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...]
A house divided, trying to stand
Matthew 12:25 states, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and no city or household divided against itself will stand." While this Biblical wisdom may also be said of family systems, perhaps even more poignantly today it serves as a reminder of the stressful and disheartening state of conflict between our "houses" and "states" within the United States. A grave tear in … [Read more...]
The fire this time
In the heart of Los Angeles, an apocalyptic event struck seemingly out of nowhere. High winds, commonly referred to as the Santa Anas, are not unfamiliar to Angelenos. Nor are wildfires, brush fires or other types of blazes that catch the winds and wreak havoc in areas around this sprawling city, 10 million strong and beyond. But this week came something never seen or experienced. The … [Read more...]
Easing back to the new normal in the workplace
2022 brought with it some real hope and change as businesses began to inch back into life. Employers and employees are operating in the "new normal," mostly freed from the constraints imposed by Covid-19. While some employers continue to permit work from home -- remote staffing appears here to stay -- many others have required their employees to return to a single nuclear base. Ideally, … [Read more...]
Ease pandemic anxiety with ‘specificity’
It's been about 18 months since we were advised that Covid-19 had arrived on our shores. We viewed the announcement with uncertainty and skepticism. Then we were blindsided and shocked as the virus began taking the lives of loved ones, friends, neighbors and strangers. Now, a year and a half later, many are still gripped by fear of this strange and invisible phenomenon, despite extraordinary … [Read more...]
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