The Lady Who Thought She Liked Football

The Lady Who Thought She Liked Football Relationship Dependence, “I’m Okay if You’re Okay with Me” What is Fusion? When does fusion become relationship dependency? This article is a follow up to discussion of Jodi Picoult’s book The Pact. Fusion is the process in which one person’s feelings are intertwined …

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Dr. Dale’s Journal: Diagnosis Black

Dale Maxwell, M.D., (October 3, 1939-June 24, 1997). The results are in. You are going to die soon. What Would You Do? If you’re like me, you’ve wondered how you’d face a really terrifying diagnosis. Bravely? Prayerfully? Drunkenly? I picture myself running around the neighborhood from house to house banging …

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Relationship Dependence: I’m Okay if You’re Okay, “The Pact”

Relationship Dependency: “I’m Okay if You’re Okay” The Pact by Jodi Picoult Part One What I’m Reading . . .  **This article is not a standard review of the book but a discussion of how the story weaves in lessons in psychology and behavior. The Pact tells the story of a teen couple, Christopher …

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Why Do They Have Television on Christmas?

Anytime I work with a personal story I remember my father’s caution against ever thinking my life is any more interesting than anyone else’s. I hope I haven’t slipped up. Maybe my little story will awaken a place in others where their stories hide. After the New Year I will …

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Medication, MysteryShrink in Real Life

MysteryShrink in Real Life Every year I do at least one tribute to people who are willing to take medication to deal with all sorts of disorders, particularly depression. No one wants to take medication. Certainly no one wants the side effects. Those who are willing are heroes and heroines …

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Coffee: Gateway to Heroin

Coffee:  Gateway to Heroin Useful Psychology Teaches Us ‘How to Think,’ Not ‘What to Think’ The problem with Nancy Reagan’s ‘Just say No’ anti-drug program was that the focus was on blind obedience. This method works well with children still in the ‘concrete thinking’ stage of development, but does not …

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Can You Really Change? Can Anyone?

Can You Really Change?  Can Anyone? The Teapot Incident The day I discovered people can change I was at the university health center set to have a session with my very first couple clients on my own. Mr. and Mrs. T. had sought my services because they were distressed and needed …

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