Psychotherapy & Counselling

Carl Gustav Jung died 50 years ago today. Alongside Sigmund Freud, he is arguably one of the two people of the 20th century who most shaped the way we think about who we are. But what would he make of the 21st century so far?

Singer/songwriter Solange Knowles, younger sister of superstar Beyoncé, business magnate Sir Richard Branson, chef Jamie Oliver (pictured) and cycling champion Greg LeMond are just some of the celebrities diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

By the time parents reach adulthood, they have experienced a lifetime’s worth of relationships, both good and bad.These relationships exist with caregivers, siblings, peers, friends, and so on. A normal effect of having relationships is that they leave indelible impressions upon the psyche, which create templates, often unconscious, about how particular kinds of relationships are supposed to work. In a sense, people become “programmed” as to what to expect from others (parents, friends, partners, etc.) and how they feel about themselves based on previous experiences with people already in these roles, and the impressions start during even the earliest days of infancy.

In a study of children in Norway, neurofeedback proves as effective as stimulants in reducing symptoms of ADHD.

The director of Harvard’s Research Program on Children and Global Adversity discusses her research, background, and family life.

Lynn Somerstein, PhD, RYT - Children exposed to domestic violence are more likely to experience anxiety, depression, and other issues as adults. We must preserve their innocence.

Lynn Grodzki explores a new style in psych careers that combines traditional therapy with the instruction of coaching.

Psychotherapy’s struggle to sell itself.

Patrick Ussher: The true meaning of stoicism has been lost over time, but Stoic Week aims to show it is still a relevant and useful philosophy

What cortisol and oxytocin have to do with a 19th-century German playwright.

This week, I'm headed to the Future of Storytelling summit,

There are two different approaches you can take when helping others at work. Find out what they are and when to use each one.

Unleashing the Power: Anthony Robbins, Positive
Psychology, and the Quest for Human Flourishing
Stephanie M. Ramones
stephramones@gmail.com

TED Talks Tony Robbins discusses the "invisible forces" that motivate everyone's actions -- and high-fives Al Gore in the front row.

Why Sex Matters
Posted on January 6, 2013 by Joseph Burgo, Ph.D.
One of my colleagues recently told me how dismayed she was that so many of her clients in long-term relationships or marriages seemed to have given up on sex entirely, or had passionless, unsatisfying sex a couple of times a year at most. (She herself has been married for more than 20 years and has an active sex life with her husband.) For the most part, the sex lives of my own clients in long-term relationships aren’t so different from those of my colleague’s clients. The clients who have managed to maintain active sex lives over many years of marriage share a view that I expressed two years ago, in a post that outlined three pieces of unorthodox advice concerning relationships.

Suzanne Moore: Sexuality used to be the big battle. Now we need to unite in anger against the breakdown of the social contract

A giant list of ubiquitous cognitive distortions.

Meaning comes from the pursuit of more complex things than happiness

A study from the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in which subjects meditated for about 20 minutes a day for a month found increased axonal density, or a greater number of connections between neurons. This allows for more processing power in the brain. Moreover, greater myelinationwas found in a brain region is responsible for decisions, emotions and empathy and myelination increases the speed that signals between neurons travel—essentially quickening thinking.

For decades, psychotherapy has been considered “the talking cure”: two people in conversation, with a shared goal of relieving the suffering of the patient.

Silent Treatment
Uncovering the Nature and Consequences of Ostracism

Feminist author and psychotherapist Kim Chernin ponders the difficulties posed by reconciling Eastern Buddhist traditions with Western psychology.

I can't say I always enjoy cardiovascular exercise. I don't think anyone does. Oh, I've seen those infomercials featuring models whose granite abs and manic smiles become even more sharply defined at the very sight of workout equipment. But as we all know, these people are from Neptune.

Mindfulness, or paying full attention to the present moment, can be very helpful in improving the cognitive symptoms of depression. These debilitating symptoms include distorted thinking, difficulty concentrating and forgetfulness. Cognitive symptoms can impair all areas of a person's life. For instance, poor concentration can interfere with your job or schoolwork.