Empathy is the bedrock of all relational and therapeutic work. It is not simply a skill but a mode of being with another mind — what the psychoanalyst Heinz Kohut called vicarious introspection. The capacity to feel into the emotional life of another so that the self can be known, mirrored and stabilized. Without empathy, no self can develop with coherence, and no therapy can heal. Yet empathy … [Read more...]
The case for human therapists
A recent Los Angeles Times article’s headline boldly stated, “AI therapy isn’t getting better. Therapists are just failing.” A warning shot for psychotherapists, sounded loud and clear. Therapists take heed, that's the implied message. A bold attack indeed on a community that diligently seeks ways to heal and soothe thousands of suffering souls, utilizing myriad and ever-expanding treatments. A … [Read more...]
To forgive or not forgive
Forgiveness. One of humanity’s oldest and most complex virtues has stirred hearts and minds across centuries. The earliest preserved story of forgiveness appears in the Hebrew Bible through Joseph, who forgave his brothers after they sold him into slavery. The very word forgive, from Old English, means to grant pardon or indulgence. From its inception, forgiveness has carried the idea of … [Read more...]
Wrangling the birds and the bees
Much has changed since the days of the good-old-fashioned "talk" about the birds and the bees.Youngsters still come to The Talk knowing the basics. That hasn't changed. Yet today's children are much more savvy than their counterparts of the past when it comes to the practical applications of the sex act. This is virtually unavoidable in the Internet age. Discussing sexuality is often an … [Read more...]
When psychotherapy ends …
Our time is up. Both parties knew that on this particular day, this moment was coming. And now having arrived, it is all about a goodbye that requires the fullness and reverence of a sacred process. Traditionally viewed as the ultimate goal of treatment, termination of psychotherapy remains complex. It often brings bittersweet emotions and perhaps some pain, despite the decision to terminate … [Read more...]
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