I have a web page through Psychology Today (PT).  On there, they ask us to check off the groups in which we are allied.  I wasn’t sure at...

Jake and Jan have been married for eight years, and have two children. But for the last couple of years, they have bickered almost nonstop. They've tried on their own to communicate better, but to no avail. Jake and Jan should see a couples therapist, right? Maybe. According to a number of studies, proceed with caution when it comes to couples therapy. Yes, it can help sometimes. But, according to one study, couples therapy usually makes problems worse. Why would this be

An old and dear friend ended our friendship by text. I'm still not sure why. She ended the text with, "I wish you the best." I was...

Today is Mother’s Day, a day that the culture devotes to women who are mothers.  Frankly, I have mixed feelings about a day celebrating motherhood. On the one hand, mothers go through a tremendous amount to deliver and raise a child. There are decades of hard work and sacrifice, not to mention the countless amount of time and money spent.  Moms deserve praise and admiration.  However, what about those women who are not mothers? There are a multitude of reasons why women h

Lisa is a Cassandra. It's a blessing and a curse. Being a Cassandra means that Lisa has a sixth sense about people and situations. She...

When I moved to Berkeley from the East Coast in l982, I expected that the area would be awash with drugs. Shockingly, I found the...

Decades ago, there was a fascinating study. The researchers staged an event to see how people would react. It took place in a busy urban...

One of the most challenging experiences for a therapist is when a client leaves angrily. Fortunately, it is rare. But when it happens,...

Practically everyone is practicing mindfulness meditation. It's being promoted in the classrooms, businesses, even at your local Kaiser....

Does this sound familiar? You summon up the courage to find a therapist. You make a number of calls; very few therapists call you...

We're living in unprecedented times. People are wearing masks; stores and restaurants are shutting their doors; and many people are...

Once you find a therapist whom you'd like to see, your next task is to contact him or her. How do you do this? What do you say in your...

Several decades ago there was this very cute, but also illuminating, research study that was done with children. Researchers had the...

This is the third in a series of blogs on the four temperaments. I'd suggest reviewing the previous blogs so you'll be up to speed about...

In a previous blog, I described the four temperaments. I'd suggest referring back to that blog. But to summarize, they are: Choleric:...

Do you have friction with people at work? Does your partner drive you crazy sometimes? Do you feel perplexed by your child's behavior?...

Life can be difficult at times. Perhaps one of the most difficult parts is when we second-guess ourselves and berate ourselves for...

A number of years ago, I watched one of those 60 Minute-type programs. A reporter had staged a "crisis" event in downtown Manhattan,...

If you are in the Bay Area right now, you know about the terribly smoky conditions. It's almost impossible to go anywhere without the...

Jan and Alana were a couple I knew who argued frequently. When Alana directly stated her needs, Jan found this off putting. And Alana...