Many of us tell lies at one time or another. Most likely they’re little white lies to spare somebody’s feelings, or to get out of some commitment that we probably should never have made in the first place. The majority … Continue reading →

There’s a saying that suggests that you should never do business with friends. I received an email from a reader who did business here locally with a friend, and now there are problems with the expensive item she purchased. The … Continue reading →

It’s a rare day in my office when a client doesn’t ask me about bringing up kids to be responsible in money matters. I’m in the interesting position of having talked to hundreds of people about their childhoods while simultaneously … Continue reading →

People often ask me, “What does a psychotherapist do? What happens in psychotherapy? The short answer is that we help people identify what’s bothering them about other people in their lives, and help them figure out how to change the … Continue reading →

With all the political rhetoric about bullying going on here in Delaware, the subject recently hit a little too close to home. A good friend confided to me that his son – a smart, gentle and pleasant 11-year-old, was being … Continue reading →

A reader emails that her husband harps on her to moderate her drinking, smoking, eating, etc. She knows he loves her, but she worries that his concern for her health isn’t enough to motivate her. She tries to cut back, … Continue reading →

“You can’t do that! It’s not fair! I never get a fair shake!” How many times have we heard (or said) these things? When one is especially frustrated about the timing of events or the pile-up of ordinary stressors, it’s … Continue reading →

People often make appointments with me to “fine-tune” some aspect of their life. For example, a reader emails that he and his wife want to attend marriage counseling to help make things “as vibrant and healthy as possible.” He goes … Continue reading →

People often say to me, “Why am I feeling down? Why do I feel sorry for myself?” It’s a perfectly reasonable observation, but it doesn’t get to the heart of why some people cope better than others. The key to … Continue reading →

I received an email from a reader regarding a recent column where I wrote that a fear of success could be a fear of being “found out” as a fraud – whether you earned the success or not. The writer … Continue reading →

Contrary to what the drug companies would have you think, anxiety can often be a useful and necessary thing; specifically, when that anxiety triggers a call to sensible action. For example, you feel anxious at the sight of an oncoming … Continue reading →

Pop-psychology loves to tout that the purpose of therapy is to “deal with the past.” I suspect that at least part of that comes from the feel-good prattle that pervades Oprah, Ellen, and the rest of daytime TV’s vast wasteland. … Continue reading →