Main Content
WELCOME TO MY PAGE
Psychotherapy has taught me if you establish the right conditions, surprising things happen. Understandings and insights suddenly appear, and unexpected transformations occur. Patients see themselves in new ways and experience themselves and the world differently. Their lives change.
A good psychotherapy also facilitates the therapist discovering things that were previously hidden, in themselves as well as in the patient. The therapy changes the therapist.
I have been writing this blog for sometime and it has helped me to think about what it means to be a psychotherapist, and a psychotherapy patient.
I’ve chosen rock and roll music as the metaphor for exploring psychotherapy because it has played an important part of my life, and is a medium which is both alive and evocative. It allows plenty of opportunity to feel and to think.
In 1968, Mia Farrow’s sister, Prudence, joined the Beatles in a meditation retreat at Rishikesh with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Prudence became overwhelmed by the experience and was unable to leave her room. John and George coaxed her back into the world. It must have been a harrowing time for all but it led to a touching song about encouraging a friend to see the beauty in herself and the world. I’m going to use it as the theme song for my blog.
The blog is as much for me as for anyone who reads it. I hope you enjoy it.
Featured Articles
The Birth of the Talking Cure
In 1880, a discreet revolution took place in suburban Vienna. As medical men, including Sigmund Freud, beat a path to Paris to watch Charcot’s hypnotised patients act out their hysterical symptoms to … Read the Article
Mick Jagger – Psychoanalytic Seer
In 1969, the Rolling Stones released the album, Let it Bleed. One of the tracks was titled You Don’t Always Get What You Want, a song which includes the lyrics: You can’t always get what you … Read the Article
All Articles
No Escape for the Drummer
In the fifteen minutes it takes to perform Ravel’s Bolero, the drummer plays 4050 beats, all within a repetitious pattern. During those fifteen … Read Article
The Trombonist Dances Flamenco
In 1988, Frank Zappa took his band on a world tour. His set included his version of Maurice Ravel’s Bolero. When the band played in Barcelona, the … Read Article
Jeff Beck Breaks the Mould
Jeff Beck was one of three great guitarists to come out of the 1960’s British group, The Yardbirds. The two others were Eric Clapton, who … Read Article