When you face a difficult decision – one that permanently changes your life and impacts many people, you need clarity and confidence. Perhaps the most difficult decision that many people will ever face is whether to stay in a marriage that is not working for them or to divorce. Since divorce is such an important […]
Michael speaks on Houston Matters about retirement and adjusting to the changes. From the HoustonMatters.org website. Adjusting to retirement can be a challenge. From budgeting finances to staying active in the community, there are several hurdles — many of which are unexpected. We talk about the financial and social aspects of adjusting to retirement with […]
A chemist, a psychologist and a hairdresser were moving a piano. I am the psychologist in the story. The chemist is my sister’s husband, Bobby, and the hairdresser is Ben, Bobby’s brother. Dispel any stereotypes you have of a male hairdresser. Ben is quite masculine and loves women- so much so, that he has married […]
The Fourth of July holiday in the United States is a celebration of freedom and autonomy from Great Britain. The declaration of Independence laid not only the foundation of a new nation, but a new concept in the world. It is the turning point in history towards self-rule, not governance ordained by a privileged, elite […]
“In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronger – something better, pushing right back.” ~ Albert Camus It is deep in January and the northeast US […]
The month of November means Thanksgiving in the United States. Traditionally, Thanksgiving involved setting aside time to reflect on and be grateful for that year’s harvest. To me, November is a month-long opportunity to explore gratitude at a deeper level. We can all take steps to heighten our awareness and depth of gratitude. But first, […]
“ I really believe that everyone out there could benefit from therapy, whether they are dealing with relationship or job issues, or stress or depression.” ~ Howie Mandel A common misconception is that psychotherapy is beneficial ONLY for people who are mentally ill. The history of psychology makes this misconception understandable. Originally counseling and psychotherapy […]
Derek Beres’ blog titled The Case against Empathy argues that the value of empathy is exaggerated. In this response, I hope to resonate with Derek’s experience and attempt to understand how he arrived at his conclusions. I also hope to explore how his discussion presents a limited, in fact a distorted, concept of empathy. Derek […]
Michael spoke yesterday (August 13, 2014) on the KUHF (NPR Houston) show Houston Matters on the topic of Anger Management. Michael’s segment starts at minute 26. Traffic, the heat, fast-paced workplaces. These Houston characteristics alone can make your blood boil at times. But when does getting angry become enough of a problem to seek treatment? […]