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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Stress Relief: Kid in the Shower Cap Saves the Day!

My husband and I had taken the three nieces and one nephew on a trip through New Mexico. On one late afternoon the nephew was getting the worse of it from his sister and cousins. Everyone was tense and the nephew, a bit irritable, began to focus on how he …

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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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Who Do You Want to Know Better? The ‘Impressive’ Person or the Person Who Can Laugh?

Who Do You Want to Know Better? The ‘Impressive’ Person or the Person Who Can Laugh? We sure spend a lot of money and time in our efforts to impress others. Is it working? What follows are the slightly edited comments made by two men on the tram from the …

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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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Dreams, Goals. How to Get Stuff Done (Re-set. Accidental Deletion)

Dreams, Goals. How to Get Stuff Done  (Re-set. Accidental Deletion) mysteryshrinkJune 11, 2015Anxiety, Depression, Front Page Dreams, Goals. How to Get Stuff Done The lead photograph is a picture of Alvin Bailey, the head groom at the stable when I was a kid, a beloved friend, and one of my …

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