Reflections on Psychiatry, Therapy, and Mental Health

Each night when I go to sleep, I look forward to my dreams. Thoughts in dreams are often far more creative than our conscious mind can ever conjure up. Dreams are entertaining, sometimes disquieting, rarely one hopes, frightening. Of more import, they can help a person connect with him or her's deepest self. Dreams are notorious for being bizarre and seemingly senseless, yet when approached in the right way they point toward important aspects of our psychological being, a

At social gatherings if asked by a new acquaintance what I do for a living and I reply psychiatrist, I first note a slight social retreat, as if they are wondering whether I'll judge them more harshly than I judge myself. Once that hurtle has been crossed and the conversation warms up, I'm frequently asked about sleep, and whether I have any advice on how sleep quality can be improved. I'm not at all surprised by the question because about a third of Americans at any given t

Zooming the last supper Can you all hear me? I'm sure many therapists have been thinking about the clinical subtleties entailed in doing virtual therapy. I have been doing almost 100 percent virtual sessions now for well over a year. A few months ago I would have said that screen visits do a pretty good job of simulating being in the room with a person. Now I am not so sure. As I move back into the office with more face to face interactions, I am finding the contrast enl