Understanding Jealousy
Jealousy, suspicion and possessiveness of a partner without basis is a painful and tormenting process that will derail intimacy and destroy an otherwise healthy and gratifying love relationship. Trust and intimacy are replaced by worry and rumination, relentless interrogation, accusations, monitoring (emails, cell phone activity) and sometimes to the point of following one’s partner. Jealousy […]
When is Medication Appropiate?
Who Can Prescribe Medication Although psychologists receive training in psychopharmacology (psychotropic medication that addresses psychological symptoms or disorders), psychologists in the state of California are not presently licensed to prescribe medication. These medications (i.e., Prozac, Zoloft, Xanax) are generally prescribed by psychiatrists or primary care physicians. When Should Medication be Prescribed As I am often […]
The Two Faces of Anger
Human beings possess the capacity to feel the emotions of joy, sadness, anger, fear, guilt, disgust, and shame (the belief that we are deficient, not liked or loved, or that we are a burden or harmful to others). Anger, as with the other emotions, is the “umbrella” emotion and its many forms including frustration, irritation, […]
The Bermuda Triangle and the Threatened Loss of Selfhood
Unhealthy Accommodation A significant number of people I work with are, what I refer to as, Unhealthy Accommodators. Unhealthy Accommodation is when we automatically and reflexively suppress or repress our own needs and wants in favor of the needs or wants of others. There is no experience of choice. In the case of Unhealthy Accommodation, […]
Understanding Anxiety and Panic
Approximately 40 million adults in the United States suffer from one or more types of anxiety disorders. Medication is effective in managing the symptoms, however medication does not provide an understanding of what anxiety and panic are nor does it teach us how to help ourselves. Additionally, the most common and effective anxiety medications, benzodiazepines, […]