Our Empathic Nature

Academic Problems and Skills

4 Steps to Digital Creation: How to Build Your Second Brain

Lynn E. O'Connor Ph.D. on January 23, 2023

Tiago Forte's "second brain" is a digital system of gathering and organizing information, synthesizing ideas, and creating something new that you can share with others.

Tiago Forte's "second brain" is a digital system of gathering and organizing information, synthesizing ideas, and creating something new that you can share with others.

Fear

How to Make Decisions

Lynn E. O'Connor Ph.D. on November 7, 2022

Do you have trouble making decisions? You can develop the courage, confidence, and ability to tolerate the anxiety that goes with knowing you can make a mistake.

Do you have trouble making decisions? You can develop the courage, confidence, and ability to tolerate the anxiety that goes with knowing you can make a mistake.

Unconscious

Prosocial Psychotherapy: Discovering Your Altruistic Nature

Lynn E. O'Connor Ph.D. on February 5, 2021

We grow up believing we're the cause of everyone's problems, especially our own. When you realize your intentions are altruistic or "prosocial," you know therapy is working.

We grow up believing we're the cause of everyone's problems, especially our own. When you realize your intentions are altruistic or "prosocial," you know therapy is working.

Finally, you're done with training, you're licensed, but more than ever you're thinking: "I need someone to talk to" and you run for someone you heard was a great consultant.

Types of Therapy

Becoming a Clinician: Supervision

Lynn E. O'Connor Ph.D. on January 23, 2021

Supervision is the second relationship paving the way to learning the art and science of how to be a clinician.

Supervision is the second relationship paving the way to learning the art and science of how to be a clinician.

A series of intimate "professional" clinical relationships pave the way to learning the art and science of how to be a clinician. Most often, training begins with psychotherapy.

Types of Therapy

"What Am I Paying For?"

Lynn E. O'Connor Ph.D. on June 28, 2019

Beneath the level of conscious awareness, we’re fundamentally adaptive, and because we’re such social animals, we’re also profoundly prosocial. 

Beneath the level of conscious awareness, we’re fundamentally adaptive, and because we’re such social animals, we’re also profoundly prosocial. 

Fear

Fighting for Our Democracy

Lynn E. O'Connor Ph.D. on November 3, 2016

This has become a serious socio-cultural problem; paranoia is contagious; we’ve all become paranoid temporarily, thanks to the conspiratorial thinking of the paranoid...

This has become a serious socio-cultural problem; paranoia is contagious; we’ve all become paranoid temporarily, thanks to the conspiratorial thinking of the paranoid...

Guilt

How to Stop Fighting With Your Partner

Lynn E. O'Connor Ph.D. on November 1, 2014

Fighting between you and your partner is miserable, sometimes devastating, and can negatively affect all areas of your life.

Fighting between you and your partner is miserable, sometimes devastating, and can negatively affect all areas of your life.

Productivity

How to Beat Procrastination: Obsession with Productivity

Lynn E. O'Connor Ph.D. on September 28, 2014

It must have been eight years ago that I became obsessed with “productivity," the elegant euphemism for ideas on "how to beat procrastination." This led to my ongoing quest for the perfect computer-based & paper-based scheduling & planning system, in efforts to implement "GTD" (Getting Things Done). The result: A major time-suck, while becoming an expert procrastinator.

It must have been eight years ago that I became obsessed with “productivity," the elegant euphemism for ideas on "how to beat procrastination." This led to my ongoing quest for the perfect computer-based & paper-based scheduling & planning system, in efforts to implement "GTD" (Getting Things Done). The result: A major time-suck, while becoming an expert procrastinator.

Addiction

Update on Addiction, Marijuana and Legalization

Lynn E. O'Connor Ph.D. on August 16, 2014

The debate over legalization of marijuana continues, while alcohol is known to be the most damaging drug of all. Pot may be less destructive, but current research suggests that it disrupts the neurotransmitter crucial to the ability to feel pleasure and to enjoy life. The potential for addiction, and loss of motivation is confirmed by neuroscientific research.

The debate over legalization of marijuana continues, while alcohol is known to be the most damaging drug of all. Pot may be less destructive, but current research suggests that it disrupts the neurotransmitter crucial to the ability to feel pleasure and to enjoy life. The potential for addiction, and loss of motivation is confirmed by neuroscientific research.

