First Person

I've been in full-time private practice for almost 30 years. In that time, three patients in my practice killed themselves. Each suicide has left me... Read more

After a lifetime of conflict, a son faces the question of what he owes his mother. Read more

Can broken hearts run in a family? Read more

The self-assurance of expert practitioners who publicly present their work can lead everyday therapists to believe that psychotherapy is a far more predictable... Read more

The life of a seemingly frail 94-year-old takes a surprising turn. Read more

These days, when psychotherapy is supposed to be “evidence based” and “empirically validated,” standardized and manualized up the wazoo, therapists... Read more

Recalling a time when kids were supposed to be out of the house—and their parents’ hair—as much as possible. Read more

The joys of being the oldest guy on the team. Read more

Every day, every moment, we must wade through the flood of incoming alerts and emails urgently demanding our time and attention, all the while knowing that... Read more

A stepson reconsiders a long-held resentment. Read more

A son’s decision to get married is a rite of passage for the entire family. Read more

An OCD sufferer describes the frustrating stops and starts and misdirections of her circuitous search for help in escaping the maze of her family of origin and... Read more

An young woman with autism celebrates a very special night. Read more

Of all the meaningful sessions that take place in a therapists's career, what makes certain ones stand out? We asked six widely respected clinicians to tell... Read more

What parent doesn’t know the ache of helplessness that comes when you can’t do anything for your child but feel entirely responsible anyway? Read more

Toward the end of her life, a woman turns back the clock by performing the goofy ballet of her youth. Read more

This March, poet, storyteller, and philosopher David Whyte—this year’s Symposium keynoter—returns to Washington DC to share his wisdom. Whyte specializes... Read more

A son remembers a distant father and the bittersweet ritual that bonded them. Read more

Three clinicians share stories of challenging cases that show how the most surprising outcomes often have nothing to do with therapeutic brilliance or... Read more

A young child’s bedroom is a place for magic and enchantment. Read more

December 29, 2013. It was still dark as I was walking the unlit path to my friend’s house for our weekly meditation meeting. Suddenly, my feet went out from... Read more

Jim and I just celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary by taking a trip to the Pacific Northwest. We travel differently than many of our friends, avoiding... Read more

Sorting through his mother’s personal files in the wake of her dementia, a son discovers more than he expected. Read more

Sometimes chance encounters can change a life. Read more

Openness to the larger mystery of our lives can deepen the therapeutic encounter. Read more

It’s never too late to change your story Read more

A daughter marvels as her mother goes from grief to an exuberant rebirth. Read more

From the first cell division to the final journey down the birth canal, risks and dangers abound. Read more

A woman in a life transition takes her son on an eventful road trip. Read more

A middle-aged man explores his troubled relationship with the body his genetics have saddled him with. Read more