There’s a civil war happening inside you — and you may not even know one side of it exists. After 30 years as a psychotherapist and Jungian analyst, I’ve noticed something remarkable: every person who walks into my office with depression, anxiety, or compulsive patterns is fighting the same battle. One part of them is running the show. Another part — equally real, equally legitimate — has been silenced. In this episode, we explore what happens when you banish half of yourself, and what it takes to reclaim it. Drawing on examples, Carl Jung’s concept of “holding the tension of opposites,” and the Core Conflictual Relationship Theme (CCRT) model we explore: why paddling on only one side keeps you going in circles, practical strategies, identifying your central conflicts, and the importance clarifying values in advance.
Explore practical insights and nuanced strategies for working with clients who have obsessive-compulsive personality traits. Drawing on 33 years of experience, this post addresses common challenges, misconceptions, and ways to foster meaningful change—while offering a behind-the-scenes look for those in therapy.
To make a dent in the pile of material you might feel you have to read to be up on the most recent developments in mental health, here’s a practical review of the relatively new approach to therapy called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, with brief examples of how to apply it. Because one of the main goals of ACT is flexibility, it can be very helpful to anyone struggling with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD), or to those just challenged by some obsessive-compulsive traits, perfectionism, workaholism, or Type A personality.
Some habits that bring you into therapy could slow your progress down, but some of your traits, used consciously, could speed you up. This is the nature of therapy, and working these through is what makes it brighter on the other side. Any effort you put into making therapy work will also make your life work.
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