On Will, Freedom of Will, and Willpower
There are few psychological phenomena that are more consequential to the human condition than will and its derivatives: willpower and freedom of will. The ability to exercise will deliberately and consciously is, arguably, among the most important defining features of psychologically complex life. Despite its importance, the concept of will is neither well understood nor well described.
The Problem with the ADHD Diagnosis
ADHD is meant to be objectively impairing. Failing to achieve a personal goal like reading more or studying enough for a test does not qualify. The reality is that most people struggle to focus on boring things for which they have no clear incentive, or for which gratification is greatly delayed. This is an entirely ordinary part of the human condition, not a mental health diagnosis. But of course, by making it one, many people get something they want.
Is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Similar to CBT?
ACT’s core prescriptions are as follows. First, a person needs to identify his values and use them to form specific life goals. Second, he needs to understand and accept that the pursuit of his goals can, at times, produce real mental discomfort such as fear of rejection when dating or “impostor syndrome” when climbing the career ladder. Third, the person needs to accept such discomfort as part of the price he pays for pursuing his goals.
Demystifying Gestalt Therapy
Gestalt therapy sees human psychology as an interplay of conflicting and frequently unconscious forces. Despite being a close relative of psychoanalysis, Gestalt therapy rejects one of its fundamental tenets: a Gestalt therapist is an active participant in the therapeutic process, not a dispassionate outside observer. The goal of Gestalt therapy is to help the client fulfill his desires, all while enjoying the positive outcomes and learning from the negative ones.
What Is Narrative Therapy?
When a person develops sufficiently powerful narratives about himself or the world, information that contradicts such narratives gets ignored while information that supports them acquires additional weight. If those narratives are negative enough, they can lead to psychological distress. Put simply, narrative therapists believe that the human mind not only interprets reality but also constructs it.
Why Relationships Fail
If a person is an adult who consistently struggles to maintain relationships across family, social, and professional life, there is likely something wrong. Or, more to the point, something he or she is doing that makes the relationships difficult to sustain. Let’s explore the personality traits and behaviors that commonly lead to the collapse of relationships.
Why Autism Is So Overdiagnosed in America
Autism is, arguably, one of the most overdiagnosed mental health conditions in America today. About 90% of the time I come across a client with this diagnosis, it is incorrect. I do have a few ideas and opinions about why this is happening. Some of them may appear controversial, but we seem to be at a point now where a long, hard look at what’s going on with autism is warranted.
What Is Dialectical Behavior Therapy and How Is It Different from CBT?
DBT is developed for people who engage in harmful or dangerous behavior directed at themselves or others. The goal of DBT is to help the client come to terms with his or her painful emotions and understand that they will pass. DBT’s main principle is change through acceptance. The contradictory nature of this principle is reflected in DBT’s adoption of the term dialectical as part of its name.
What Is Existential Therapy?
We are all mortal and are aware of this fact. We are all unique and therefore can never be completely understood by others. We are not beholden to our natural drives and have to search for meaning beyond the biological imperatives of survival and procreation. Finally, life presents us with the need to make fateful decisions that come at a steep cost and whose consequences cannot be fully anticipated. Every cognitively mature person will have to deal with the existential problems listed above in one of three ways: avoid them, outsource them, or confront them.
What Is Psychodynamic Therapy?
Despite being one of the most popular forms of therapy, psychodynamic therapy is often somewhat misunderstood by its practitioners and their clients. Because the psychodynamic tradition was created by Sigmund Freud, psychodynamic therapy is often erroneously conflated with psychoanalysis. Also, the name itself can be misleading to many people due to its Greek roots. Let’s unpack it step-by-step.