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Articles from Glenn Berger | Selfgrowth.com
- How to Be Thankful: A Thanksgiving Tale - by Submitted on Nov 17, 2011 from Glenn BergerThis month a miracle occurred. Two of my psychotherapy clients fell in love. (Not with each other.) Falling in love is always a miracle. But this is different. Both of my clients are in their late 30’s. Neither of them have ever had a boyfriend that they like, have great sex with, and is ...
Views: 1367(1 vote) - For Father’s Day – The Best Thing a Dad Can Do for his Child - by Submitted on Jun 19, 2011 from Glenn BergerFather’s Day is about appreciating dads. I am a Dad, and I can use all the appreciation I can get. In honor of this year’s festivities, let’s remember just how much influence dads can have in their kids’ lives. As a gift to all the dads out there – since you are so important, here is the best ...
Views: 1486(1 vote) - Shrinky’s Guide to Finding Love: There Is No Such Thing as Chemistry or Attraction - by Submitted on May 11, 2011 from Glenn BergerWhat is This Strange Thing Called Chemistry? As a psychotherapist, I have many clients who are searching for love. When I ask them what they are looking for in a partner, they will usually start by saying, “I want someone I’m attracted to.” Unfortunately, when I ask them their reaction ...
Views: 3015 - You Don’t Have to Go: When I Recorded Phoebe Snow’s Poetry Man - by Submitted on May 07, 2011 from Glenn BergerWhen I First Met Phoebe Snow On April 26th, 2011 I read on Facebook that singer/songwriter Phoebe Snow had died. I walked into my hallway and stared at the gold record hanging on my wall with the cover and label of her second album, “Second Childhood,” on it. When someone dies we tend to ...
Views: 2988 - The Time I Got to Work With, and Didn't Work With, the Legendary Soul Singer, Solomon Burke - by Submitted on May 07, 2011 from Glenn BergerThe legendary soul singer, Solomon Burke, died on October 10, 2010. The King was on his way to a gig in Amsterdam. I had the blessed fortune of working with King Solomon in 1983, remixing a live album of his for Rounder Records, called "Soul Alive." Of all the unique characters I got to work ...
Views: 1488 - Shrinky's Guide to Anger Management - by Submitted on May 03, 2011 from Glenn BergerAre you always blowing your top? Do you spend too much time fantasizing about strangling your boss? Do you feel bad for yelling at your spouse and kids? Have you jumped out of your car on the highway? Have you had to leave your kid's soccer game because you have threatened the coach? If you can ...
Views: 1608 - Shrinky's Guide to Parenting: How to Help Your Troubled Adult-Child (Part 6) - by Submitted on Apr 23, 2011 from Glenn BergerIf you have read parts 1 through 5 of this series, you now have a terrific plan for helping your troubled adult-child. In this final part, I will discuss the importance of compassion, both for your child, and especially for yourselves as parents, as you work to make this plan work. There are ...
Views: 3416 - Shrinky's Guide to Parenting: How to Help Your Troubled Child (Part 5) - by Submitted on Apr 16, 2011 from Glenn BergerHow can families help their grown children in trouble. In this step we will discuss creating an action plan. To review, here are the steps you need to follow in order to best help your adult-child in trouble. You need to be able to understand your child's condition and begin a process of ...
Views: 1619(1 vote) - Shrinky's Guide to Parenting: How to Help Your Troubled Grown-Up Child (Part 4) - by Submitted on Apr 16, 2011 from Glenn BergerIn this series I explain the steps families need to follow in order to best help their troubled adult-child. To review the previous articles, here are the steps you need to follow in order to best help your adult-child in trouble. You need to be able to understand your childís condition and ...
Views: 1540 - Shrinky's Guide to Parenting: How to Help Your Troubled Grown-Up Child (Part 3) - by Submitted on Apr 15, 2011 from Glenn BergerIn Part One we learned the importance of accepting and learning about your child's condition. In Part Two we learned about the necessity of finding your child a great mentor. In Part Three we will learn the ways your child needs your involvement to find their way to health and happiness. You ...
Views: 1557 - Shrinky's Guide to Parenting: Your Troubled Grown-Up Child (Part 2) - by Submitted on Apr 15, 2011 from Glenn BergerIn Part One we learned that to help your troubled adult-child, you need to accept that the road will be long, but there is good reason to hope. The first step is to understand your child's condition. Once you begin to open yourself to learning and acceptance, what next? Get your child an ...
