Contributed by Livia Kent
21 Results
Editor's Note
If play is so vital to our health and well-being, why isn’t it emphasized more in the adult therapy world? And for those who take the leap and inject some humor into sessions, what kinds of approaches seem to work best? Here, we look at therapists’ favorite tools for engendering high spirits, the hazards of certain brands of humor, and how—when used with care—playful moments can cement the therapeutic relationship and shift a client’s perspective on their suffering. Read More
Editor's Note
Reimagining Psychotherapy
In this issue, we investigate how and why therapists around the country—and around the world—are reimagining their work. This rarely means starting from scratch; it’s more about conducting careful, creative experiments that push the edges of the ways they’ve been working, allowing them to discover more useful ways of helping clients. Read More
Editor's Note
How have we come to a place where fully a quarter of Americans aren’t merely disgruntled with family members, but are distressed enough to actually cut them off? What’s the emotional fallout of these fractures, both for those who initiate them and for the rest of the family? And how can therapists best navigate this relational minefield and avoid missteps that could widen an existing fissure? Read More
Editor's Note
The truth is, supervision is harder to come by these days. For a number of reasons that we explore here, some trainees don’t have access to regular supervision, while others say they entered private practice without anyone ever having seen them work with a client—at least not in real-time. How can we, as a field, begin to close this troubling gap? Read More
Editor's Note
Clinicians’ Attitudes Toward Their Own Struggles
As the culture’s sanctioned authorities on mental health, therapists are still widely expected to be equanimous in the face of inner turmoil. So, outside of their own therapist’s office, many fear coming out about their own serious troubles—even in front of colleagues. Oddly enough, shame and its loyal sidekick, secrecy, still loom large in our field. The heartening news is that it’s beginning to change. Read More
Editor's Note
In the therapy field, especially, we tend to view self-deception as a path to any number of bad ends, like a sense of failure when reality collides with fantasy, or making ill-begotten choices. Of course, illusions do carry these hazards, and plenty of others! But as science journalist Shankar Vedantam argues in our lead piece, perhaps we need to widen our lens beyond what’s true or not, and ask what function an illusion is serving. What are the consequences? Might there be occasions when the benefits justify the costs? Read More
Editor's Note
I’m inspired by the courage of the therapists featured in this issue, who are stretching beyond their customary professional roles to apply their clinical skills in new ways. It takes commitment, an adventurous spirit, and often it’s a juggling act. But their common goal—and their passion—is to expand access to those too often shut out of the mental health system. Read More
Editor's Note
This issue of the Networker came together because of the great love so many people feel for Rich Simon. As soon as we put out word of his death, the messages poured in from people wanting to celebrate his inimitable “Rich-ness” and convey how deeply he influenced their work. We couldn’t possibly include them all here, but, in a very real way, everyone who cared for Rich and the community he created has inspired this tribute. It’s one we never dreamed we’d have to put together, but we hope it captures his buoyant spirit, his quiet bravery, and his enormous heart. Read More
Livia Kent
Livia Kent, MFA, is the editor in chief of Psychotherapy Networker. She worked for 10 years with Rich Simon as managing editor of Psychotherapy Networker, and taught writing at American University as well as for various programs around the country. A certified bibliotherapist, she’s facilitated therapy groups in Washington, DC-area schools and in the DC prison system. In 2020, she was named one of Folio Magazine's Top Women in Media "Change-Makers" and is the recipient of the Roux Magazine's Editor's Choice Award, The Ledge Magazine's National Fiction Award, and American University’s Myra Sklarew Award for Original Novel.