The terms ego-syntonic and ego-dystonic are part of my standard thinking vocabulary as a psychotherapist. I find them extremely useful in my work when evaluating a client for treatment and I have introduced these terms to clients on many occasions as one way of helping them to better understand themselves.
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Am I Dating or Am I in a Relationship?
George, a 55 year old business executive, divorced for two years, has been dating two women he met on an Internet matchmaking service. The two new associations were in varying stages of development and George was enjoying the experience of "comparison shopping" before deciding which one of the two would, hopefully, become his "one and only" and, perhaps, eventually, his second wife.
Well, If You Say It That Way…!
One of the interesting things I have observed in my counseling and psychotherapy practice is the way in which some people justify or validate their fears and, therefore, defeat their efforts to make some of the changes they entered therapy to achieve.
Defensiveness
The following is an example of an exchange between two people -frequently a married couple in a counseling session – that often leads to a troubled stalemate or, worse, intensified frustration and greater conflict.
Don’t Just Do Something, Stand There!
One of the things I have learned in the course of my years providing counseling and psychotherapy is the importance of listening. Some believe ‘just listening’ to be too passive and, therefore, perhaps, not sufficiently helpful. Others appreciate the value and helpfulness of simply having an opportunity to talk about something and feel well heard and understood by a good listener.
Weight Loss as a Mental Health Issue
Brian lost 52 pounds during his 18-week participation in a popular weight loss program and felt good about himself for the first time in his lifelong struggle with overweight.
Handling Criticism
If criticism were an object, some people would think of it as a dagger, a spear, or a two by four aimed at the head. Too few think of it as a gift that can be useful and lead to beneficial long-term change.
Saying “I’m Sorry”
This article is about something I have often observed in my work with clients, especially with couples, that continues to baffle and cause concern: the inability to say "I'm sorry."
Newest Research
Exercise seems to increase the production of naturally occurring brain chemical with antidepressant effects in mice, according to new research.
Bullying
There was a time, it seems, when bullying was considered a relatively harmless occurrence that happened to most children at some point during their lives. Today, however, bullying is recognized as a serious problem and, thanks to tech-savvy kids, cyberbullying and other forms of electronic harassment are now commonplace – even in elementary schools. According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, up to half of all children are bullied at some point during their school years.
