what you say when you’re counting backwards from 10 and balancing a lampshade … Continue reading
Apparently somebody out there is reading this page, because over the last week or so I have received a number of emails asking me to reprint this article from a couple of years ago. The response then was amazing, and … Continue reading