The Client Who Wants to Remain Invisible

Several readers responding to my recent post about a client who felt invisible have asked me to discuss the opposite experience — the person who fears being seen and desperately wants to remain invisible. It’s…

Shame Trading

In a very early post on this site, I described people who view the world in terms of winners and losers, where one person will shore up his own self-image by triumphing over someone else,…

Narcissism vs. Authentic Self-Esteem

Authentic self-esteem is not something that can be obtained through outside sources such as praise or compliments but rather grows from living up to our own standards and expectations so that we feel ourselves to be a person we esteem.

Celebrities — Why We Love and Hate Them

We admire and envy celebrities because they supposedly lead the perfect, pain-free life we want for ourselves.

The Rebelliousness of My Inner “Brat”

A raging child-like part of ourselves may lie at the root of depression and other difficulties.