For Therapists

To gather information about the parent-child relationship, I often ask parents, “If you could wish for one thing for your child, what would that wish be?” I might also ask,“What ... Read More

In an interview from April 2018, James Comey, former director of the FBI, spoke about the difference between the language he used publicly as the director of the FBI and the way he speaks ... Read More

The decision to initiate any interpersonal relationship is anxiety-provoking, and the decision to talk with a therapist might be uniquely so. When we decide to meet with a therapist, we ... Read More

First impressions can be crucial. None may be so important as the one your office conveys to someone beginning therapy. People take nonverbal cues from their environment. The moment someone ... Read More

Someone recently asked me why they needed to know about the interpersonal process. There seemed to be a misunderstanding that the interpersonal process is only focused on building rapport, ... Read More

Complex posttraumatic stress, known as C-PTSD for short, is the result of prolonged series of traumatic experiences at the hands of someone the victim has a personal relationship with. ... Read More

I was recently talking to a colleague about the topic of therapist self-disclosure and when it’s appropriate to reveal versus withhold certain details regarding personal information. ... Read More

One challenge that can arise for therapists is the decision whether to disclose personal tidbits of information as they become potentially relevant during treatment with the people we help. ... Read More

The first person I ever worked with in therapy, when I was a graduate student at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Danville, Illinois, died by suicide. While my supervisor and fellow ... Read More

Labeling pathology in another person is easy. One teacher of mine said it’s like “shooting fish in a barrel.” Think of any person you know and, unless you’ve totally idealized them, ... Read More

Narcissism is difficult to diagnose and treat. As with all personality issues, the narcissistic traits a person possesses exist on a continuum. Not all people with narcissism are the same, ... Read More

For better or for worse, the holiday season is associated with the giving and receiving of gifts. Gifts are exchanged between those we are close with, including family members and friends. ... Read More