(1) Progress in psychotherapy doesn’t directly correlate with the amount of talking. (2) A therapist most usually becomes nervous when there is something that they are not picking up. (3) Patients usually know what they should do but can’t. (4) Know someone well enough before accepting them as a patient. (5) The initially troublesome patient can turn Read More
A Psychologist's Thoughts on Clinical Practice, Behavior, and Life
Diagnosing Bullying
August 22, 2017
Though all agree that bullying is bad, its complexity and that of the victim are often downplayed. In fact, bullies may primarily be sadistic, depressed, or anxious; and victims may primarily be submissive, provocative, or masochistic. Varying teacher and family dynamics exist for each, ranging from fear and helplessness, to parents who gain vicarious Read More
Treating Anorexia
August 17, 2017
A major difficulty in treating anorexia is the person's resistance to treatment for, despite their life-threatening medical symptoms, they tend to deny any difficulty apart from not being thin enough. When this is achieved, they believe that all of their life issues will be resolved.
These individuals tend to be unable to Read More
These individuals tend to be unable to Read More
Anxiety Disorders, and the Retreat from Relating to Unconscious Motivation
May 1, 2017
This past weekend’s edition (April 29-30, 2017) of the Wall Street Journal contained the review of a book describing the author's painful experience with anxiety (“On Edge: A Journey Through Anxiety” by Andrea Petersen). Her long-term symptoms included the usual: multiple fears, and non-medically caused, odd bodily sensations.
After years on various medications and ( Read More
After years on various medications and ( Read More
Meeting President Trump’s Double in a Princeton Club Bathroom
March 6, 2017
A week ago, in New York City, while standing before a sink in a Princeton Club bathroom, a powerful voice beside me boomed into the mirror before him. I looked up and saw a man with the image of Donald Trump. “You look just like the President,” I said. “Three people today have said Read More
An Unforgettable and Hopefully Unique NYC Taxi Ride
February 14, 2017
While traveling from the Upper East Side of Manhattan to Penn Station in a taxi yesterday, I began hearing an unexpected but identifiable noise. It was that of someone vigorously brushing their teeth. I looked toward the driver. He was brushing his teeth with a long toothbrush. When stopped at a red light, he Read More
Murder Threats on the New York City Subway
January 17, 2017
1. On a moving train, a man stood above a well-dressed passenger who was seated and reading. The man said loudly, “I’m going to kill you.” The seated passenger and others nearby sat frozen. Sensing that the man was disturbed but not dangerous, a woman left her seat, went over, and spoke to him. Read More
Review of Amazon's, "The Man in the High Tower"
December 27, 2016
I loved Dick's novel and own both print and digital copies. If you don't already own it, buy and read it. While the book is a classic, this TV production isn’t. Though bearing the book's title, it would be more accurately described as a minimal adaptation since at least 90% of the film's events Read More
Men Storm Women's Bathroom at NYC's Grand Central Station,
December 17, 2016
Well, there's not that headline, not yet. While there at 6AM, I was astonished to learn that the Food Court Men's bathroom was closed until 7AM. Until then, there was a one-occupant men's bathroom available in the small upstairs waiting room. Beside it was a much larger women's bathroom.
Not really needing to pee but Read More
Not really needing to pee but Read More
Fanciful Explanations of Autism and Parental Guilt
December 1, 2016
While parents rarely feel guilty when their child becomes physically ill, this is not true when they develop emotional problems.
Autism is perhaps the most affected disturbance by this attitude for, in its severest form, it devastates family life. Recent infant research has confirmed what clinicians have long known: that the parent-child interaction plays Read More
Autism is perhaps the most affected disturbance by this attitude for, in its severest form, it devastates family life. Recent infant research has confirmed what clinicians have long known: that the parent-child interaction plays Read More