What’s brewing inside us when we’re frequently feeling wrong or bad? How about if we’re feeling lonely, overwhelmed, jealous, anxious, or bitter? Or if we’re having difficulty getting our life in order and functioning at our best? It's time to stop blaming others or … [Read more...] about The Emotional Conflict Behind 50 Mental-Health Symptoms
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Haunted by Incessant Wanting
What do you want, and why do you want it? How intense is your wanting? To what degree is your wanting a form of suffering? These are questions tackled by philosopher-entrepreneur Luke Burgis in his book, Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life (St. Martin’s … [Read more...] about Haunted by Incessant Wanting
Understanding the Assault on the U.S. Capitol
Donald Trump instigated the assault last week on the U.S. Capitol. Yet he’s now on the way out of office and no longer a prime worry. More pressing is the need to understand and address the convoluted inner life of the members of his mob. Understanding is vital because traces of … [Read more...] about Understanding the Assault on the U.S. Capitol
The Sheepishness of the Psyche: A One-Act Play
With this short play, I’m spoofing the practice of psychotherapy. This playful piece of writing serves as a holiday respite from my usual serious content. The old version of this post, published in 2017, is here. This revised version has a new character, a sheepdog named … [Read more...] about The Sheepishness of the Psyche: A One-Act Play
Notes to Psychotherapists on Addressing Inner Passivity
Earlier this month I received an email from a young psychotherapist, in practice for just a few years, who was struggling to understand how, despite his best efforts, a client of his had committed suicide. He wrote, in part: I recently experienced a therapist’s worst nightmare … [Read more...] about Notes to Psychotherapists on Addressing Inner Passivity