Those of you who have had a therapy session with me are probably quite familiar with the term “archetype.” Very briefly, an archetype is a pattern of behavior, or more accurately, a pattern of “being” much like an instinct. According to the Swiss psychiatrist, Carl Jung, the archetypes have formed over eons of human existence [...]
What is a “safe psyche” …first of all, what is a “psyche”? Most definitions of psyche point to soul or spirit. This is because the origins of the word are Greek, and do indeed translate, in English, to “soul or spirit” (well, actually life, but a detailed definition would point to a description of soul.) [...]
This month I am going to talk a little bit about another one of John Gottman’s “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse,” contempt. Gottman says: “contempt is fueled by long-simmering negative thoughts about one’s partner, and it arises in the form of an attack on someone’s sense of self.” He goes on to say: “contempt as [...]
Although it may seem like a fantasy, criticizing your partner in just about any context, weakens an intimate bond that is essential to a healthy relationship. This, like nearly every axiom or “hard as stone” dictum, has important exceptions. First, let me define “criticize” from the context of this article. Few people will balk at [...]
There is a lot of confusion these days regarding the meaning of the word empathy and how empathy can be demonstrated in a relationship. Oftentimes we hear of a comparison between empathy and sympathy, which regards the latter as a less heartfelt response to a situation or to a partner’s feelings. I am not quite [...]
As a psychotherapist I see quite a few couples in therapy. We psychotherapists are always being asked what we think is important in a relationship. Obviously a couple knowing such things can be helpful, especially if there really are some magic words of wisdom out there that could make relationships easier to navigate through. I don’t [...]
All lives are unique. Each of us creates a story that will never be told the same way again. Each of us sees the world in a slightly different way, and each of us brings something unique and special to the other people and other living things we encounter on our journey through life.
