Okay. We have gone through a worldwide pandemic, an upsetting series of political elections, marches, rallies and trials. And now, on top of everything, we now must deal with the holidays. It’s not shocking that as Hanukah and Christmas approach, we are seeing lots of anxieties surface. Of course, we are seeing the usual. Expectations, …
What is your core conflictual relationship theme? Uncovering the meaning behind your relationship patterns Most of us pick up specific patterns of relating to others early in life. We may find ourselves facing similar dilemmas with different friends, or similar conflicts across multiple romantic relationships. However, we aren’t always able to detect these similarities as …
Uncovering the Meaning Behind Your Relationship Patterns Read More »
We’ve all heard of the “butterfly effect,” thanks in no small part to the 2004 film of the same name. The idea goes something like this: a butterfly flapping its wings in Texas may cause a hurricane in China due to a complex series of causes and effects resulting from the initial butterfly wing flap. …
Dynamic Systems Theory and Healing in Psychotherapy Read More »
The role of play in human development and psychotherapy “Enough playing around!”“Playtime’s over!” “Stop playing and pay attention.” As a child therapist, I hear these kinds of directives from parents asking their children to focus their attention on conversation with me during therapy sessions. Parents are often surprised to find out that I’m not asking …
My musical journey of songs that give me permission to feel… My purple Magnavox CD radio player lived for much of my youth next to my pillow on my bed. Not on a bedside table or floor, literally on my bed so that my face could be inches away from the speakers. I had a …
Tunes for Tuning In: Songs That Give You Permission To Feel Read More »
Defense Mechanisms and Behavior or It’s Totally Normal to be Defensive There are you are, being distant or surly with your partner and kids after having had another stressful day at work. Or perhaps you attended a social gathering where you drank more than you planned and now you feel terrible for once again saying …
A complicated mix of feelings arises when a person contemplates ending therapy. It is usually a bittersweet moment: on the one hand you have reached your treatment goals, but on the other, you are saying goodbye to a person and process that has been immensely helpful. That is, of course, the ideal scenario. In other …
In last week’s post, we went over the reasons why therapy is expensive. A therapist has to pay for office space, furniture, utilities, continuing education, and marketing, not to mention taxes. Furthermore, a therapist has already paid for a master’s degree or doctorate: he or she has to pay off student loans for quite some …
For many, therapy can be prohibitively expensive. While our medical costs are usually covered by some type of insurance, therapy often is not. Even if your insurance covers therapy, there can be some major drawbacks, such as long wait times, high copays, and the necessity of a diagnosis, which can stay on a person’s record …