Universality and Explanation The psychotherapy research community has produced many good things, but complaints are common about a mismatch between what research produces and what clinical...
Dr. Smith's Latest Articles
The Secret Power of Fairytales
Why is age five so special? And what is it about fairytales that makes them so compelling at that age? Few therapists are aware (and if you are, I’d love to hear about it) of an important event in...
What You Don’t Know About Shame
Here’s the secret: Treating inappropriate shame is one of the hardest jobs in psychotherapy. Knowing this and understanding why will help you know what to do and how to manage expectations. The...
Why Nondirective vs. Directive?
One of the participants in our training program brought up the issue of non-directive therapy versus directive psychotherapy. In a way similar to the artificial distinction between...
How Much Support?
I am not comfortable with the concept of “supportive therapy” and here’s why: “Insight psychotherapy is an expensive, prestigious treatment conducted by a relatively...
Addiction
Do We Have Free Will?
I read something recently suggesting that most of our decisions are made outside of consciousness...
Alcoholism and Drug Addiction
Alcoholism and other addictions are baffling for everyone. People who suffer from them think they...
Mindfulness
Working With the Inner Child
Many of the questions that have come up recently around attachment to your therapist boil down to...
A Guide to Personal Change
Dear Readers, my new book, How We Heal and Grow: The Power of Facing Your Feelings is available...