A poem about the therapy experience from the vantage point of a client.
On Quitting The Practice of Psychotherapy
Former psychotherapist Michael Sussman discusses the perils of psychotherapy practice and the wisdom of knowing when to quit.
Counseling Kids: When a Cigar Is Just a Cigar
Nine year old Malcolm was one of the fortunate clients. Because his family had a very modest income a local counseling center with a sliding fee scale was seeing Malcolm on a pro bono basis. Better yet, the agency was providing free transportation for him on a school bus. His emotional difficulties began two years ago after his parents got a divorce. He was now living with his natural father and his new step-mother. Treatment seemed to be working well. Then…
A Short Piece on Disrespecting Teenagers
We have an American cultural norm to disrespect teenagers. For example, it’s probably common knowledge that teens are: Naturally difficult Not willing to listen to good common sense from adults Emotionally unstable Impulsively acting without thinking through consequences Wait, most of these are good descriptors of Bill O’Reilly. Isn’t he an adult? Seriously, most television shows, movies, and adult rhetoric tends toward dismissing and disrespecting teens. It’s not unusual for people to express sympathy to parents of teens. “It’s a hard time . . . I…
Psychotherapy with Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Clients
With attempted suicide rates greater than 40% in the transgender community, it's important for clinicians to be aware of the issues gender nonconforming clients bring to therapy, and to be knowledgeable about how best to support them. Karisa Barrow challenges therapists to deconstruct the gender binary, identify and work through prejudices, and seek guidance from gender specialists to ensure that we "do no harm."
Thomas Moore on the Soul of Psychotherapy
Drawing upon his background in religion, psychology and the arts, Care of the Soul author, Thomas Moore, shares about the wisdom of creating a "psychotherapy of one's own."
The No-Fee Session
An unscheduled – and free – session with the neighborhood curmudgeon leaves a New Jersey psychologist feeling surprisingly enriched.
After the Diagnosis: Helping Patients Cope With their Emotions
Psychotherapist Gary McClain discusses the importance of understanding clients' reactions to new diagnoses, the three main responses they have, and advocating for them with healthcare providers.
Howard Kassinove on Anger Management
Anger management expert Christian Conte, PhD, interviews fellow anger management expert, Howard Kassinove, PhD, on the history of anger management treatment, the fundamentals of practice, the importance of humor and the woefully inadequate programs offered to violent offenders in most states in the U.S.
Fear and Consciousness: What I Learned from a Bike Accident
“Smile, breathe, and go slowly.” — Thich Nhat Hahn I got doored on Saturday night. I was riding my bike out to dinner with my husband and a guy in a big SUV opened his car door into the bike lane without looking and knocked me over. My face hit the pavement, I still don’t really know how my teeth weren’t knocked out, but my lips were cut and bleeding and my forehead was gashed and scraped. It happened so quickly…