This very long post is intended to replace the previous one on transference disasters and give patients and therapists a sense of how attachment to one’s therapist can come about and what to...
Dr. Smith's Latest Articles
Transference Disasters, Old Version
(Photo: Allison Day, Flickr, CC BY-ND 2.0.) Revised 2/28/187: Dear Readers, I have been witness in these pages to too many stories of therapists failing to handle strong transferential feelings...
Q&A: How to know if I’m done?
This is in response to TLC, who wrote a series of comments. She summarizes her questions thus: “I want to know how I know when I am done.” Some time ago I promised TLC I would write a...
Q&A: Burn Out Your Therapist?
Question: Can my neediness, strong attachment, and “borderline” traits repel my new and wonderful therapist? (Photo: Marina del Castell, Flickr, CC BY 2.0) Answer: This is a tricky one...
Sensitivity to Therapist’s Mood
Recently a reader shared this lovely insight into times when she knew something was up with her therapist. She gave me permission to pass on her words. (Photo, Flickr: Dennis Jarvis CC BY-SA...
Addiction
Do We Have Free Will?
I read something recently suggesting that most of our decisions are made outside of consciousness...
Why is “Adulting” so Hard?
I’ve been thinking about my patients of all ages who are having trouble becoming fully adult...
Relationships
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...