The First Christmas with Mom in a Decade: A fictional short-short story

The Fall: A fictional short-short story

A Therapist Support Group--Episode 6 of AT WORK: a series of fictional s...

A Too-Honest Counselor: A short-short story

The Art of Counseling: Seven things counselors argue about.

We think of counselors as conciliators. Yet even they—after the clients are gone—are not above arguing. My Psychology Today article today presents both sides of seven common debates.

How to Be a Good Counselee: 6 keys to getting the most from your sessions

So you decided to see a counselor. My Psychology Today article today suggests six things you can do to get the most from your counseling.

How to Address Challenges in Counseling's Middle Sessions: Advice for counselors and clients

The first counseling session is often easy for both counselor and client. It’s all new, challenges haven’t had time to emerge, and hope prevails. The final session may also be easy. Sure, it may be hard to say goodbye, but final sessions are normally devoted to summarizing past takeaways, with no new painful efforts to unearth the hidden within. But middle sessions, perhaps sessions 3 through 6, can pose particular challenges. My Psychology Today article today addresses them.

 

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

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 Case for Counseling by Email

Over the years, a small but growing percentage of my clients work with me partly, or even mainly, by exchanging emails. My PsychologyToday.com article today makes the case for its advantages and then include an email exchange with a client.

10 Mistakes Counselors Make

My Psychology Today article today describes ten errors commonly made by counselors, therapists, and other helping professionals:

“The Counselor Was Nice but Didn’t Help Much: ” Seven causes of client discontent

My new-client questionnaire includes a question, “If you've previously had counseling, what were the results?” A number of clients have written that the counselor was nice but didn’t help much.

Of course, in the first session, I ask clients to explain. My Psychology Today article today lists the factors they most often mention.

Outsmarting Your Clients and Patients

Sure, some clients are always rational and statesmanlike, disclosing all relevant information, responding honestly, dispensing due praise to you, etc. But such purity isn’t always the case.
It can’t hurt to have some under-discussed but crucial tools in your helping kit. I describe them in my PsychologyToday.com article today.

Serious Messages in Jokes about Therapists

Sometimes, we say in jest truths we can’t say seriously. Jokes about therapists are no exception. They may be instructive both to counselors and clients. 

In my PsychologyToday.com article today, I describe the unspoken issues within ten therapist jokes that have stood the test of time.