Meditation

How to Meditate (Made Easy): Mindfulness Meditation

Lynn E. O'Connor Ph.D. on January 25, 2014

Learning to meditate on the breath --mindfulness of the breath-- is easy and something you can do right now. By meditating, you are using your mind to make positive changes in your brain. Spend a few minutes focusing your attention on your breathing. When thoughts distract you, notice them, and turn your attention back to your breathing. This is where the magic happens.

Learning to meditate on the breath --mindfulness of the breath-- is easy and something you can do right now. By meditating, you are using your mind to make positive changes in your brain. Spend a few minutes focusing your attention on your breathing. When thoughts distract you, notice them, and turn your attention back to your breathing. This is where the magic happens.

Depression

How to Get Off Marijuana

Lynn E. O'Connor Ph.D. on January 22, 2014

How to get off marijuana and deal with the depression that follows: Steps to take that will make it easier.

How to get off marijuana and deal with the depression that follows: Steps to take that will make it easier.

In our long overdue discussion of profiling we seem to have forgotten women. Women are terrified when walking alone at night in an unpopulated section of town, when noticing a man behind her who might be following her --a man of any race, ethnicity, or age. There is good reason, a woman alone at night is profiled, simply by gender.

Depression

The Myth of "Evidence-Based" Treatment of Depression

Lynn E. O'Connor Ph.D. on July 20, 2013

Outcome studies of treatment for depression comparing medication to talk therapy are flawed. Using only one class of medication when many depressed people need another, its no wonder medication seems the same or less effective than talk therapy. If you give people the wrong kind of medication, the comparison to talk therapy becomes meaningless.

Outcome studies of treatment for depression comparing medication to talk therapy are flawed. Using only one class of medication when many depressed people need another, its no wonder medication seems the same or less effective than talk therapy. If you give people the wrong kind of medication, the comparison to talk therapy becomes meaningless.

Addiction

Marijuana Use and Addiction: Update, One Year Later

Lynn E. O'Connor Ph.D. on April 21, 2013

Reflections on new research: While current studies present a mixed picture, pot addiction may still be a problem. Marijuana may be helpful for multiple medical problems, including pain and even anxiety disorders, however at the same time addiction to marijuana is problematic on multiple levels.

Reflections on new research: While current studies present a mixed picture, pot addiction may still be a problem. Marijuana may be helpful for multiple medical problems, including pain and even anxiety disorders, however at the same time addiction to marijuana is problematic on multiple levels.

Republican leaders may be too frightened of NRA & extremist rhetoric, threats of violence ("civil war"), threats of impeachment, to stand up and support gun reform. We've assumed the fear is based on concern they'll lose the next election. Maybe Republican leaders are hostages, afraid for their own & families' physical safety; they may need better real protection.

Depression

Male Dominance and Female Depression: Based on Ideas?

Lynn E. O'Connor Ph.D. on December 31, 2012

Recent study of Orangutans demonstrated cultural differences are transmitted by deas. This suggests that our cultural differences (and problems) such as sexism, racism, may be altered through changes in ideas. A study of antecedents to depression in Chimpanzees found depression arising in females at adolescence, similar to people. This might change with changes in ideas.

Recent study of Orangutans demonstrated cultural differences are transmitted by deas. This suggests that our cultural differences (and problems) such as sexism, racism, may be altered through changes in ideas. A study of antecedents to depression in Chimpanzees found depression arising in females at adolescence, similar to people. This might change with changes in ideas.

The death of my mother felt like a hole in my heart, Then a study summarized in Scientific American described how cells prenatally may wander into our mothers' brains, and are then found there decades later. And as adult children we may have cells of our mothers lodged within us. The cycle of life may be far more complex than we have imagined.

Types of Therapy

How to Find, Select, and Hire a Psychotherapist

Lynn E. O'Connor Ph.D. on October 29, 2012

The kind of therapist, the license or degree she has is not important. What matters is how you feel when you are meeting. If you leave a session feeling worse than when you began, you're probably seeing the wrong therapist and it's time to look for another. Even well-considered "empirically supported treatments" may not necessarily be the best therapy for you.

The kind of therapist, the license or degree she has is not important. What matters is how you feel when you are meeting. If you leave a session feeling worse than when you began, you're probably seeing the wrong therapist and it's time to look for another. Even well-considered "empirically supported treatments" may not necessarily be the best therapy for you.