…us to hurt ourselves and those close to us in the present. It is an ongoing journey of self-reflection that helps us to reveal who we truly are and to know and love someone for who they are as well. Join Dr. Lisa Firestone for the CE Webinar “Working with High-Conflict Couples” on January 24. Learn more or register here. Read more about differentiation in Dr. Lisa Firestone’s latest book, The Self Under Siege…
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…oved one “step back from the edge.” Suicide Prevention Tips: Read Dr. Lisa Firestone’s tips for how to help someone at risk for suicide. Coping Suggestions for the Suicidal Person The Do’s and Don’ts of Suicide Prevention Helper Tasks: How You Can Help Someone Who’s Suicidal Suicide: The Warning Signs Suicide: How You Can Help Someone at Risk Busting the Myths About Suicide The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline If you or someone you know is i…
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…r voices and the defensive behaviors these voices regulate,” said Dr. Lisa Firestone in her book Conquer Your Critical Inner Voice. How does the critical inner voice try to undermine a relationship? Take look at the scene in Annie Hall where the main characters, Annie and Alvy, have just met and are having a glass of wine on the balcony of her apartment: ALVY: So, did you shoot the photographs in there or what? ANNIE: Yeah, yeah, I sorta dabble ar…
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…Fantasy Bond reprinted with permission: American Psychological Association copyright © 2022 [Robert W. Firestone]…
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…problem with this dynamic, which my father, psychologist and author Robert Firestone, has termed a “fantasy bond” is that the couple chooses a fantasy of connection over the fulfillment of really relating to each other. Many people avoid going all in for fear of losing themselves in a relationship. Yet, maintaining our individuality and avoiding a fantasy bond is actually one of the most powerful ways to keep love alive. When we stay open and vuln…
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…prediction. Another big winner was Nordstrom. Eating disorder specialist, Linda Schonberg, Psy.D., says shopping is sometimes used to assuage the feelings of an emotional vacuum. “Shopaholics fill their shopping carts in a futile attempt to fill their souls,” she explains. “Their endless search for the perfect sweater, shoes to match, and just the right necklace, however, does not seem to quench their insatiable thirst for love and acceptance fro…
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…tional and cognitive struggles. In the article, Yale University professors Linda Mayes and Sally Provence were quoted: Continuity of affectionate care by one or a small number of caregivers who can give of themselves emotionally, as well as in other ways, originates the development of the child’s love relationships… Having repeated experiences of being comforted when distressed [for instance] is a part of developing one’s own capacity for self-com…
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“The breath is the intersection of the body and mind.” – Thich Nhat Hanh 1. Set aside time each day to develop a personal meditation practice. When undertaken with discipline, meditation can lead to clarity and peace of mind. 2. Select a place where you can sit, uninterrupted. 3. Practice meditation for at least 5-10 minutes in the morning and 5-10 minutes at night. 4. Sit in an erect and upright position on a chair or on a meditation cushion. Ha…
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…rning the core issues involved in the mistreatment of children. Dr. Robert Firestone interacts with a group of parents, and their honest responses illustrate the personality dynamics underlying the perpetuation of this damaging cycle. This is a valuable public service program for clinicians, parents, and perspective parents. “At the bottom line in our treatment of children is the quality of the experience we provide. This film makes this pint clea…
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by Robert W. Firestone, Ph.D. Foreword by R.D. Laing, M.D. Based on 28 years of research into the problem of resistance, this book offers a consistently developed set of hypotheses centering around the concept of the “fantasy bond,” an illusion of connection originally formed with the mother and later with significant others in the individual’s environment. The book develops the concept of the core defense of the “fantasy bond” and describes the…
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