TRAUMA STUDIES

I've spent much of my career working with survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Advanced training in this area is particularly helpful, so I want to share with you information about this fall's schedule at Manhattan Institute for Psychoanalysis' Certificate Program in Trauma Studies. I highly recommend MIP’s trauma program. I serve on the training committee and teach one of the modules. If you are interested in training in this area, I encourage you to review the program's offerings which will also direct you to the link if you want to attend the program’s upcoming virtual open house on April 14th from 4:00-5:30.

CRYSTAL METH AND RECOVERY

I’ve recently been fortunate to have a book recommended to me: Lust, Men, and Meth: A Gay Man’s Guide to Sex and Recovery, by David Fawcett, Ph.D. If you are struggling with crystal meth, are a therapist working with a patient who has a meth addiction, or want to understand a friend or family member who is in the grips of this addiction — then this book is essential reading. Fawcett explores the methamphetamine crisis from both a psychological and sociological perspective. He has a deep understanding of the causes of this addiction, the pain it creates, and the steps towards recovery. I couldn’t recommend a book more highly.

HEALING MY LIFE FROM INCEST TO JOY

Healing My Life from Incest to Joy is a very compelling book written by Donna Jenson. She chronicles her growing up in a family in which she was violently abused. Donna’s primary focus, however, is on her experience in healing and finding joy in life. She writes of her journey in creating a healthy and long lasting love life, finding meaning through writing and performing, and building a family of choice. I loved the book and think you will too. You can learn more about her work through www.timetotell.org.

THERAPISTS' MISTAKES

For many people who are in therapy, it can be good to know that therapists also make mistakes. Sounds obvious, but it isn’t something that everyone considers. Irwin Hirsch has written a terrific book on this, Coasting in the Countertransference. He explores how sometimes therapists avoid anxiety-ridden topics, rather than deal with the discomfort that can arise in pursuing particular issues. It’s a helpful reminder that therapy requires a certain courage from patients, as well as their therapists.

SANDOR FERENCZI

Mention psychoanalysis, and most people of course think of Sigmund Freud. Lost in history is Freud's colleague Sandor Ferenczi, who dramatically expanded on what psychoanalysis could offer. He did this by exploring how the therapist's relationship with the patient could play a dynamic role in helping patients connect more deeply with their feelings, histories, and relational styles. Ferenczi was also at the forefront of understanding the impact of sexual trauma. Most radically, he experimented with alternating therapy sessions in which the therapist and patient took turns in the "patient" role. The Legacy of Sandor Ferenczi, by Lewis Aron and Adrienne Harris, brings his ideas alive and helps us expand our perceptions of what is possible in psychotherapy today.

A MIND SPREAD OUT ON THE GROUND

I am currently reading a very thought-provoking book, A Mind  Spread Out on the Ground, by Alicia Elliott. She writes of the intersections between intergenerational trauma, oppression, and her unique experiences as an indigenous woman. This is a compelling memoir and very informative, and particularly valuable for therapists who are looking to expand their understanding of how the history of race and discrimination can continue to live in subsequent generations. I highly recommend this book.

COMING OUT AS LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL OR TRANSGENDER

Revealing the deepest parts of ourselves to others can feel like a great risk. Certainly this can be the case in coming out as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. Over the years I've worked with many people who've struggled to share this part of themselves with family members, friends or co-workers. And while coming out to others doesn't always go smoothly or as hoped, I have never worked with anyone who's regretted it. Websites, libraries and bookstores are brimming with information about coming out, and the LGBT Center offers a wide range of social and support opportunities for people --- whether they have been out for years or are just coming out.

THE BODY KEEPS THE SCORE

Bessel van der Kolk is a hero and leader in helping to bring the study of trauma into public awareness. In his fascinating book, The Body Keeps the Score, he tells of his own journey in learning, through his patients, about trauma and it's consequences. He writes about the impact trauma has on the body and psyche, and offers hope in outlining effective treatments. Whether you're a therapist who works with traumatized patients, someone who's experienced trauma, or know someone who's survived trauma (I think that includes all of us), I highly recommend this book.

SURVIVING A SUICIDE

The numbers are shocking and sad: some 200,000 people in the United States annually lose a loved one to suicide (according to the AAS). I have worked with a number of people who have been affected by suicide. They often come in with conflicting feelings: mourning, grief, rage and guilt. Therapy can be a lifeline for people who survive the suicide of a loved one. Some helpful resources include The Samaritans of New York (212-673-3000) which offers free of charge support groups for survivors of suicide and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline which you can call or text at 988.

