A client arrives and plops herself on my couch. “I don’t know what to talk about today. While I was driving, I was thinking about it, and I really don’t have anything pressing.” In my more-than-a-decade of practicing therapy, I’ve [...]
In July 1961, Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann stood trial in Jerusalem and claimed that he should not be held culpable for his own actions because he was “just following orders”. Stanley Milgram, a psychologist at Yale University, became intensely [...]
Last weekend, I did a little bit of summertime "spring cleaning". It was a task I'd been avoiding for awhile, but I decided it was time. In my tidying frenzy, I encountered The Drawer. You know the one I'm talking [...]
A few weeks ago, I saw Hugh Jackman perform at the Hollywood Bowl. He was phenomenal – he sang songs from shows he’s been in and some he hasn’t. A particularly powerful moment was when he sang the song “You [...]
As I write this, my 16-year-old cat Lily is sitting on the cushion beside me purring – but two weeks ago she nearly died. Let me explain. Lily went under anesthesia for a routine diagnostic procedure, and coming out of [...]
One of my favorite brands, Thinx, has a pretty fantastic blog on their website. Their guest writers contribute articles about feminism, mental health, intersectionality, and demystifying menstruation. But recently, an article about breaking up with your therapist stuck in my [...]
“You know, I really thrive in the gray area. When there’s a big question looming over me, and I’m not really sure what’s going to happen… that’s when I think I’m at my best.” …said no one ever In over [...]
Step 1 Eat an entire pint of ice cream. Drink your problems away. Scroll through Facebook for hours. Get stoned. Sleep. Wake up feeling shitty. Step 2 Recognize there’s an issue. Micromanage your life. Count calories. Exercise for two hours [...]
About five years ago, I decided to dismantle my life. This is not a melodramatic overstatement. I was living in Boston at the time. I had a long-term partner, an apartment, a gratifying full-time job at a community mental health [...]
In my five years of private practice, I’ve noticed a trend: calls decrease in November and December, but then come in droves after the New Year. In some ways, this makes a lot of sense. Everyone’s life is busy during [...]