Our Empathic Nature

Therapy

The Practitioners' Burden: Why You Need Someone to Talk To

Lynn E. O'Connor Ph.D. on April 9, 2024

Even our mental health providers—our psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, and coaches—sometimes have problems to solve and need someone confidential to talk to.

Even our mental health providers—our psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, and coaches—sometimes have problems to solve and need someone confidential to talk to.

Psychopathy

Why Do Women Go for "Bad Boys"?

Lynn E. O'Connor Ph.D. on August 25, 2023

Why do we fall in love with "bad boys"—psychopaths who lack a moral compass, feeling no guilt or shame when they harm others?

Why do we fall in love with "bad boys"—psychopaths who lack a moral compass, feeling no guilt or shame when they harm others?

Addiction

Today’s Marijuana: The New Opiate of the Masses

Lynn E. O'Connor Ph.D. on May 12, 2023

Levels of THC have been rising steadily in the past decades, making marijuana more addictive and more dangerous. Younger consumers risk higher rates of psychiatric illnesses.

Levels of THC have been rising steadily in the past decades, making marijuana more addictive and more dangerous. Younger consumers risk higher rates of psychiatric illnesses.

Guilt

Feeling Like a Fraud? Survivor Guilt and Imposter Syndrome

Lynn E. O'Connor Ph.D. on March 17, 2023

Do you often feel like a phony, an imposter? Do you find it impossible to take credit for your wins? Survivor guilt may be hiding in your mind.

Do you often feel like a phony, an imposter? Do you find it impossible to take credit for your wins? Survivor guilt may be hiding in your mind.

Productivity

Are Productive Habits the Result of Social Status?

Lynn E. O'Connor Ph.D. on February 24, 2023

Thinking that small habits alone will lead to productivity may be a myth. Instead, the social reward of high status might be what inspires these "small habits."

Thinking that small habits alone will lead to productivity may be a myth. Instead, the social reward of high status might be what inspires these "small habits."

Guilt

How to Live with Survivor Guilt

Lynn E. O'Connor Ph.D. on January 30, 2023

When we see someone we love suffer, we tend to—often unconsciously—feel survivor's guilt. When we learn to recognize the feeling, we can treat it.

When we see someone we love suffer, we tend to—often unconsciously—feel survivor's guilt. When we learn to recognize the feeling, we can treat it.

Productivity

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.

Anxiety

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.

Altruism

"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.