In my private practice as a psychologist, I have worked with as many male survivors of domestic violence as female survivors. I find it baffling, based on this experience, that the fact that men are sometimes battered by women is not in the media at all. … [Read more...] about Male survivors of domestic violence
What to tell children when bad things happen
I remember reading an excellent story about how parents can talk to their children when something bad happens. I want to re-tell that original story because it is powerful. I have told re-told it several times as a psychologist in my private practice. … [Read more...] about What to tell children when bad things happen
Good self-care is important at Christmas
Whether you plan to take from December 24 until January 4 off, or will only step away from your desk for Christmas Day and Boxing Day, I encourage people to embrace the holiday season as an opportunity to take better care of themselves. … [Read more...] about Good self-care is important at Christmas
Physical and emotional pain are closely connected
It’s not an accident that the word “pain” is used to refer to both physical discomfort and emotional discomfort. The way I think about pain is that people will feel it physically if they don’t – or are unable to – feel it emotionally. … [Read more...] about Physical and emotional pain are closely connected
Do you keep falling in the same hole?
I often talk to my clients about the change process when they are frustrated that things in their lives are not changing fast enough. It’s hard to see change when you are in the middle of it. All you can see, much of the time, is how far you have to go rather than how far you’ve come. … [Read more...] about Do you keep falling in the same hole?
After therapy, life becomes really good
A psychologist recently told me one of his clients was ready to finish therapy. He said she had recovered from the abuse she had endured as a child. He said she was 65-years-old. The psychologist said his client was grieving because she was now fully aware of how much she had missed out on in her … [Read more...] about After therapy, life becomes really good
It’s painful when a pet dies
The experience of having a pet die can be difficult. When the death is anticipated, it is typically accompanied by grief during the lead up to the death. When the death it is sudden, the shock can feel overwhelming. Both anticipated and sudden deaths involve grief, which is most intense initially, … [Read more...] about It’s painful when a pet dies
Stigma attached to seeing a psychologist
There is a stigma attached to seeing a psychologist. It’s warped and it’s inaccurate. My clients say this after they’ve met with me once. And many say they would say so after we’ve worked together for a while if there wasn’t a stigma attached to doing so. … [Read more...] about Stigma attached to seeing a psychologist
How many children have a parent die?
A significant number of children have a parent die before they reach adulthood. Parental death is a major stressor experienced by 3.5 percent of children before the age of eighteen. … [Read more...] about How many children have a parent die?