What is psychodynamic group therapy? Wherever I suggest group therapy to clients, they tend to respond with disdain. “Group therapy? People actually do that?” The next question, asked in conspiratorial tones, comes quickly: “What do people talk about?” When I explain the group therapy contract, they appear aghast. Group members are encouraged to put their […]
Why do some people thrive in the face of obstacles and setbacks, while others in more favorable circumstances lack the drive to persevere? What does it mean to be a self-awakening person? Buddhist scholar and peace activist Daisaku Ikeda suggests: “Fortune and misfortune are unfathomable. Even if we achieve a win, our joy will not […]
Have you ever heard someone yell, “I’m not angry?” If you have, then you’ve witnessed an unwanted feeling in action. Disowned feelings are those prickly emotions that you attempt to block out of awareness. You tell yourself you’re not feeling them and give them the cold shoulder. Unfortunately, ignoring unwanted feelings comes at a high […]
Getting to the root of self-defeating behavior Everyone struggles with negative internal voices; those nagging, critical, confidence-destroying voices that pop up when you’re feeling anxious or want to try something new: “You can’t do that.” “People will laugh at you” “You’re not good enough.” With the help of the right therapist, you can go to […]
When you feel hopeless, you have trouble getting out of bed. You think to yourself, “Why should I?” There’s nothing to look forward to. Today will be the same as yesterday. Yesterday was the same as the day before, and the day before that, and the day before that, etc. “Is it possible to die […]
You wake up with a familiar ache in your heart. Sadly, you can’t remember when it wasn’t there. Sometimes healing hurt seems to go on forever. You’ve done everything you can to help yourself. You started weekly therapy; began journaling, exercising, and watching your diet; and self-help books pile up on your nightstand. And yet, […]
Depersonalization and dissociation block access to feelings. Think of the times that you felt flooded with feelings—intense emotions such as joy, sadness, love, or fear. Such feelings can be electrifying. As they flow through you, they pack a powerful punch. They can deepen your empathy, keep you emotionally attuned to yourself and others, and guide […]
There are no shortages of tragedies in life. Yet 2020 proved to be a landmark year for pain and heartbreak. It’s difficult to imagine any time in recent history when so many hardships confronted us and altered the way we live. Wearing masks in public and educating our children on-line have nearly become routine. But […]
One of the biggest challenges of teaching is the reality that children have different ways of learning. Online learning has added to that challenge and created a crisis in classrooms. How does a teacher use online learning to engage all kinds of learners? I sat down with Marcia Lotito, Nurse, Health Coach, Certified Ashtanga Yoga […]
Whether you see it coming or not, it doesn’t matter. You still feel devastated. When someone you love tells a lie to you, you may wonder if you will ever trust them again. Few things are as painful as a broken trust. (See “7 Hurts That Never Heal.”) The Essence of a Lie There was a […]