The Literary Mind

Why was The New York City Marathon cancelled? When doing what it does best, the city can hold more than one scene and emotion at its core. The marathon became a symbol for frivolity, but that sacrifice was a loss for the city.

An interview with Geoffrey Steinberg, Psy.D., about how insurance policies affect therapy and are radically changing.

Reading is practice in perspective taking. Understanding a metaphor is like practicing empathy.

Career

You Can Not Escape Limitations in Talent

Ilana Simons Ph.D. on November 12, 2010

What a cruel thing talent is.  Some people have more than others do.  You work forever, and you’re still you.

What a cruel thing talent is.  Some people have more than others do.  You work forever, and you’re still you.

Creativity

The Origins of Language (and a Jump Rope)

Ilana Simons Ph.D. on October 22, 2010

I do not know much about the origins of language, but I imagine that in the first 30,000 years, from cave drawings to the beginning of script, realism was a moving target, the world words shot for, ever tightening their grip on the physical thing: to represent a cliff as a cliff; to tell a father that you wanted to meet him here, at this spot, later.

I do not know much about the origins of language, but I imagine that in the first 30,000 years, from cave drawings to the beginning of script, realism was a moving target, the world words shot for, ever tightening their grip on the physical thing: to represent a cliff as a cliff; to tell a father that you wanted to meet him here, at this spot, later.

Relationships

The Drama in the Chilean Mine

Ilana Simons Ph.D. on October 14, 2010

 There should be a genre in fiction that covers what happens when catastrophe hits. 

 There should be a genre in fiction that covers what happens when catastrophe hits. 

Anger

Woody Allen's "You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger." A Good Movie about Death.

Ilana Simons Ph.D. on October 7, 2010

Woody Allen wrote a great movie about our fear of death.  Why do critics insist on dismissing him?

Woody Allen wrote a great movie about our fear of death.  Why do critics insist on dismissing him?

Relationships

Can The Internet Support or Even Inspire Political Revolution?

Ilana Simons Ph.D. on October 1, 2010

Do we need to be with friends to take real political risks, or can we Tweet ourselves to the revolution?

Do we need to be with friends to take real political risks, or can we Tweet ourselves to the revolution?

Attention

Painting Might Help You Find Flow

Ilana Simons Ph.D. on August 25, 2010

A state of flow is characterized by the following: sustained concentration, loss of self-consciousness, loss of sense of time, strong sense of control, sense of intrinsic reward, full absorption in the task itself, and positive emotion. Positive emotion is key: When you're in flow, you don't think too much.

A state of flow is characterized by the following: sustained concentration, loss of self-consciousness, loss of sense of time, strong sense of control, sense of intrinsic reward, full absorption in the task itself, and positive emotion. Positive emotion is key: When you're in flow, you don't think too much.

I am a therapist who goes to a therapist and spends most of her mental energy writing and thinking about therapy but also sometimes doubts that therapy is an efficient way to change people. It's likely that changing where you live or who your boss is or what job you're in would change you more radically and quicker.

Addiction

We Drink and Write for Some of the Same Reasons

Ilana Simons Ph.D. on August 4, 2010

There are probably many reasons why writers tend to drink. Here are some possibilities: both encourage subversiveness; both are an alternative from dealing with the world on its own terms; both let you temporarily trust your voice with less judgment. They also grant some sense of control over the world or an ego boost--making your perspective seem correct and central.

There are probably many reasons why writers tend to drink. Here are some possibilities: both encourage subversiveness; both are an alternative from dealing with the world on its own terms; both let you temporarily trust your voice with less judgment. They also grant some sense of control over the world or an ego boost--making your perspective seem correct and central.

Freudian Psychology

Food TV Shows are a Bit Sadistic

Ilana Simons Ph.D. on July 22, 2010

Emeril Lagasse, Paula Deen, Mario Batali, Pat and Gina Neely, and Ina Garten--Food Network stars--are fat in a way that might, from time to time, depress them. They overeat, which is probably a complicated issue for each of them. But it's their job to sell a lifetime focus on food as a simple thing: bliss as simple as it gets.

Emeril Lagasse, Paula Deen, Mario Batali, Pat and Gina Neely, and Ina Garten--Food Network stars--are fat in a way that might, from time to time, depress them. They overeat, which is probably a complicated issue for each of them. But it's their job to sell a lifetime focus on food as a simple thing: bliss as simple as it gets.

Anger

A Therapist Should be a Good Storyteller

Ilana Simons Ph.D. on July 21, 2010

Sliced carrots slapped against the nurse's chest and a lunch tray clattered to the floor. The tall African American 22-year-old who I'm seeing in therapy, who I'll call Anthony here, was raging. "You ain't seen my hell. They hated Tupac. They hated Malcolm X. You ain't know f**k about me."

Sliced carrots slapped against the nurse's chest and a lunch tray clattered to the floor. The tall African American 22-year-old who I'm seeing in therapy, who I'll call Anthony here, was raging. "You ain't seen my hell. They hated Tupac. They hated Malcolm X. You ain't know f**k about me."

What does it mean to be kind to yourself or "love yourself"? People say you should do it, but how?

Relationships

Marriage Gives the Only Tax Break for Commitment

Ilana Simons Ph.D. on March 17, 2010

Our culture hasn't developed many institutions--other than marriage--for ongoing emotional attention. If you don't have a good spouse (or luck out with other caring family members, or a good shrink), you're largely living in a world in which interactions are legitimized by profit.

Our culture hasn't developed many institutions--other than marriage--for ongoing emotional attention. If you don't have a good spouse (or luck out with other caring family members, or a good shrink), you're largely living in a world in which interactions are legitimized by profit.

Alcoholism

To Get Sober, Delay Having the Drink

Ilana Simons Ph.D. on February 26, 2010

To get sober, you might practice delaying the drink.  A delay opens the space for an interruption, which can get your mind off your craving.

To get sober, you might practice delaying the drink.  A delay opens the space for an interruption, which can get your mind off your craving.

Behavioral Economics

Important Decisions Do Less than We Think to Shape Our Lives

Ilana Simons Ph.D. on February 11, 2010

If Odysseus had not married Penelope, would we have had the Trojan Wars? Probably. Singular decisions do less than we think to shape our lives.

If Odysseus had not married Penelope, would we have had the Trojan Wars? Probably. Singular decisions do less than we think to shape our lives.

Ecopsychology is a branch of the field that theorizes that our mental health is related to the health of the earth.  Ecopsychologists argue that our mental health is dependent on how the natural world lives and dies around us.

Anger

Why Republicans and Democrats Can't Have Good Conversation

Ilana Simons Ph.D. on January 29, 2010

People who identify as either liberal or as conservative are likely to think that they hold moral beliefs and the opposing side does not.  That’s a basic disconnect which can kill meaningful conversation. 

People who identify as either liberal or as conservative are likely to think that they hold moral beliefs and the opposing side does not.  That’s a basic disconnect which can kill meaningful conversation. 

Anger

The Internet Makes Us Superficial and Sensational

Ilana Simons Ph.D. on January 21, 2010

The dreadlocked computer genius Jaron Lanier argues that the internet protects hoard mentality over individuality, provides a safe haven for depersonalized acts of aggression and theft, and blinds us to the human perspective.

The dreadlocked computer genius Jaron Lanier argues that the internet protects hoard mentality over individuality, provides a safe haven for depersonalized acts of aggression and theft, and blinds us to the human perspective.