In The Therapy Room
True tales and lessons from the therapist’s chairA New Family Narrative
Transforming Intergenerational TraumaThe key to working with a family may be getting parents to see the intergenerational trauma underlying present-day issues. Read more
Empowering Relationships Despite Political Divides
How to Find and Reaffirm Shared ValuesFor the roughly 23 percent of married couples who don’t share a political affiliation, disagreements over a party or candidate can easily escalate into... Read more
Therapeutic Approaches to Miscarriage
Grieving Invisible LossesWe still don’t have a clear and reliable road map for navigating the unique grief that comes with losing a wanted pregnancy. Read more
Nine Simple Interventions for Depression
For Any Client, Any TimeIn challenging times, these simple sensorimotor interventions for depression can be easily used in sessions. Read more
How I Start My First Session
Icebreakers, Alliance-Building, and MoreThree expert therapists give tips on breaking through a client’s tough exterior, convey concern and build rapport in a first session. Read more
Tales from the Therapy Room
Our Annual Storytelling Feature!Five therapists recall the up-against-the-wall moments from practice that required them to toss away the usual clinical playbook. Read more
The Audition
Therapeutic Presence When It Feels Like You're FailingWhat do you do when you're wrong for the "parts" your life has cast you in? Read more
Two Scoops of Vanilla
“I think I broke my therapist”When a challenging clients brings out our true inner colors. Read more
Dating at Midlife
A Road Map for Newly Single ClientsHelping clients who find themselves single again in midlife navigate a new world of dating. Read more
How to Find the “Can” in “Can’t”
Getting Creative with CBTIt takes creativity to apply basic therapy tools, especially when depression has set in and negative cognitions have taken over. Read more
Listening to Suicidal Clients
How to Get Beyond our FearsA suicidologist opens up about her personal struggles and what actually helps when working with suicidal clients. Read more
Facing the Challenge
Psychotherapy Responds to the PandemicIf ever a conference devoted to “The Art of Healing in an Anxious Time” was needed, this is that time. Read more
United in Uncertainty
A Technophobic Therapist and Covid-19A technophobic therapist struggles with a new professional reality. Read more
Nine Simple Interventions for Depression
Help for Challenging TimesHere are some simple Sensorimotor Psychotherapy interventions that can help those who are feeling depressed and alone. Read more
Breaking the Silence
Facilitated Communication with Nonverbal AutismA controversial method makes talk therapy possible for people who don’t talk. Read more
My Angry Client is Getting to Me
Five Clinicians Weigh InMark has anger issues, and his therapist finds herself getting extremely reactive when he loses his temper in therapy. Five clinicians share how they'd proceed. Read more
VIDEO: The Found and the Lost
A TransformationOf all the meaningful sessions that take place in a therapist’s office, certain ones stand out. In this Symposium storytelling highlight, couples therapist... Read more
“You Should Know What I Need”
A Simple Exercise to Help Couples Avoid the Assumption TrapSatisfying our needs is a gift our partners give us. Being responsible calls for a willingness to ask clearly and vulnerably for what we want, and to tolerate... Read more
Seeing Children through a Polyvagal Lens
A Different Approach to Challenging BehaviorsPolyvagal Theory widens the perspective on managing kids’ challenging behaviors. Read more
The Therapist as Traffic Cop
Learning the Hard Way with a Volatile CoupleBeing a good traffic cop can mean the difference between success or failure as a couples therapist.* Commentary by Peter Fraenkel Read more
Walk and Talk
Psychotherapy Takes a StrollWhat if a park bench was your waiting room, and nature your co-therapist? A growing group of practitioners, who stroll with their clients not just every once... Read more
Through the Bagua
Looking at Your Office in a New WayFeng shui’s core concern is to put humans in harmony with their physical environment. What can therapists learn from this ancient practice about the... Read more
Bowing Out
The Dilemma of UncouplingIf a loving couple shares a relationship history with no major deal-breaker issues, is “uncoupling” the best path? Read more
Self-Compassion for Painful Emotions
An Eight-Step Practice for Parents“I’m so distressed,” Stephanie said, immediately reaching for the box of tissues in our first session. “I’ve never felt this much sadness in my... Read more
Will a No-Suicide Contract Help My Client Stay Safe?
Four Clinicians Weigh InA new clinician is working with a client who’s expressed some suicidality at times. She's worried about him and thinks it might be a good idea to have him... Read more
The Problem with the Borderline Diagnosis
Getting Beyond the LabelHave we unfairly pathologized clients diagnosed with borderline personality disorder? Read more
Therapists in a Fishbowl
The Challenges of Small-Town PracticeSome down-to-earth advice on practicing in a small town, where there’s no way to escape being seen and talked about. Read more
The Biotech Dragon
A Kid-Friendly Approach to Self-RegulationEngaging kids in talk therapy is often a frustrating struggle. So what happens when you introduce a video game and some cool bioresponsive tech? Read more
When Straight Men Have Sex with Men
Understanding the Difference Between Sexual Identity, Preference, and FantasyWhen a male client in a heterosexual relationship confesses that he has sex with men, the therapist must understand he's not necessarily closeted. Read more
