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
depth psychology
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
Escape the Misery of Moodiness
“I drink and eat in moderation,” a client told me. “I go to bed at a reasonable hour. I love my wife and kids. The only thing I binge on is irritability and restlessness. I’m a bundle of blue moods.” His blue moods, as he described them, were not agonizingly painful, yet he … [Read more...] about Escape the Misery of Moodiness