Newer Posts


DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Partner violence, unfortunately, threads through society. Our U.S. Congress now has a champion in addressing this issue —- Representative Cori Bush, who has a personal history with domestic violence. If you or someone you know is struggling with domestic violence, I highly recommend Safe Horizon as an entry point to get help.

JUDITH HERMAN

Judith Herman’s pathbreaking 1992 Trauma and Recovery changed the way and expanded how we think about trauma. This landmark book was instrumental in guiding psychotherapists to better understand how to work with people who experience a range of traumatic events —- from domestic violence, to combat, to sexual assault and child abuse.

We are lucky that Herman has now followed up with Truth and Repair: How Trauma Survivors Envision Justice. As Herman writes: “If traumatic disorders are afflictions of the powerless, then empowerment must be a central principle of recovery. If trauma shames and isolates, then recovery must take place in community.” This book helps us consider what steps are most helpful for each individual survivor of trauma and how best to move forward in their own healing process.  Thank you Judith Herman.

MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT PSYCHOANALYSIS

Psychoanalysis has a bad reputation these days. It's treated as some sort of boogeyman: the cold, withholding analyst sitting silently behind the patient who is floundering on the couch. In fact, in terms of talk therapies, psychoanalysis offers a unique opportunity to delve deeply into what makes us tick, and to understand why we can end up doing things or being with people who aren't good for us. Analysis helps us bring buried feelings and thoughts to the surface. It also helps us see how we can erroneously project experiences from our childhood onto current relationships. One of the best books I know that outlines current analytic thinking is Owen Renick's Practical Psychoanalysis for Therapists and Patients. Through various case studies, Renick demonstrates how he actively listens to and participates in his patients' healing processes. The book is a joy to read and goes a long way in correcting any misconceptions about what psychoanalysis has to offer today.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

"There aren't any meetings with people like me."
"All that religious stuff turns me off."
"I hate walking into a room full of strangers."
"Are you kidding, I can just stop drinking on my own."

These are just a few of the protests I've heard when I suggest A.A. to people with drinking problems. The fact is though, that no matter what real shortcomings A.A. might have, it usually provides the best support for getting and staying sober. The meetings are important, as well as sharing at meetings, having a sponsor, and keeping a handy list of members who you can call, and --- particularly important --- after the meeting joining other members for informal coffee sessions. It's not easy to stop drinking: but it's a lot easier to do when you have the safety net of the A.A. community surrounding you.

POSTPARTUM PSYCHOSIS

Inferno is Catherine Cho’s harrowing and straightforward memoir of her experience with postpartum psychosis. In my nearly 30 years of providing psychotherapy, I have never worked with anyone who has lived with this nor had I heard of the diagnosis. (It is not listed in the DSM-5 as a specific diagnosis.)  Luckily this is not widely experienced. Reading Cho’s book certainly expanded my thinking about the human condition and what some people endure. I highly recommend Inferno.

PSYCHOANALYSTS' LIVES

What goes on in the minds of psychoanalysts? What influences us to become listeners at the deepest and broadest levels?  How do our personal lives affect the work we do?  Steven Kuchuck has compiled a very thought-provoking group of essays by analysts which address these and other questions in Clinical Implications of the Psychoanalyst's Life Experience: When the Personal Becomes Professional.  I greatly enjoyed reading it and highly recommend it.

RACIAL JUSTICE

While the torture and murder of George Floyd has receded from much of the public’s attention, racial discord continues to plague our country. It’s all the more painful because it is a continuation of a legacy of injustice that has haunted our country throughout it’s history. I have found The Equal Justice Initiative to be a particularly helpful educational resource and inspiration and, if you’re not familiar with it, I hope you will go to their website and learn more about their work.

EMOTIONS

Some people grow up in families where it isn't safe or accepted to experience certain feelings --- let alone learn to express them. As a result, it can sometimes be difficult as an adult to know what emotions might be swirling inside you. In addition to the ongoing opportunity therapy provides in connecting with feelings, www.atlasofemotions.org can be a helpful tool in identifying feelings that are buried and not so easily accessed.

MONEY PROBLEMS

With inflation running high and the stock market plummeting, many more people are struggling with getting their finances in order. Sometimes psychotherapy can be helpful in understanding how current feelings or family history affect your ability to live within your means or to plan securely for the future. In addition to therapy, an organization that can be helpful in managing the practicalities of dealing with debt is the National Foundation for Credit Counseling which provides referrals for free or low cost help with credit counseling.

SUNLIGHT

Even during these hot summer months and three years into the pandemic, I think this article on sunlight and depression is very helpful. Some people are still limiting their outdoor time due to fears of Covid exposure. Also, people struggling with depression can be weighted down with a reluctance to go outside. I hope you find this article in The New York Times to be an encouragement to treat yourself to a daily walk.