Generosity: "The virtue of giving good things to one's spouse freely and abundantly."

I always encourage generosity between partners when working with couples. I have seen it turn around a very troubled marriage in a few weeks.


http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/08/is-generosity-better-than-sex/?ref=magazine

Maintaining Clinical Excellence

This is an excellent article about using another professional to 
help us attain our "personal best."




http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/10/03/111003fa_fact_gawande?printable=true

Helping Your Child's Brain to Grow

This is practical, helpful advice on how to help your child's brain to grow.

http://www.npr.org/2011/09/14/140340903/how-to-help-your-childs-brain-grow-up-strong

Antidepressant Medication prescribed by your family doctor

‎"If a physician (Family Doctor) suggests you would benefit

 from antidepressants, ask, 'Do I fit the criteria? Will the

 medication be more effective than placebo?' "
 This is good advice. Also, it is not recommended for a person to be on antidepressant medication without being in concurrent talk therapy.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2011/08/04/138987152/antidepressant-use-climbs-as-primary-care-doctors-do-the-prescribing?

Terri: An excellent film about Teens

This film is authentic, touching and wise. I have worked with a lot of teens and this feels real. This film would be great for clinicians, parents and teens--the best teen film since Juno.








http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110720/REVIEWS/110729996/1001/reviews

Men and Relationships

I have seen the truth of this article many times in my years of


working with men. I don't see it as a put down, just one of the


common differences between men and women.


http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/19/the-nagging-effect-better-health-for-married-men/?ref=health

Dad can be sad too after their child is born.

I have worked with men who become depressed after the birth of their child. I think this is helpful information for the public, for mental health professionals and pediatricians.

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/17/time-to-focus-on-sad-dads/

Powerful TED video by Sheryl Sandberg

A powerful TED video by Sheryl Sandberg. It will inspire all people, especially those lucky enough to have daughters.

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/sheryl_sandberg_why_we_have_too_few_women_leaders.html

New Understanding of the treatment of Addiction

Another step along the path to a better understanding of addiction and its treatment.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/11/health/11addictions.html?_r=1&hp=&pagewanted=print

Couple's Counseling

As a couple's therapist, I've worked with nearly every couple configuration you can think of (including gay/straight.)

Couples' exist along a continuum from traditional monogamy to experimental.

No matter where they are along the continuum,what works best for most couples are: balance, tolerance, compromise, clear and open communication, mutual problem solving, trust and forgiveness.


I find these to be the primary components to a successful relationship.

The Therapeutic Relationship

In my role as a clinical supervisor, I am often asked what is the most important aspect of psychotherapy. I think the most important part of psychotherapy is the relationship between the therapist and the client.

An example from my own therapy will illustrate this point: I had been in therapy for a while and during a session my therapist asked me if I felt sad. I did and even though I had not been talking about sadness, I was struck how the therapist had tried to tune in to my feelings and to help me to give a voice to my sadness. It was a healing moment for me and I have never felt the same since that simple intervention. That long buried sadness from childhood had been seen and understood by a compassionate adult.

I was able to hear what the therapist was asking because I was used to sharing with him and trusted him. The therapeutic relationship provided the foundation upon which I could become more conscious of my feelings and talk about them.

I have included a link to an article that clearly articulates this principle.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/06/health/policy/06doctors.html?ref=health