Psychotherapy Library

• Recovery from Codependency
  Codependency is often thought of as a relationship problem and considered by many to be a disease. In the past, it was applied to ...
• Clinicians on the Couch: 10 Questions With Therapist Carla Naumburg
  Our “Clinicians on the Couch” series gives readers a rare glimpse into the professional and personal lives ...
• Rethinking Madness: Towards a Paradigm Shift In Our Understanding and Treatment of Psychosis
  If madness, or psychosis, is just a result of a physical defect in the brain, then it makes sense to devote little effort to understanding the experiences of mad people, and to focus instead on ...
• Therapists Spill: What I Do When a Client Is ‘Stuck’
  It’s common for clients to get stuck in therapy. Sometimes a client stops progressing. Other times ...
• Clinicians on the Couch: 10 Questions with Psychologist Elisha Goldstein
  In our monthly series clinicians are the ones who take the couch to give readers a glimpse into their ...
• 5 Tips on How to Keep New Year’s Resolutions
  Why bother to make resolutions and then feel disappointed or guilty for breaking them? Do you ...
• Clinicians on the Couch: 10 Questions with Psychologist Marla Deibler
  Ever wonder what clinicians really think about their work? How they navigate stressors? And the resources they ...
• Power Plays Between Brothers & Families
  This story shows how the troubled relationship between two brothers was a therapeutic opportunity to change maladaptive family patterns. Drew, 19, and Steve, 20, were close brothers raised in a volatile family. When Drew started getting into trouble in college, their mom arranged for the brothers to live together in an apartment, hoping that Steve could watch out for Drew. This solution backfired; the boys acted out family-related power plays. Physical confrontation escalated along with family-related conflict and hostility. At this point, the mom sought help. Mom and Dad’s Perspective Kate was an immigrant from Italy who, more than anything, wanted a better life for her children. She worked tirelessly to earn money for their education. Consistent with the old-school style of authoritarian parenting with which she was raised, Kate demanded devotion and obedience. She was very involved with her sons and, though caring, she was also high-strung, anxious and unrelenting when they didn’t perform - yelling, threatening and lecturing – reminding them of her very real sacrifice and suffering on their behalf. Drew perpetually disappointed and upset Kate. He failed to live up to her expectations and often lied to appease her. She worried about his ability to be independent, responsible, and protect himself. Steve, on the other hand, was seen as the ideal son: high-achieving, responsible, and aggressive. She constantly compared the two of them.
• Good Therapy for OCD
  With the help of the Internet, my son Dan correctly diagnosed himself with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) at the age of 17. After his ...
• When You Can’t Afford Psychotherapy
  You know you’re in trouble. Maybe you’ve been depressed for what seems like ages. You can’t get motivated to do things. You ...
• The Attachment Therapy Companion: Key Practices for Treating Children & Families
  In order for a traumatized child to heal, that child must be able to form a lasting, loving relationship with an older caregiver. Though this concept sounds intuitively valid, attachment therapy, a developing field based ...
• OCD, Guilt and Religion
  "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…." ~ Proverbs 23:7 Grace had grown up in a religious home. She ...
• Therapists Spill: How Being a Clinician Changed My Life
  Some professions have the power to change lives. For me being a writer has had a pivotal effect on ...
• Treatment of ADHD in Children
  Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can take quite a toll on both the adults and the child who has the disorder. It's ...
• Shame: The Core of Addiction and Codependency
  Shame is so painful to the psyche that most people will do anything to avoid it, even though it’s a ...
• Therapists Spill: The Hardest Part About Therapy
  Our “Therapists Spill” series takes a behind-the-scenes look at clinicians’ personal and professional lives. Therapists have spilled everything from their life ...
• Clinicians on the Couch: 10 Questions with Therapist Ashley Eder
  In our monthly series, mental health practitioners give us a peek into their professional and personal lives. They ...
• OCD and Homeschooling
  After reading many of John Holt’s books in college and subsequently working with him in Boston, I became committed to the homeschooling movement. This ...
• Healing Those Stubborn Emotional Wounds
  Mary was experiencing low self-esteem and worthlessness. She’d say her eyes were "broken faucets." She’d cry often, and would easily ...
• Clinicians on the Couch: 10 Questions with Psychologist Christina Hibbert
  In our monthly series, clinicians share the behind-the-scenes of their work and life. They talk about what it’s ...
• OCD: When Once is Not Enough
  “Say good-night mommy, say good-night,” pleaded Johnny every night. It wasn’t as if he had not already ...
• Taking OCD to College? Build a Support System
  With students heading off to college this month, I can’t help but ...
• My Journey to Loving Myself Following Sexual Abuse
  Historically any article with “self-love” in it has given rise to a ...
• Seeking Mental Health Care: Taking the First, Scary Step
  Despite increasing acceptance and public awareness, there is still a stigma associated with seeking help from mental ...
• Clinicians on the Couch: 10 Questions with Therapist Joyce Marter
  Every month we feature a different clinician, who gives us a snippet into their work and life. ...