February 22, 2016
When I was in high school, my mom implemented a policy for mental health days. One day per semester I was allowed to take a day off of school, which she would call in and officially excuse me for.
The term “gaslighting” comes from Patrick Hamilton’s work Gas Light (1938), a play that was adapted into two movies in 1940 and 1944. The basic plot of the play and movies deals with a husband who systematically manipulates and psychologically abuses his wife by trying to convince her she is insane. He does this by changing small elements of their environment (such as the dimming the representative gas lights of the house) and then insisting she’s mistaken or misremembering details
October 29, 2013
Racism in America has gone from blatant, obvious expression to nuanced, subtle behaviors. It is an example of how two seemingly conflictual feelings can coexist both in an individual and in society at large. In the summer of 1955, Emmett Till walked into a grocery store to buy gum. In 2012, Trayvon Martin walked into a grocery store to buy Skittles and an iced tea. Both were brutally shot to death at close range. Racism (and profiling) are at work in
January 8, 2013
‘Repetition Compulsion’ is one of the most powerful dynamics in human life. We are all destined to repeat our original relationships, (ie. parents) in the relationships of our adult lives. This is most apparent in close/intimate relationships. One can be determined not to repeat, ie. have it be different, but nevertheless the repetition is destined. To interfere with this takes remembering, reliving and re-solving. This cannot be done in solitude. It must be done in a neutral/therapeutic relationship. The shared goal is to
September 30, 2012
There has been a tragedy in Evanston. We have lost a 14-year-old young man in a senseless killing. More information: “Charges in slaying of boy, 14: ‘Hate, disgust, sadness'” via Chicago Tribune “Man held in Evanston teen’s death was seeking revenge, prosecutors say” via Chicago Tribune Whenever there is a loss in the community it feels like a loss of a family member. We identify with our communities in such a way that we vicariously experience tragedy. Those of us
August 8, 2012
When we feel the heart crushing news of a violent event and the horror associated with events like the most recent “Batman Movie Massacre” we become sad, anxiety increases, and we feel the depth of connection to those we do not know. They are complete strangers, except in how they are reflections of those in our circle of family and friends, despite all of our differences. We can literally feel on a cellular level the fear and pain of those