Case Study

Many well-intentioned therapists have suggested that their clients just “let go” of hate, as if it were a heavy load that they could simply drop to the... Read more

Part of the epidemic of misdiagnosed ADHD in young children today results from a failure to understand how trauma often leads to difficulty learning in school. Read more

When we find ourselves haunted by a particular case, it may mean that we’re more invested in the client making changes than the client is himself. Read more

Since the publication of DSM-IV in 1994, a massive body of neurobiological research has accumulated, revealing how protracted childhood abuse and neglect can... Read more

We don’t become therapists to inflict emotional pain, but eventually we learn that sadness, anger, shock, and disillusionment can be part and parcel of... Read more

Therapists must offer abused children a different felt experience of who they are. Read more

We frequently need to confront our clients, and putting aside a fear of confrontation—not to mention a fear of losing clients—means that we must risk the... Read more

Raising the issue of race in therapy can help African American clients connect their personal struggles to an enduring cultural legacy that many insist isn’t... Read more

When clients feel blocked, therapists can help them tap their inner artist and view feelings of vulnerability, doubt, and fear as part of a creative... Read more

When working with clients who’ve experienced an intimate betrayal, it’s important to empower them to move beyond a victim identity. Read more

When we’re spinning our wheels from one session to the next, the key to progress often lies in shifting the therapist-client relationship. Read more

Far from being evidence of marital bankruptcy, a woman’s affair can be a way of expressing a desire for a different self and an opportunity to breathe life... Read more

There’s something about healing from the deep emotional suffering that feels like death and rebirth—not the quick kind that some claim to receive in... Read more

Healing from an extramarital affair is rarely a simple process, especially when embarrassing sexual secrets and incompatibilities are exposed. Read more

Few cases offer as eerie a therapeutic challenge as a suddenly noncommunicative child, lost in a dissociative shutdown. Read more

A therapist uses a Hollywood analogy to help a client learn an important lesson about distinguishing behavior from identity. Read more

There are advantages to integrating an in-depth understanding of traditional therapy with a more coaching-oriented style—but therapists shouldn't lose sight... Read more

Men with anger problems are generally highly reluctant clients who come to our offices only because they’ve gotten “the ultimatum” from their wives... Read more

With stalemated cases in which the task of self-acceptance feels impossible, the therapist needs to offer more than compassion and encouragement. Read more

For men who still consider entering couples therapy a stroll into a lion’s den of shame, humiliation and failure, a men’s groups can be both a crucial... Read more

Often clients come to therapy to resolve ambivalence or because they can’t make up their minds. But sometimes, the problem is that they’re too certain... Read more

An understanding of the unconventional ways people demonstrate resilience is important in helping us avoid pathologizing clients and stop believing there’s... Read more

Meditation supports clients in being more present and accepting. But if it’s transformation they want, IFS can help them take the next step. Read more

The Enneagram and the 5 A’s of transformation. Read more

A primer on the specifics of incorporating mindfulness into therapeutic practice. Read more

In a very dark corner of each of our minds is a voice that says, “I’m going to die. One day, I’m going to die.” How we react to this voice determines... Read more

Sometimes conversation isn’t the best way to communicate with clients. There are times when therapists must go beyond the words. Read more

There's no substitute for a clear clinical model that can guide you through the therapeutic change process. Read more

Putting the power of neuroplasticity to work in the consulting room. Read more

While partners caught in the anger merry-go-round invariably blame the other, both typically pass the anger back and forth like a shared virus. Read more