Joseph Burgo Ph.D.

About

Joseph Burgo, Ph.D., has practiced psychotherapy for more than 35 years, holding licenses as a marriage and family therapist and clinical psychologist. His essays and commentary have appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Atlantic, and other major publications. He is the author of WHY DO I DO THAT? (New Rise Press, October 2012 and THE NARCISSIST YOU KNOW (Touchstone, September 2015), and the forthcoming SHAME (St. Martin's Press, Fall 2018).

He currently writes the popular blog "After Psychotherapy," where he discusses personal growth issues from a psychodynamic perspective. Working with clients all over the world, he also practices face-to-face video psychotherapy on a secure internet platform.

Books by Joseph Burgo Ph.D.

Recent Posts

Humility vs. Shame

Absolute certainty that we know the truth prevents us from learning and makes it impossible to have genuine conversations with other people who might be as confused as we are.

Comparing Virus Apples to Lockdown Oranges

We find it hard enough to balance like-kind risks, but a cost-benefit analysis of savings lives vs. economic devastation requires that we compare apples with oranges.

Why Liberals Should Oppose the Lockdown

The problem with authoritarian governments, even ones you like, is that they don't restrict their actions to ones of which you approve.

Why Leaders Are Struggling Worldwide with the COVID-19 Crisis

Effective leadership during this crisis must take into account both the physical and financial welfare of all our people.

The New Math for Narcissists

Narcissists describe all relations between between two people in terms of who is larger than whom, always placing themselves on the most favorable side of the equation.

Free-Floating Rage

Christopher Lasch long ago identified a pervasive "culture of narcissism." American culture today instead displays features more characteristic of borderline personality disorder.

The Ways Gay Men Are More Masculine Than They Realize

Do you believe gay men aren't masculine? Think again.

The Joys of Indignation

While self-righteous indignation is one of the primary narcissistic defenses against shame, it also helps many of us who aren't absolute narcissists feel better about ourselves.

Why We Feel Shame Around the Holidays

Many of us feel depressed at this time of year because our experience doesn't resemble the "Happy Holidays!" image projected by social messaging.

Shame Is for Other People

You probably think shaming is a very bad thing, except when it happens to people you don't like.