When Grandparents Interfere With Parenting
Ettie could not believe her eyes or her ears. As she walked into her eight-year old daughter's room, her mother was telling Beth, her daughter, "You don't have to listen to mommy; you can stay up because I'm visiting." Beth was a good girl who would not have thought...
The Rules Of Privacy In Therapy
We were all seated at large round tables enjoying a celebration of a dear friend's son. We guests went around the table introducing ourselves. A woman across the table stared at me after she announced her name. "You look familiar she said." I smiled at her. I knew...
Using Hypnosis In Trauma Treatment
Last week I introduced you to three people and their stories with the idea in mind of understanding trauma a little better -- and what to do about it. The common element in trauma is that a person is shocked and overwhelmed by a great loss. That feeling of shock is...
It Might Be Trauma
Lilly was ten. When she was in school, she could dig into her work and her mind could entertain itself with whatever the subjects were; she loved school. It was when she came home that the problems began. Her father had a temper that would erupt easily. Lilly could...
How Not To Be In Denial
"I don't believe it. I don't believe it" Roy kept saying. He was sitting at his desk in the corner of his office, alone in the dark. He was looking at his records and the unimpeachable truth was staring him in the face: Benjamin clearly had been doctoring the...
6 Tips To Handle Difficult People
Let me tell you about Penny and Kenny. Living with Kenny would test anybody's patience. How can Penny handle it? Kenny thinks he can voice his opinion in the strongest possible terms, even to the degree that he insults others. He also doesn’t think he has to apologize...
Do We Have To Be Honest With Children?
My school-age grandson was filled with the importance of the story he was telling me. He paused as someone flew a paper airplane over our heads and their mother had to put a stop to that. She made a remark; I made another one back, and before you knew it, my...
When High Standards Become a Weapon
High standards are good, right? They help you set lofty goals and then you can achieve them, right? Often. But not always. Not when they are used as a whip for not reaching them. Not when they are used as a barrier to keep away people who -- oh, no! -- have flaws....
Women: Are You About to Give up on Your Marriage?
Your marriage is in tatters. You cry nearly every day. Or you are just about ready to have an affair. You cannot stand it anymore. Your husband ignores everything and nothing works: Being nice, not being nice, being a listener, not being a listener, nagging, not...