I haven’t heard it in a number of years, but every once in a while, a client will ask why we talk only about “what’s wrong” in therapy. It’s a valid question. Australian blogger Evan Hadkins, who frequently comments here on After Psychotherapy, has chided me for over-emphasizing the painful aspects of the work I… Continue reading Accentuating the Positive
Category: The Psychotherapy Relationship
Shyness and Self-Hatred
Early in my career, when clients would talk about intense forms of self-criticism or self-loathing, I used to make interpretations that focused on the savage and perfectionistic superego. Over time, I’d help them develop the mental ability to withstand this savagery and protect themselves from it. Later, as I described in this earlier post, I… Continue reading Shyness and Self-Hatred
The Healing Power of Humor in Psychotherapy
As much as I enjoy making my video series about psychodynamic psychotherapy, I feel a low level of ongoing frustration beause I don’t come across as I do in other situations — either in a social context or when working with clients. That person in the videos seems so darn serious, in contrast to the… Continue reading The Healing Power of Humor in Psychotherapy
Psychological Fairy Tales
This novella is part of a series of re-envisioned fairy tales in which I probe some of the darker aspects of human psychology. I’m also at work on a science fantasy epic that will explore the same terrain. If you would be interested in hearing about future releases, please add your email address to my… Continue reading Psychological Fairy Tales
On the Receiving End of Borderline Rage
I had an email from another therapist this week, asking whether I’d written anything for professionals who work with people who suffer from features of borderline personality disorder. She had recently been “fired” by one such client and felt upset about it. In fantasy, I imagined that it had happened in a very angry way,… Continue reading On the Receiving End of Borderline Rage