I get so many emails and questions about coping with changes in life. Part of it is that so many of us who live here are transplants, having left familiar places behind in favor of living here on the Delaware … Continue reading →

With the winter behind us and the pleasures of summer just around the corner, it seems kind of silly to write a column about smiling. But after doing what I do for over 25 years I know that not everybody … Continue reading →

An online quiz suggests that concern about fire or burglary in your home or catching a disease could be signs of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Though some attention to detail is perfectly reasonable and even necessary to avoid misfortune, the … Continue reading →

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 →