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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
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The Man in Black.
In the 1990’s, music producer Rick Rubin approached Johnny Cash to encourage the singer to record with him. The approach was unusual as Rubin largely … Read Article
Sorry Polly, Women’s Law Still Touches Me
I will be presenting this paper as part of the Two Way Learning Webinar Series offered by Australian Institute for Psychoanalysis. Here is the link to … Read Article
David Bowie’s Gift To Psychotherapy
David Bowie’s death in January 2016 sparked a worldwide celebration of his life and music. Missing from the analysis of Bowie’s contribution to … Read Article