Views: 1704 - Shrinky's Guide to Parenting: Your Troubled Grown-Up Child (Part 1) - by Submitted on Apr 15, 2011 from Glenn BergerMonica faces a dilemma. Her 21-year-old daughter is failing in school. She is abusing alcohol. She's always had trouble, ever since 5th grade. She's been diagnosed with ADD. Her daughter refuses to get any help. Monica is afraid that her daughter will crash and burn. What should she do? All ...
Views: 1683 - Shrinky's Guide to Life: My Mentors Judy Collins and Susan Hamilton - by Submitted on Apr 10, 2011 from Glenn BergerIt's true that guys need male mentors who can shepherd them into the advancing stages of life. But I've lately come to realize how some of the most important mentoring relationships I have had have been with women. I was brought to this realization through the miracle of modern technology. ...
Views: 1649 - Shrinky's Guide to Work: The Exploited American Worker - by Submitted on Apr 08, 2011 from Glenn BergerWhen we think of exploited workers we normally think of sweat-shops in a third world country, where people work for pennies a day in horrific conditions. But there is a new class of exploited worker right here in the U.S.A., no matter how much money you make, or your professional status. This ...
Views: 3151(1 vote) - Shrinky's Guide to Procrastination: The Tyrant and the Rebel - by Submitted on Apr 06, 2011 from Glenn BergerIf you've been paying attention to current events, you've noticed that wherever there is a tyrant, sooner or later you find a rebel. Believe it or not, if you have a problem with procrastination, you've got a tyrant and a rebel inside of you. That is the cause of your difficulty with getting ...
Views: 2224 - Shrinky's Guide to Life: To Be On the Wire is Life - by Submitted on Apr 01, 2011 from Glenn BergerIn 2005 David and I went to see the Rolling Stones at Madison Square Garden. It was our way of celebrating our 50th birthdays, which came three weeks apart. David had been my best friend in high school. We only see each other once a year now. We get together each year to celebrate the ...
Views: 1664 - Shrinky's Advice: A Lonely 64-Year-Old. - by Submitted on Apr 01, 2011 from Glenn BergerGA writes: I am 64 years old. I have arthritis in my knees. I stand up all day at work and ride a bus which takes hours to and from. I work on Saturdays and Sundays so that cuts out almost all of my social time I would have at church. Funds are very tight. Any suggestions for how to deal ...
Views: 2349 - Shrinky's Guide to Parenting: How to Raise Kids With Good Self-Esteem - by Submitted on Apr 01, 2011 from Glenn BergerEvery parent wants their children to feel good about themselves. There is a good reason for that; most psychological problems in adult life stem from a lack of good self-esteem. Here is a story from my own life that shows what kind of parenting is needed to build good self-esteem in ...
Views: 1512 - Shrinky's Guide to Love: Three Simple Steps to a Great Marriage - by Submitted on Mar 27, 2011 from Glenn BergerWhat is the key to having a great marriage? The latest research shows us that people who have successful relationships say far more positive things to their partners than negative things. Here's the big news for all you people struggling in your relationships. Science has now proved the obvious: ...
Views: 1481(1 vote) - Title: Shrinky's Guide to happiness: Becoming Your True Self - by Submitted on Mar 26, 2011 from Glenn BergerWe are all looking to end our emotional suffering and solve our life's problems. We long to answer: How can we find love, stop being so anxious, lose weight, make money, have more energy, have a better marriage, raise happy children? The answer to our life's problems is simple. The reason we ...
Views: 1627 - Shrinky's Guide to Happiness: The Wise Old Man at the End of the World - by Submitted on Mar 26, 2011 from Glenn BergerMany years ago, when I was searching for the answer to life, I thought I’d find it by going to the end of the world. That was the instruction I found in all the stories. You climbed the mountain, found the guy with the long beard, and he’d give you the secret. You’d come down a changed man, ...
Views: 1908 - Shrinky's Guide to Sex for Teenagers: The 5 Most Important Things You Need to Know - by Submitted on Mar 26, 2011 from Glenn BergerAre you thinking about sex? Are you wondering if you should have it? Do you want to know the best way to do it? Are you embarrassed to admit that you don't know as much about sex as you pretend? You will get the best information here so you can learn everything you want to know about sex, be ...
Views: 2347 - Shrinky's Remedy for the Fear of Public Speaking - by Submitted on Mar 26, 2011 from Glenn BergerWhat do people fear most? Many studies tell us that it is public speaking. In fancy language, fear of public speaking is called glossophobia. I’m going to tell you about a fun, inexpensive way to conquer your fear of public speaking that will make your life better in many other ways, as ...
