Authentic Engagement

A radical way of being.
by Bob Edelstein, LMFT, MFT

The Gift of Our Wounds

Emotional wounds are an essential part of the human condition, for no one leaves this earth unscathed. How we relate to our wounds determines the gifts we receive from them. Read More

We Are No-thing

Crisis often mobilizes us to experience the transitory nature of life and our no-thing-ness. Acknowledging that we are no-thing goes against the cultural paradigm that all we are is some-thing. One must come from the space of one’s no-thing in order to be authentically some-thing. Read More

The Need for Authentic Meaning

We all want to know why we are here and how we can best move forward in our life path. Read More

Self and Self-Discovery

For inward searching to be life changing, we must listen to what is going on inside of ourselves, with an expectation of self-discovery. Read More

The Truth of Who You Are Will Set You Free

Humanistic psychology postulates that human beings, at their core, are worthy people with altruistic values who want to contribute to the world. Read More

The Power of Silence

We live in a culture that values sharing every thought and feeling as it occurs. By paying attention to the silence within our conversations and embracing those spaces, we can connect more deeply with ourselves. Read More

We Are All Worthy

You are inherently worthy. Before you ever do, achieve, or acquire, you are worthy. In other words, you are born worthy. Read More

Thank Goodness There's No Escaping Choice

We are always choosing. We can't not choose, for even if we don't consciously choose something, the not-choosing is a choice. When I understand that living includes choosing, always and in every moment, this awareness is very profound. This process of choosing can be liberating and empowering as well as anxiety provoking and frightening. Read More

In Search of the Authentic Life

It is the spring of 1971 and I am a 21 year old senior at the University of Pennsylvania, majoring in economics. I believe psychology and psychotherapy are about some father or mother figure telling me what to do and how I should live my life. I want nothing to do with this, even though I'm not sure why. Read More

Bringing Awe Into the Equation

Too often, cynical outlooks dominate conversations about what it means to be human. Kirk Schneider's new book revitalizes the dialogue because it is so open to the wonder of being alive. Read More

Bob-Edelstein

Bob Edelstein, L.M.F.T., M.F.T., is an existential humanistic psychotherapist based in Portland, Oregon.

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