Summer’s here, and it’s break time from writing. While I continue to do therapy sessions with clients, my brain is insisting on a three-month rest from its most arduous labor: composing the essays posted at this website. More than 260 of these articles are available here. They … [Read more...] about Time to Take My Summer Break
depth psychology
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
Inner Conflict is the Source of Cognitive Distortion
So much of human thinking is irrational. This kind of messed-up thinking, often referred to as cognitive distortion, perceives reality in ways that are misleading or flawed, if not completely wrong, false, or stupid. (Examples follow below and more are found … [Read more...] about Inner Conflict is the Source of Cognitive Distortion
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
Cognitive Therapy’s Flawed Premise
People struggling to realize their potential or find inner peace often turn to psychotherapy. Yet they find themselves wandering without much guidance through a marketplace of mental-health offerings and claims, lacking the knowledge to distinguish good therapy from bad. More … [Read more...] about Cognitive Therapy’s Flawed Premise