Views: 1458 - Shrinky's Remedy for Panic Attacks - by Submitted on Mar 19, 2011 from Glenn BergerRemember the first episode of The Sopranos? In that groundbreaking HBO series, mafia don Tony Soprano finds himself losing it when the ducks leave his pool. When he goes to a psychiatrist, he learns that he has suffered a panic attack. What is a panic attack? Where do they come from? Why do ...
Views: 1186(1 vote) - Shrinky's Remedies for Anxiety: Laughing at the "What-Ifs" - by Submitted on Mar 19, 2011 from Glenn BergerOne of the clearest signs that you are experiencing anxiety is getting an attack of the “what-ifs.” The “what-ifs” are what happens when you you try to tell yourself that everything is going to be fine and then a voice pops into your head saying, “Yeah, but what if . . .?” Recognizing that ...
Views: 2883(1 vote) - Shrinky's Remedy for Social Phobia - by Submitted on Mar 19, 2011 from Glenn BergerWhat is social phobia? Where does it come from? Why do people have it? How can you get rid of it? At home, Gary told himself there was no point in going out tonight. He was sure to make a fool of himself, and he’d only end up feeling mortified. Walking out of his apartment, he felt like his ...
Views: 2037(1 vote) - Shrinky's Guide to Anxiety - by Submitted on Mar 19, 2011 from Glenn BergerWhat is the psychology that makes you feel anxious? How can you find relief from the symptoms of anxiety? Here’s the way it works. Our body has a built in Inner Alarm System. This system exists to protect us when we are in danger. When we feel we are at risk of harm, this system turns on and ...
Views: 952 - The Connection Crisis - by Submitted on Sep 23, 2010 from Glenn BergerMy psychotherapy client, David, is 32 years old. If anything, David is neat. His blond hair is closely cropped. He wears a Banana Republic iron-free shirt, pressed pants, and shiny black shoes. This is the uniform of a mid-level guy at a major law firm. His eyes are wide and confused. “I just ...
Views: 1113 - Heart, Ch'I and Courage - by Submitted on May 30, 2010 from Glenn BergerCh’i is the prime energy of the universe. This can be correlated to “the sacred fire” of the Upanishads. The Indians, too, located this energetic source in the heart. “I know . . . that sacred fire which leads to heaven. Listen. That fire which is the means of attaining the infinite worlds, ...
Views: 2630(1 vote) - The Look of Love - by Submitted on Apr 09, 2010 from Glenn BergerAsk any parent what they want for their children and they will say happiness. But what can parents do to insure their child’s well being? Imagine a scene. Soft warm lighting, gentle sounds. A close up on two faces. One, a mother, the other, her infant. Mom holds baby securely in her arms and ...
Views: 1714(3 votes) - The History of the Heart: The Answer to Human Suffering Part 2 - by Submitted on Mar 09, 2010 from Glenn BergerAround the time that the Sage, Mencius, lived, a great stirring was occurring in the hearts of humankind. German philosopher Karl Jaspers (1883-1969) referred to this time as the Axial Age, where axial means pivotal. Masters of wisdom appeared in India and Greece, as well as his home land, ...
Views: 1775 - The New Spirituality - by Submitted on Feb 27, 2010 from Glenn BergerRecently Charles Blow of the New York Times cited some studies suggesting that people between the ages of 18 and 29 are “moving away from organized religion while simultaneously trying desperately to connect with their spirituality.” I believe this is true for vast numbers of people of all ages. ...
Views: 1040(1 vote) - The New Spirituality - by Submitted on Feb 23, 2010 from Glenn BergerRecently Charles Blow of the New York Times cited some studies suggesting that people between the ages of 18 and 29 are “moving away from organized religion while simultaneously trying desperately to connect with their spirituality.” I believe this is true for vast numbers of people of all ages. ...
Views: 1395(1 vote) - The Answer to Human Suffering, Part One: Life With a Lost Heart - by Submitted on Feb 19, 2010 from Glenn BergerEveryone has problems. People everywhere, and for all time, have been searching for an answer to the great mystery of human folly and self-inflicted suffering. As a psychotherapist, people come to me to provide them with some wisdom, knowledge, expertise and direction on how to find their way ...
Views: 1640(1 vote) - To Be On the Wire is Life: A Holiday Offering - by Submitted on Dec 14, 2009 from Glenn BergerOn September 15, 2005 David and I went to see the Rolling Stones at Madison Square Garden. It was our way of celebrating our 50th birthdays, which came three weeks apart. David had been my best friend in high school. We only see each other once a year now. He is on the road 300 days a year ...
