That tension you feel in your neck? It has more meaning that you think, It was a moment that changed my life. It was about twenty years ago, and I was a patient in a therapy group led by Dr. Louis Ormont, a pioneer of American group therapy. I was discussing the devastating death of […]
The Secret World of Emotions & Attunement When your radio’s tuned properly to your favorite station, the broadcast comes in loud and clear. Without any static or overlap of frequencies, you relax and enjoy the music or the program. When your favorite love song is played on a well-tuned instrument, you’re delighted. You listen without […]
The Volcano in Our Backyard In the 1970’s my parents fell in love with throwing big outdoor theme parties for friends and family. The aftermath of their parties filled our backyard with oddities which included a twenty foot tall fiberglass Cleopatra (harvested from the 1964 World’s Fair – don’t ask), a collection of enormous rubber […]
December 19, 2013 Dear Sean, On behalf of the parents at Bard High School Early College, I would like to thank you for your presentation in our PTA Meeting. I’ve heard uniformly wonderful comments about your presentation and your question and answer session. I know that you rearranged your schedule and took valuable time away […]
December 2, 2013 Dear Sean, Thank you for coming to the NYC iSchool PA meeting on April 11th. It was such a pleasure to meet you and I was really pleased you were able to make time for us in you schedule. The meeting was attended by some new faces which is always one of […]
A Parent’s Confession Every New Year’s Day, I attend a celebration at a culture center in my neighborhood; it’s one of my favorite days filled with music, dancing, art, and poetry. Children giggle and run through the halls, old friends discover one another, hugs and kisses abound. What better way to start the New Year? […]
When someone asks you a favor, do you readily agree and later regret it? Perhaps you say yes when you really wanted to say no? Afterward, do you feel victimized, lament your decision, or bemoan your fate? If you answered yes to the questions above, congratulations—you’re a people pleaser. You go out of your way […]
“Self-love, my liege, is not so vile a sin as self-neglecting.” William Shakespeare, (Henry V, 2.4.74-75) Self-Neglect & Parenthood Why do so many people seem to unravel after becoming parents? Why do so many marriages self-destruct? Of the many kinds of the parenting dilemmas I see in my office, parent burnout is among the most […]
Conflicts are a Natural Part of all Healthy Relationships When faced with conflicts in relationships, do you suffer from the Triple A’s: apologizing, agreeing, and accommodating? Under pressure, are you more likely to compromise or hide your true feelings behind a tense smile or nervous laugh? And afterward, are you still fretting over the situation? […]
What to be more decisive? Here’s how: While playing it safe may be comforting, standing in the shadows, waiting for someone else to decide, or remaining dependent on friends or loved ones to make decisions for you weakens your confidence and chips away at your self-esteem. Being totally at the mercy of others is a […]