Adam Blatner
Words and Images from the Mind of Adam Blatner
The Re-Integration Of Spirituality And Psychotherapy
(These remarks are a supplement to a talk I gave at the Department of Psychiatry Grand Rounds of the Scott & White Medical Center, on October 1, 2004.) (See also: Re-Story-Ing the Soul.) Historical Developments The history of the re-emergence of spirituality in psychotherapy is complex, but just briefly mentioning some of the precursors lets […]
Posted in Psychotherapy and Psychiatry, Spirituality and Philosophy | No Comments
Why We Should Get Out of Iraq Now
A couple of years ago I posted on my website a paper, Why invading iraq is a baaaad idea. Turns out I was right in ways that I hadn’t even anticipated. Mixed emotions: I confess to being slightly triumphantly satisfied, but mainly I’m very sad, worried and indignant, enough to be losing sleep over it. So […]
Posted in Current Events, History | No Comments
Unhelpful Overgeneralizations: A Form of Psychobabble
One of the common pitfalls in counseling is the use of words and phrases that are unhelpful generalizations. Consider these, among others controlling self-deceptive narcissistic don’t trust me defensive repressed paranoid inappropriate manipulative neurotic difficult unresolved conflicts stubborn superficial regressing fixated resistant selfish aggressive too sensitive fragile lazy immature feeling sorry for yourself hostile self-centered […]
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Imaginative Interviews: A Psychodramatic Warm-up for Developing Role-Playing Skills
The skill of acting “in role” is a prerequisite to full participation in psychodrama, sociodrama, Gestalt therapy, some techniques in family therapy, guided fantasy, and approaches that encourage imagined encounters between sub-personalities (Watkins, 1986; Hillman, 1983). Psychodramatic techniques such as doubling, role reversal, responsive auxiliary ego work, role training, or using the “empty chair” require […]
Posted in Psychodrama, Social-Depth Psychology (Sociometry) | No Comments
Why I Think Attacking Iraq is a Baaaad Idea
1. It’s not a pre-emptive strike–that’s an euphemism, a nice way to put what is really naked aggression. The claim is that they’re going to attack us or someone pretty soon, as soon as they get their armamentarium established. The appeal of the “hawks” is to that point in history before Hitler attacked, perhaps that […]
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Nonverbal Communications, Part 2: Learning by Using Experiential Methods
As mentioned in Part 1 — the overview on nonverbal communications — it is helpful for people to learn about this dimension of human behavior. This paper is Part 2 building on Part 1, and will discuss some ways that can be achieved. One element is simply learning the information, setting up the categories in the mind, […]
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Four Types of Learning
(I mentioned these ideas briefly in my books, noted below in the references, but I thought I ought to explain them a bit more.) Four categories of learning may be discerned: Each involves a different kind of learning process. This has relevance for the training of the psychotherapist, for the planning of treatment, and for […]
Posted in Psychological Literacy, Wisdom-ing | No Comments
Re-story-ing the Soul
This keynote presentation at the annual meeting of the American Society for Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama in April, 1999 wove together three themes that I’ve now divided into three different wepages. One, here, addresses the idea that psychodramatic methods can be used to address issues of spiritual development, soul-deepening, experiencing an enhanced sense of meaning […]
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The World Needs You
Something I think young people–and old people, too, and, really, everyone–need to hear repeatedly is the phrase, “the world needs you.” And, indeed, we do, in the sense of drawing forward the best–the talent, creativity, political engagement, work, towards helping to build a better world. I envision every middle school and secondary school hosting a […]
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Christmas Holiday Greetings 1980
In 1980, we moved again from 3173 Idaho Drive to 1538 Leonard Avenue, a slightly larger home closer to the private practice office I had opened on 114 Sotoyome Drive. I also worked part-time at the Sonoma County Mental Health Clinic. A little grey kitten “Poomie” adopted us this fall, which helped with the loss […]
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