Views: 1483(1 vote) - How to Find the Lost Heart: The Solution to Life's Problems - by Submitted on Nov 23, 2009 from Glenn BergerWe are all looking to end our emotional suffering and solve our life's problems. We long to answer: How can I find love, stop being so anxious, lose weight, make money, have more energy, have a better marriage, be a better parent? In this post I’m going to give you the answer to your ...
Views: 2164(6 votes) - The Heart of Transformation - by Submitted on Nov 09, 2009 from Glenn BergerHow do we change? Change takes one tiny step, but to take that one step can require a journey of a thousand miles. So many of us can dream of the life we want to have and the person we want to be. It can be especially frustrating when we get to the stage in our adventure where we ...
Views: 1294(6 votes) - The Heart of Self-Confidence - by Submitted on Nov 02, 2009 from Glenn BergerIn order to accomplish our life goals we need self-confidence. What is self-confidence, where does it come from, and how do we cultivate it? Mencius, my favorite Chinese Sage, believed that confidence comes from "ch'i," the universal source of energy. This power that moves through us has many ...
Views: 1098(6 votes) - The Heart of Love - by Submitted on Oct 25, 2009 from Glenn BergerWhere does love come from? Contemporary science tells us that love is built into us. As the great researcher, Allan Schore, proves, we enter the world pre-wired to love the first person who takes care of us. Once an infant is born it works like this. When an infant sees his mother gazing at ...
Views: 1575(13 votes) - The Heart of Surviving and Thriving in this Struggling Economy - by Submitted on Oct 17, 2009 from Glenn BergerStatistics like 10% unemployment and reports of 50% pay cuts barely capture the pain and anxiety that so many of us are experiencing in today's struggling economy. How can we get through this rough period and also figure out how to succeed in such troubling times? How can we set the economic ...
Views: 1603(3 votes) - Why Parents Need to Read Fairy Tales (Part 5) - by Submitted on Oct 08, 2009 from Glenn BergerAs we have learned in this series so far, fairy tales are ironic. They tell a truth so shocking that it can only be revealed in innocent children's stories. 2500 years ago, in Plato’s Republic, Socrates said the truth exposed in these stories was so dangerous that they should not be allowed to ...
Views: 3800(1 vote) - Why Grown Ups Need to Read Fairy Tales (Part Four) The Inner Scheherazade - by Submitted on Oct 03, 2009 from Glenn BergerFAIRY TALES AND THE INNER MALEFICENT In the Disney version of Sleeping Beauty, at the party that celebrates the birth of the new princess, an evil witch named Maleficent shows up and ruins the whole event. She puts a curse on the infant that destines her to a painful existence. Who is this ...
Views: 1207(1 vote) - Why Grown Ups Need to Read Fairy Tales (Part Three) - by Submitted on Sep 29, 2009 from Glenn BergerWHAT THE TALES TELL US WE NEED TO DO What do the tales tell us we need to do to find our hearts and become what we are meant to be? What Bruno Bettelheim says for children is equally true for adults. “Fairy tales, unlike any other form of literature, direct the child to discover his ...
Views: 2853(2 votes) - Why Grown Ups Need to Read Fairy Tales (Part Two) - by Submitted on Sep 27, 2009 from Glenn BergerFAIRY TALES AND SHAME The true cause of the problems in our lives is revealed in stories like Snow White. When the queen discovers that Snow White is more beautiful than she, she determines that her heart should be cut out. Mothers can be so envious of their daughters that they will do all ...
Views: 2630(4 votes) - Why Grown Ups Need to Read Fairy Tales (Part One) - by Submitted on Sep 27, 2009 from Glenn BergerWhen people say, “That’s just a fairy tale!” they mean that what the person believes is a naive illusion, a lie told to the self. But this is the opposite of the truth. Fairy tales succeed because they wear the clothing of simplicity and innocence, when they are in actuality deadly serious. ...
Views: 2536 - We're All on the Yellow Brick Road - by Submitted on May 17, 2009 from Glenn BergerSeveral years ago, I spent six months providing psychotherapy for inmates at the local county jail. Most were drug addicts; all of them had a heart. I had a close relationship with one wise felon, whom I will call Chris. I could see through Chris’s orange prison suit that he had a huge stiff ...
Views: 1358 - We're All On The Yellow Brick Road - by Submitted on Apr 29, 2009 from Glenn BergerSeveral years ago, I spent six months providing psychotherapy for inmates at the local county jail. Most were drug addicts; all of them had a heart. I had a close relationship with one wise felon, whom I will call Chris. I could see through Chris’s orange prison suit that he had a huge stiff ...
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