…d maintain their loving feelings over time. Dr. Firestone will draw on Dr. Robert Firestone’s concepts’ “fear of intimacy” and the “fantasy bond” as well as findings from attachment theory and Emotion-Focused Therapy to describe common patterns that create distance and proven strategies to achieve more closeness. Individuals, couples, and therapists working with clients will benefit by learning about how negative dynamics operate, how they can be…
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…known as the “fantasy bond.” As one of the central concepts of Dr. Robert Firestone, the fantasy bond describes an illusion of connection we originally form with our parent or primary caretaker as a defense system to help relieve early anxiety and emotional pain. However, as we grow up, this very defense system limits our ability to pursue or accept real love and connection. In this Webinar, Dr. Lisa Firestone will explain her father’s concept of…
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…nnection. In this webinar, Dr. Lisa Firestone will explain her father, Dr. Robert Firestone’s, concept of the fantasy bond. She will discuss how the original “bond” that is formed in a family can keep people stuck in the past, reliving rather than living their own lives. The incorporation of these early fantasy dynamics can lead to limiting psychological defenses and a critical self-concept that go on to negatively impact how an individual relates…
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…they once adored. Why Do We Feel Angry at Love Directed Toward Us? As Dr. Firestone wrote in his blog, “You Don’t Want What You Say You Want,” “Most of us profess that we want to find a loving partner, but the experience of real love disrupts fantasies of love that have served as a survival mechanism since early childhood.” These “survival mechanisms” refer to the defenses we formed in response to undesirable circumstances in our early lives. In…
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…eloped by psychologist and author of Conquer Your Critical Inner Voice Dr. Robert Firestone known as Voice Therapy. If someone is experiencing feelings of depression, anxiety, loneliness or social isolation, it can be extremely beneficial to seek therapy. This can help them sort through where their self-shaming feelings come from and how to challenge them. Going through the steps of voice therapy with a trained therapist can have significant benef…
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…y sound simple, but this is actually something psychologists like Dr. Lisa Firestone advise people to try when they’re experiencing symptoms of depression. The very act of smiling or laughing can improve our mood. One study even showed that forcing a smile can genuinely reduce stress and increase positive feelings. “Play your favorite sitcom, watch a funny movie or read a comical writer,” said Dr. Firestone. “Don’t think of this exercise as merely…
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by Robert W. Firestone, Ph.D. Lisa A. Firestone, Ph.D. Joyce Catlett, M.A. Sex and Love in Intimate Relationships proposes that sexual problems are largely related to defenses acquired through painful childhood experiences, and that individuals can be helped to overcome these challenges and become physically and emotionally closer to their partners. Sexuality can be one of the most fulfilling pleasures in life. Yet it is an aspect of relationship…
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…ne, author of Conquer Your Critical Inner Voice. As she and her father Dr. Robert Firestone define it, the “critical inner voice” is a form of negative self-talk. It perpetuates destructive thoughts and feelings, driving us to compare, evaluate and judge ourselves (and often others) with great scrutiny. This is one reason why learning how to deal with jealousy is so important. This voice can fuel our feelings of jealousy by filling our heads with…
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…e Fantasy Bond is a major concept in psychological theory developed by Dr. Robert Firestone. To learn more about The Fantasy Bond, Register for our FREE webinar on Tuesday, April 24th from 11am-12pm PST. This webinar will present a model for an ideal relationship that combines emotional closeness and sexual intimacy, while each partner maintains a differentiated and individuated sense of self. Dr. Firestone will discuss characteristics of a relati…
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