It is well-established that narcissism is a personality characteristic that exists within all of us. And for most of us, it is experienced as a healthy sense of pride in our accomplishments and a healthy sense of a core identity in terms of how we think of ourselves, the values we believe in, and how comfortably we relate to others in various relationships. However, some experience wishes and needs related to narcissism as an excessively self-centered orientation to the world, often causing problems in intimate relationships, social relationships, and the workplace. Read More

Symptoms of bipolar disorder are different from the normal ups and downs that everyone goes through from time to time, and they can result in damaged relationships, poor job or school performance, and even suicide. But bipolar disorder does respond well to intensive treatment, and people with this condition can lead full and productive lives! I’m very proud to have a long record of successfully helping many patients who have struggled with these cyclical mood disorders, including Bipolar I Disorder, the less severe Bipolar II Disorder, and the even milder Cyclothymic Disorder. Read More

In order to better understand the causes of anxiety symptoms, and the functions, both positive and negative, that they serve in one’s life, a more thorough and detailed approach can be very helpful and can have more extensive and long-lasting benefits. The philosophy of this approach is aptly reflected in the proverb, “Give someone a fish, feed them for a day. Teach someone to fish, feed them for a lifetime.” Read More

Major depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the United States. In 2012, an estimated 16 million adults aged 18 or older in the U.S. had at least one major depressive episode in the past year. This represented just about 7 percent of all U.S. adults. Simply, a major depressive episode is a period of two weeks or longer during which there is either depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure, and at least four other symptoms that reflect a change in functioning, such as problems with sleep, eating, energy, concentration, and self-image. Read More

The current term, ADHD, came into use in 1994, and replaced “Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).” Many people continue to use ADD, probably because it’s easier to remember and to say. In addition, many people mistakenly think that if you are diagnosed with ADHD, you must be “hyperactive”—not true. Actually, the “/” in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder means “or,” so ADHD indicates an individual with attention-deficit, orhyperactivity, orboth. Further, we currently recognize three subtypes of ADHD—predominantly inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive, and the combination of those two. Read More

A close relative of mine gave birth to their second child. By age 2½, she was quite different—she seemed reluctant to play with other children and often isolated herself, she was very sensitive to a variety of experiences, including foods, sounds, and fabrics, and most noticeably, she had not yet begun to speak, not even a word. I urged her parents to have her evaluated professionally, and three separate pediatric clinicians—two psychologists and an occupational therapist— independently diagnosed her as having autism. Her parents were devastated. Then they asked for my help. Although I already had extensive training and experience in evaluating and treating children of all ages, including toddlers, I was no expert in autism. But I was determined to become one, and so I immersed myself into learning and mastering the most effective treatment approaches. Read More