Tag: psychotherapy

My Partners Parent Just Died. How do I Help???

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You just found out your girlfriend, boyfriend, husband, wife, signifcant other, domestic partner has lost their parent, their grandparent or a sibling. You’re standing on the sidelines and wondering–what’s my role here while my partner is suffering? How do I help them with their grief? How do I help? In particular, you may not have known the deceased very well and may feel somewhat awkward about how to heal your partner’s wounds.


Today I’m going to offer you some methods and attitudes that will help you to help your loved one through this difficult transition of overwhelming grieving.

Should a Woman Seek a Male or Female Psychotherapist?

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Should a Woman Seek a Male or Female Psychotherapist?
Should a Woman see a female or a male therapist?
One of the initial decisions she must make is choosing the gender of her therapist. There are potential advantages and disadvantages to either choice. It’s important to remember that each psychotherapist and patient are different. There is no gender difference assignment written in stone. This list, by its very nature, is overly general and speaks to potential, not necessarily actual advantages or disadvantages.

Why Can’t My Partner DO SOMETHING WITH THEIR LIFE!!! How to Cope When Your Relationship Partner is Highly UN-Motivated..

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What happens when you and your spouse, girlfriend or boyfriend doesnt have the same attitude towards planning goals and personal responsibility that you do? How can you cope when you both have different timelines for goal achievement and seem to have different value systems? Read more and find out what you can do to improve the situation!

DATING, MATING, COUPLES COMMUNICATION AND SOCIAL MEDIA

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The social and emotional reinforcement of Social Media and electronic communication is changing couple’s interactions and communication. In fact, it’s leading many to interact electronically before, during and after connecting with their dates and mates.

In my private practice as a licensed psychotherapist and couples therapist I see the daily effects of Social Media use on communication, both good and bad. Here are some of the pitfalls and solutions of Electronic and Social Media (cel phones,laptops,desktops, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat) in Coupledom:

How to Overcome Hopelessness

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Hopelessness feels like whatever is happening in your life that is negative, whatever unfortunate circumstances you’ve suffered or are suffering, will never end. Hopelessness feels like a ‘bad trip’ on drugs–time seems to stand still, this moment feels like forever, and you’re unable to see any light, of hope, in the darkness. It feels like defeat; like you are in a game that you can never win and are predestined to lose. It can feel like a curse or a fate.
Circumstances, People, Places, and Things do not cause hopelessness. Hopelessness is a mental construct. And that construct can be deconstructed and RE-constructed to achieve happiness.

Welcome to the RATIONAL ANIMAL

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In my over 25 years as a psychotherapist and life coach, I’ve discovered that quite often, individuals will have lovely, articulate, accurate, empathic advice for their friends. They show compassion, forgiveness, faith, hope and rationality when guiding or counseling their friends.
However, I noticed those same individuals treating themselves far, far differently. Often these same people will turn on themselves in the most vicious, uncompromising manner. They have an ongoing internal (and sometimes, external) dialogue which is unforgiving, innacurate, overgeneralizing, negative, doomsaying, hopeless and irrational.
I also realized that when they looked at their lives from the ‘Best Friend’ position, they were able to see themselves differently.

And that’s what I’m hoping the Rational Animal Blog will be able to do for you as well.

Beause, let’s face it. You are all you’ve got.