Off the Couch

Fear

Why Is Emotional Splitting So Hard to Deal With?

F. Diane Barth L.C.S.W. on June 28, 2020

Although emotional splitting is often seen in borderline personality disorders, it's present in plenty of other situations. Here are three ways to respond.

Although emotional splitting is often seen in borderline personality disorders, it's present in plenty of other situations. Here are three ways to respond.

Depression

Angry, Sad, and Weary? 5 Steps to Balance, Without Meditating

F. Diane Barth L.C.S.W. on June 17, 2020

Feeling unstable, or out of balance, can be both a symptom and result of stress, leading to emotional and physical symptoms.

Feeling unstable, or out of balance, can be both a symptom and result of stress, leading to emotional and physical symptoms.

Fear

What Are You Afraid Of?

F. Diane Barth L.C.S.W. on May 31, 2020

Change is part of life, but most of us fear it almost, and sometimes more, than we welcome it. What are you afraid of?

Change is part of life, but most of us fear it almost, and sometimes more, than we welcome it. What are you afraid of?

Coronavirus Disease 2019

Focus Is Hard to Come by These Days. Here's Why.

F. Diane Barth L.C.S.W. on May 16, 2020

“It takes me until about 4 p.m. to actually get work done. Often I wind up stuck mid-thought on the staircase trying to recall what I was about to do."

“It takes me until about 4 p.m. to actually get work done. Often I wind up stuck mid-thought on the staircase trying to recall what I was about to do."

Anger

What's the Best Thing to Do With Your Anger?

F. Diane Barth L.C.S.W. on May 14, 2020

Is COVID-19 making you angry? What should you do? (Hint: The answer isn't to express it!)

Is COVID-19 making you angry? What should you do? (Hint: The answer isn't to express it!)

Career

Does Working From Home Make You Blue? Research Explains Why

F. Diane Barth L.C.S.W. on May 3, 2020

Research explains why working from home can make you feel down and anxious—even if it's your choice.

Research explains why working from home can make you feel down and anxious—even if it's your choice.

Anxiety

6 Ways to Deal with Selfish People During COVID-19

F. Diane Barth L.C.S.W. on April 18, 2020

Tensions are escalating as the corona virus lingers. Selfish behavior is just one of the ways we are dealing. What can you do when someone's selfishness impinges on you?

Tensions are escalating as the corona virus lingers. Selfish behavior is just one of the ways we are dealing. What can you do when someone's selfishness impinges on you?

Cognition

Are You Thinking This Is Not the Way It Was Supposed to Be?

F. Diane Barth L.C.S.W. on April 10, 2020

Phrases like “this isn’t how it’s supposed to be” capture the sense of loss and uncertainty of the pandemic. Here's another way to think about it.

Phrases like “this isn’t how it’s supposed to be” capture the sense of loss and uncertainty of the pandemic. Here's another way to think about it.

Coronavirus Disease 2019

Should You Ask Your Therapist How They're Doing?

F. Diane Barth L.C.S.W. on March 27, 2020

“I know I’m not supposed to ask about your personal life,” said Judy, who had been in therapy with me for awhile before COVID-19. “But I’m worried about how you're doing."

“I know I’m not supposed to ask about your personal life,” said Judy, who had been in therapy with me for awhile before COVID-19. “But I’m worried about how you're doing."

Anxiety

Exercise Can Help Right Now—5 Ways to Start Moving

F. Diane Barth L.C.S.W. on March 19, 2020

Research tells us that exercise is a way of dealing with stress. Here are five ways to get motivated when you can't make yourself exercise at home.

Research tells us that exercise is a way of dealing with stress. Here are five ways to get motivated when you can't make yourself exercise at home.

Anxiety

Feeling Anxious and Vulnerable? 6 Powerful Coping Techniques

F. Diane Barth L.C.S.W. on March 13, 2020

In the last few days, almost every conversation in my psychotherapy office has been tinged with anxiety, if not panic. What can you do to ease your own and your family's worries?

In the last few days, almost every conversation in my psychotherapy office has been tinged with anxiety, if not panic. What can you do to ease your own and your family's worries?

Media

Lies and Half Truths on Social Media

F. Diane Barth L.C.S.W. on February 21, 2020

“I’m trying to teach my kids that things that they see on ads—online and on TV—often aren’t what the advertisers make them out to be,” a client said. But how could she do it?

“I’m trying to teach my kids that things that they see on ads—online and on TV—often aren’t what the advertisers make them out to be,” a client said. But how could she do it?

Media

9 Rules for Living a Good Life

F. Diane Barth L.C.S.W. on January 26, 2020

“I’m not religious,” Lena said to me at the beginning of her therapy session. "So how do I teach my children values that they might have learned if we sent them to Sunday school?"

“I’m not religious,” Lena said to me at the beginning of her therapy session. "So how do I teach my children values that they might have learned if we sent them to Sunday school?"

Relationships

Does Being Critical of Your Partner Equate to a Bad Relationship?

F. Diane Barth L.C.S.W. on January 12, 2020

Whether you're the critic or the criticized, criticism in a relationship can leave you feeling more vulnerable and alone. But there may still be hope for your relationship.

Whether you're the critic or the criticized, criticism in a relationship can leave you feeling more vulnerable and alone. But there may still be hope for your relationship.

Loneliness

Can Your Search for a Romantic Partner Be Making You Lonely?

F. Diane Barth L.C.S.W. on December 25, 2019

Many of us see a connection to a special someone as the solution to loneliness. But the search for that special person can lead to more loneliness. Here are some things you can do.

Many of us see a connection to a special someone as the solution to loneliness. But the search for that special person can lead to more loneliness. Here are some things you can do.

Grief

Treating Democracy Grief in Psychotherapy

F. Diane Barth L.C.S.W. on December 15, 2019

Traditionally, therapists take a neutral position on politics and other strongly held beliefs. But contemporary politics make some of us wonder about that stance.

Traditionally, therapists take a neutral position on politics and other strongly held beliefs. But contemporary politics make some of us wonder about that stance.

Anxiety

OK, Boomer: “You’re Too Old to Understand”

F. Diane Barth L.C.S.W. on November 30, 2019

“You don’t understand,” a 22-year-old client told me. “You’re from a different generation. I know you’re trying, but you don’t get it."

“You don’t understand,” a 22-year-old client told me. “You’re from a different generation. I know you’re trying, but you don’t get it."

Identity

After a Breakup: Putting Yourself Back Together

F. Diane Barth L.C.S.W. on November 10, 2019

One of the least recognized but potentially most destructive aspects of a breakup is the damage to your sense of who you are. How do you find yourself?

One of the least recognized but potentially most destructive aspects of a breakup is the damage to your sense of who you are. How do you find yourself?

Happiness

Your Kid Isn't Perfect? Maybe That's Not So Bad

F. Diane Barth L.C.S.W. on October 19, 2019

We’re reading all of these books about parenting, but what happens to our child if we can’t be the kinds of parents they say we should be?

We’re reading all of these books about parenting, but what happens to our child if we can’t be the kinds of parents they say we should be?

Psychoanalysis

Why It's Important Not to Know Everything

F. Diane Barth L.C.S.W. on September 28, 2019

A colleague recently commented that a student psychotherapist he was supervising seemed to think he was supposed to know everything. "What does he think training is for, then?"

A colleague recently commented that a student psychotherapist he was supervising seemed to think he was supposed to know everything. "What does he think training is for, then?"