Making the Most of Counseling

Two identical twins could see the same counselor for the same issue yet one twin derives far more benefit. My Psychology Today article today offers ways to make the most of your counseling, whether career, personal, relationship, whatever

Reflections on My Life as Career Coach

I’m in my 36th year as a career and personal coach, having had the privilege (and yes, that's not just a cliche, it's true) of helping more than 6,000 clients with a central part of their life.

Perhaps it's time to share some candid reflections in hope they might be helpful not just to career counselors and coaches but to any helping professional as well as to clients. I offer those reflections in my Psychology Today article today.

“What Are You Sad About?” How answering that question can help you get happier

During a session today, I asked a question I had never asked before: “What are you sad about?” The client raised a number of new issues: about a relationship, an ailment, even the meaning of it all.

I then asked a friend the same question, which also unearthed new and surprising concerns. I then asked myself the same question and it too was evocative.

So, what are you sad about? It may be easier to answer that question if it's posed within categories and with an example. I do that in my Psychology Today article today.

Quick Not-Random Acts of Kindness: Easier and more beneficial

For decades, we’ve been urged to do random acts of kindness. But in today’s ever busier, more stressful times, it might be of value to offer examples of such acts that take little time or effort.  Plus, most of the following are not-random acts of kindness, making them even more beneficial. 

Donning my optimistic hat, bestowing a not-random act of kindness would benefit not just the recipient but encourage the person to do such kindnesses. Who knows? Maybe, with 1 x 1 = 2,  2 x 2 = 4,  4 x 4 = 16,  16 x 16 = 256,  256 x 256 = 655336,  65536 x 65536 = 42,949, 672, one not-random act of kindness let alone making that a habit, would mean you’re changing the world, much for the better.

My Psychology Today article today offers examples of a quick not-random kindness.

Difficult Clients: Advice for counselors, and a wake-up call to clients

If you’re a helping professional, chances are you’ve had difficult clients. My Psychology Today article today offers composite examples of difficult clients I’ve had and what has worked best in working with them.

And if you are a client or patient, perhaps you will see something of yourself in one or more of these, which might help you get more out of the relationship.

 

The Rise, Fall, and Rebirth of a Career Coach: Life lessons for all of us

My Psychology Today article today offers a composite of the experiences of career and life coaches and counselors I have known. It embeds life lessons for us all.

14 Nuggets from Psychology Today’s "Essential Reads"

Psychology Today's editors select a small percentage of its blog posts as Essential Reads. Since the previous time I posted a group of nuggets from Essential Reads, the editors have selected hundreds of Essential Reads.

I've reviewed those to select 14 ideas that seem particularly useful and fresh. Each is followed by my comment.