Thanking A Hero I’ve Never Met

A good man died a few days ago at the age of 87. He was one of the single most important persons in my life, and indeed he’s why I am a psychologist. I never met him.  I corresponded with him only once – when I sent him a thank you note nearly 50 years after he’d...

Thriving: What Kind of Psychotherapy Naturally Produces It?

Just because you’re not sick, doesn’t mean you’re healthy. We are used to that idea in physical health. Being cancer free is not the same as being fit—you have to take the steps needed to develop your physical strength, endurance, and flexibility. Not having the flu...

Is Self-Compassion More Important Than Self-Esteem?

Is it important to love yourself? It seems that depends on how you do it. Few concepts in popular psychology have gotten more attention over the last few decades than self-esteem and its importance in life success and long-term mental health. Of course, much of this...