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Dude, Where’s My Car-tharsis?

Concepts in talk therapy.

Career
The Poker Game of Life

Phil Stark, AMFT on April 28, 2024

There are lessons to be learned about our approach to life from how we play poker.

There are lessons to be learned about our approach to life from how we play poker.

Meditation
Meditate With Me

Phil Stark, AMFT on March 22, 2024

Personal Perspective: What's it like to listen in on someone else's meditation session?

Personal Perspective: What's it like to listen in on someone else's meditation session?

Happiness
Programming Your Life Macro

Phil Stark, AMFT on February 29, 2024

In therapy, we can create shortcuts to use in real life to help avoid conflict and create better outcomes.

In therapy, we can create shortcuts to use in real life to help avoid conflict and create better outcomes.

Career
The Safety of the Path

Phil Stark, AMFT on November 20, 2023

A Personal Perspective: How we deal with the possibility of big changes in life is the step before how we deal with the actual experience of those changes.

A Personal Perspective: How we deal with the possibility of big changes in life is the step before how we deal with the actual experience of those changes.

Therapy
Emotional Deep-Tissue Massage

Phil Stark, AMFT on October 23, 2023

A massage might reveal sources of pain that we wriggle around to avoid. Likewise, we might avoid painful subjects that are the ones we most need to talk about in therapy.

A massage might reveal sources of pain that we wriggle around to avoid. Likewise, we might avoid painful subjects that are the ones we most need to talk about in therapy.

Therapy
The Story of Your Life

Phil Stark, AMFT on August 14, 2023

Having to tell your story all over again when you switch therapists is a drag, but also a chance to assess your story and how it might have changed since you told it last.

Having to tell your story all over again when you switch therapists is a drag, but also a chance to assess your story and how it might have changed since you told it last.

Career
What Prevents Us From Being Happy?

Phil Stark, AMFT on July 14, 2023

A common goal for many of us in life is happiness, often achieved via external factors. But the power to be happy lies much more within our own control than we might realize.

A common goal for many of us in life is happiness, often achieved via external factors. But the power to be happy lies much more within our own control than we might realize.

Career
Climbing the Career Ladder

Phil Stark, AMFT on June 19, 2023

A Personal Perspective: Different generations deserve different metaphors for how they approach their careers.

A Personal Perspective: Different generations deserve different metaphors for how they approach their careers.

Relationships
The Hamster of Love

Phil Stark, AMFT on May 25, 2023

Hamsters are cute, cuddly, and friendly, but sometimes they bite. People often act the same way in relationships.

Hamsters are cute, cuddly, and friendly, but sometimes they bite. People often act the same way in relationships.

Fear
Dude, Where Are My Keys?

Phil Stark, AMFT on May 4, 2023

Part of a therapist's job is to help clients consider what they're looking for, as well as where to look.

Part of a therapist's job is to help clients consider what they're looking for, as well as where to look.

Midlife
The Mountaintop of the Midlife

Phil Stark, AMFT on April 9, 2023

We often reach a point in life where we reflect on where we've come from, assess where we are, and consider where we are going.

We often reach a point in life where we reflect on where we've come from, assess where we are, and consider where we are going.

Anxiety
The Eternal Well of Worry

Phil Stark, AMFT on December 5, 2022

Anxiety is like the source of water in a well, in that no matter how much we worry about things, we'll never run out of things to be worried about.

Anxiety is like the source of water in a well, in that no matter how much we worry about things, we'll never run out of things to be worried about.