A Headshrinker's Guide to the Galaxy

Psychoanalytic wisdom for everyday life
by Jennifer Kunst, Ph.D.

A Psychoanalytic Look at ‘The Master’

How does someone become vulnerable to a cult-leader like The Master? And, what leads another to become The Master—taking such absolute, omniscient, and sadistic control over other people’s minds? What’s in it for him? Read More

A Psychoanalyst Looks at 'Beasts of the Southern Wild'

As I watched Benh Zeitlin’s poetic, gorgeously filmed movie, I kept asking myself: who are these Beasts of The Southern Wild? Read More

Maybe They Were Supposed to Eat the Apple

Most of us know the Garden of Eden story. The story is an attempt to answer the question that people have asked since the beginning of time. Why is the world so mucked up? Read More

A Psychoanalytic Look At AMOUR: An Insufferable Sadness

This movie belongs to Georges. It is his story; the story of a man forced to stand on the sidelines helplessly watching, with slow agony, his beloved leaving him. Read More

Can You Let "Good Enough" Be Good Enough?

Earlier this month, I saw a New Year’s resolution posted on Facebook that captures a basic approach to life that I think is a key to psychological health and well-being. The post read: “This year, I will do all that I can, with whatever I have, wherever I am… And I’ll let good enough be good enough.” Can you imagine what such a change of perspective could do in your life? Read More

When Shame and Hate Tear Hope Apart

There are profound psychological lessons from the film, 'Les Miserables.' Shame, self-hate, and despair don’t have to ruin anyone’s life—or their hope. Read More

Is Feeling The ‘Crazy Sad Stuff’ The Way To A Silver Lining?

Does every cloud have a silver lining? Take a page out of the film "Silver Linings Playbook" to find out. Read More

Every Mass Murderer Was Once A Baby: How Infancy Matters

Could it happen to us? Read More

When Your Feelings Are Too Hot To Handle

If we don't turn off our feelings, what do we do instead? Read More

Just Turn Your Feelings Off, 'Book of Mormon' Style

This hilarious musical paints a vivid picture of how we foolishly try to manage our difficult feelings by turning them off like a light switch. Read More

When Sex is About More Than Sex

Sex brings with it a host of other needs and feelings. Read More

Be Here Now

A satisfying life is not found in arriving at some ideal state but in growing through all the experiences between A and Z. Read More

What Makes You Tick?

Albert Einstein defined insanity as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. By that definition, we all are sometimes, if not often, insane. But are we, really? Read More

Are You Too Busy?: Take A Lesson From Lucy

In honor of National Psychotherapy Day (which is just around the corner), I offer you some free therapy on how to deal with being way too busy. I've asked Lucille Ball to help us. Read More

Hard Work Grows the Mind

Taking care of business is the foundation for a mature character. It may not always be pleasant, it surely will not be free of pain, but it offers a chance to build good feelings that last. Read More

Are You Feeling Lucky?

There’s a lot of talk these days about the value of hard work. It’s in most every politician’s stump speech and most every parent’s words of advice to his or her child going off to school. Our country was built on the principle of working hard to get ahead. But what about luck? Read More

Have We Lost Our Minds?

Whether we identify ourselves as Kleinians or CBT folk, Hatfields or McCoys, conservatives or liberals, pro-Lifers or pro-Choicers, Bible believing Christians or card-carrying secular humanists, perhaps an open mind would help us find our way in this one wild and precious life of ours. Read More

From Comfort Zone to Courage Zone

If we let our actions speak for themselves, they tell us that we much prefer to stay in the comfort zone of sameness rather than press forward into the courage zone of change. Why is that? Because, to the unconscious mind, sameness equals safety and change equals danger. Read More

Why Addictions Are So Hard To Break

The addict feels like he has discovered the cure for hunger. That's one reason why it's so hard to give up. Read More

Got Curiosity?

No doubt, you’ve heard of the death instinct—thanatos. And the life instinct, too—eros. They are the two basic, hard-wired urges necessary for survival and growth. But how about a third instinct? That's right: curiosity. It's not just a Mars rover anymore. Read More

Just Speak Up!

Some people seem to have little trouble saying what’s on their minds. But this post is for those who have a hard time speaking up. I write it because I think that more than a few difficulties in psychological life could be made better with just a few words of honesty, spoken from the heart. Read More

Just Do It!

Nike's golden slogan resonates with the wisdom of psychoanalysis: just do it! Indeed, we all need that kind of urging at critical points in our lives when we are faced with fear and indecision. Call it cutting the cord, taking the plunge, carpe—ing the Diem. Sometimes we just have to take the leap of faith. Read More

It's Time For Your Therapist To Go On Vacation!

I’ve heard it said of the therapy culture in New York City, “Pity the lone therapist who is on-call while the rest of the profession goes on vacation for the entire month of August!” Dubbed “August Angst” by the Los Angeles Times, therapists’ vacations can be hard on everyone involved. But I also think that they are vital to everyone involved. Why? Read More

Words to Live By #4: Keep It Simple

A reader asked about my recent post, "After all the exploration of the unconscious is completed, are analyst and client left with such elementary take-aways as "Just Try" and "Live One Day At A Time" that seem like fodder for cross-stitching on a pillow?" Yep. Pretty much. But let me explain. Read More

Words to Live By Part 3: Just Let Go

"It took awhile to understand the beauty of just letting go." These words got me thinking that there are essentially two types of people who come to therapy—just like there are pretty much two types of people in life. Some are kites and some are strings. Read More

Do You Take Your Father For Granted?

This year, Maxine jolts us with her sarcastic wit by saying, “Father’s Day is the special day each year that we treat Dad to a disappointing comparison with Mother’s Day.” Let's prove her wrong! Read More

Words to Live By Part 2: The Truth Shall Set You Free

Here’s a second installment for you in my series, “Words to Live By.” When it comes to North Stars, guiding principles, and life mantras, I think this is a pretty good one: the truth shall set you free. Read More

Words to Live By Part 1: Just Try

I’m always on the look-out for simple ways to describe life’s complexities—the ideas that become our personal mottos or guiding stars, our Golden Rules of Living. This week, I offer these words to live by: Just Try. Read More

Psychotherapists: Mechanics, Surgeons, or Rehab Workers?

Psychotherapists don't fix crazy people. And we don't do surgery on the psyche. We are more like rehab therapists who help you gain strength to deal with life's challenges. Read More

Just Breathe

“Life is difficult,” wrote M. Scott Peck in the opening line of his classic book, “The Road Less Travelled.” Yep, it sure is—some days more than others. It helps to just breathe. Read More

Jennifer Kunst, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst, working with adults and couples in her private practice in Pasadena, CA.

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About A Headshrinker's Guide to the Galaxy

A Headshrinker's Guide to the Galaxy is an effort to bring the wisdom of psychoanalysis out of the ivory tower by applying it to the real problems of real people in a user-friendly way.  In writing this blog, Dr. Kunst hopes to demystify the process of psychoanalysis and make it accessible to anyone who is searching for a more satisfying and meaningful life.  So relax, kick off your shoes, lean back, and let the healing begin!  Look for a new post every Wednesday!

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