Those of you who have had a therapy session with me are probably quite familiar with the term “archetype.” Very briefly, an archetype is a pattern of behavior, or more accurately, a pattern of “being” much like an instinct. According to the Swiss psychiatrist, Carl Jung, the archetypes have formed over eons of human existence [...]
The first kingdom in the Four Kingdoms of Consciousness is “victim consciousness” which I discussed briefly in last month’s newsletter. This month, I will explain a bit about the next kingdom—the kingdom of “Solo Creation." This is the Kingdom of Consciousness that most people work throughout their lifetime to immerse themselves. Most self-help books and [...]
We have probably all heard at one time or another the admonition, “oh, quit being such a victim.” Usually this carries with it a sense of shame, like we are slipping into some infantile and very unbecoming behavior. “Being” a victim very often is a reality brought upon us by unseen forces, such as getting [...]
What is a “safe psyche” …first of all, what is a “psyche”? Most definitions of psyche point to soul or spirit. This is because the origins of the word are Greek, and do indeed translate, in English, to “soul or spirit” (well, actually life, but a detailed definition would point to a description of soul.) [...]
This month I am going to talk a little bit about another one of John Gottman’s “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse,” contempt. Gottman says: “contempt is fueled by long-simmering negative thoughts about one’s partner, and it arises in the form of an attack on someone’s sense of self.” He goes on to say: “contempt as [...]
Although it may seem like a fantasy, criticizing your partner in just about any context, weakens an intimate bond that is essential to a healthy relationship. This, like nearly every axiom or “hard as stone” dictum, has important exceptions. First, let me define “criticize” from the context of this article. Few people will balk at [...]
Right before the new year came upon us, a friend of mine proclaimed he was making no New Year’s resolutions. He had decided that over the years he seldom kept any of them up for any decent amount of time therefore there wasn’t much point making them.
There is a lot of confusion these days regarding the meaning of the word empathy and how empathy can be demonstrated in a relationship. Oftentimes we hear of a comparison between empathy and sympathy, which regards the latter as a less heartfelt response to a situation or to a partner’s feelings. I am not quite [...]
I often refer to the complex as “the troll beneath the bridge”—an unsightly, and generally unwelcome, force that lies in waiting, ready to decree its unpleasant influence at the slightest provocation. Just walking across the bridge may be enough to wake it from its sleep deep in our unconscious and pounce upon us with all its force.
There is probably not a more common reason to seek therapy than depression. Nearly everyone experiences depression at some point, or many times, in their life. It is a rather familiar experience for many of us, and it is most always difficult to overcome. Some people suffer a deeper sort of depression than others, and [...]
