When it comes to our inner life, many of us are like newborns fluttering our eyes, trying to fathom a mysterious world that makes no sense to us. Not only is this inner world opaque, but our mind rebels when presented with the startling knowledge that exposes our compulsive … [Read more...] about Make Sense of Your Suffering
Ten Ways to Know Yourself
How do you get to know yourself, to find yourself, to like or love yourself? You establish a foundation of self-respect and integrity. You ground yourself in your essential goodness, worthiness, and strength. We can do this by becoming more attuned to the unconscious … [Read more...] about Ten Ways to Know Yourself
The Interplay of Neurosis and Democracy
The deeper the insight, the more we resist it. Like wild animals reacting to their reflection in a mirror, we are shocked to see an unknown self. Why are we shocked? In the mirror of self-knowledge, we see the extent of our self-deception—plus our unconscious pursuit of … [Read more...] about The Interplay of Neurosis and Democracy
A Case of Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS)
This post is an excerpt from a psychotherapy session I had with a client. The post provides deep insight into aspects of PAS, and it also serves as an example of how my telephone sessions typically proceed. The name Carol is a pseudonym, and the content here has been edited and … [Read more...] about A Case of Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS)
How and Why We Sabotage Love
This month I’m posting an excerpt from LoveSmart: Transforming the Emotional Patterns that Sabotage Relationships, by my late wife, Sandra Michaelson. If I knew of a better book on relationships than this one, I would honestly tell you. This book of Sandra’s, one of three she … [Read more...] about How and Why We Sabotage Love