When most couples call me for a couples therapy consultation, they have reached a point where the severity of their ongoing conflict has reached the danger zone. Some couples seek help when the early signs of trouble begin to develop. Others wait…and wait, either hoping that their difficulties will resolve themselves or that they will find a way to address their problems independent of professional help. Some couples, it seems, have chosen to consult a therapist as the "option of last resort" prior to initiating divorce proceedings.
Newsletter Articles
This category contains all articles that have been sent out in our monthly Newsletter.
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Cancer of the Mood
Many clients have spoken to me about their experiences with people in their lives wishing that they would – or, worse – telling them that they must "get over" some emotional condition or disorder from which they are suffering. This could be a state of depression, a grief reaction to the loss of a loved one, or something else that requires time – and maybe professional help – in order to overcome.
Unemployment Catch-22
During the course of the country's economic crisis, countless numbers of people have lost their jobs. Many, fortunately, were able to become reemployed quickly and often in jobs comparable to their previous positions. There have been many, however, who have remained unemployed for months or even years. Some of them have expressed fears such as "I wonder if I am still employable," or "I'm afraid I may never work in my field again!" Sometimes continued unemployment leads to self-doubt – or worse, negative beliefs – that may have never been there before, e.g. "I wonder if I'm really not as good at my job as I thought," or "maybe I'm really lousy in interviews," or "perhaps I'm just not a desirable person."
Water and Mental Well-Being
We do not generally think of water consumption as necessarily having anything to do with mental well-being, however if we fully understand the active interplay between mind and body, our appreciation for the importance of maintaining good hydration as a health and mental health issue deepens.
Having To Be Right
Some people, it seems, need to be 'right' more than they need almost anything else. I am frequently struck by the verbal lengths a person will go when they are very sure of themselves and someone challenges their belief, their memory, or their knowledge about something. This need takes many forms and is an interpersonal transaction often observed in the context of my work with couples.
Some Thoughts on What Makes a Relationship Successful
It is distressing when a client tells me that they have never observed – or themselves, experienced – what they would define as a successful romantic relationship.
Relief or Change
Jack, a 43 year old insurance executive, was referred to me by his family doctor for help with his "severe panic attacks" that had a sudden onset for reasons that were completely unclear to both of them. Jack's symptoms were disabling and resulted in his missing work for several days before his initial appointment with me.
Forgive and Forget
Many people are under the impression that in order to forgive someone for some offense, like a betrayal, for example, they must somehow forget what happened in order to forgive the offender. These people will sometimes argue that it is impossible to forgive a person for some wrongdoing unless the offending act is somehow exorcised from their system, "deleted from my hard drive," as one client stated it, or forgotten by some other means.
Marital Dating
In my ongoing work with couples, I have often listened to stories from clients about unfortunate developments in their relationship. They sound something like this: "we just don't have fun anymore," or "this marriage has been in a rut since our firstborn came along," or "there's no romance left," or "we're like a pair of comfortable old shoes…don't wear 'em much, but don't wanna throw 'em out, either," or "intimacy? are you kidding? what's that?!"
Listening Patience – Part 2
My work with Rachel was in the context of couples therapy with her and her husband, Ira. With Lila, an individual client, the work took place by using our relationship to help her work things out.
