Consciousness as side effect is an idea that's been bouncing around my brain for quite a spell. Specifically, since 1970 and an Anthropology course I took, "Beginnings of Mankind". I recall having wrote in my notebook: "Mankind is a self-conscious animal, therefore - kind of like a kind man." Something like that. Can we talk … Continue reading Consciousness As Side Effect
Category: Therapy
SIDE EFFECTS: Mental health care breaks bad
Side Effects (2013) is a film, a psychological thriller [my favorite genre] written by Scott Z. Burns and directed by Steven Soderbergh. It stars Jude Law, Rooney Mara, and Catherine Zeta-Jones; with a heavy dose of cultural and social commentary. Wherein mental health care breaks bad. Let's talk about it. The Plot and Theme. The Plot … Continue reading SIDE EFFECTS: Mental health care breaks bad
The Truth About Lying
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Hg8LMMkEY0 In this video (2008) I read from Attachment: A Novel of War and Peace, which I published in 2006. I preface the reading with a review from a reader. The reading is from "Trust", the second chapter. It is, I think, the truth about lying. The protagonist, Joe Burns, is in his first session … Continue reading The Truth About Lying
Closer to Madness
"I know it's a pain," she wrote. "But every minute you spend on it, you're getting closer." Closer to what? I thought. Closer to Madness is an instrumental musical composition by Canadian guitarist Jesse Cook. He is an amazing musician whom I discovered when selling CD's out of my bookstore, twenty-five years ago. Or, did she … Continue reading Closer to Madness
TALK: A Book Not For Everyone
TALK, is a book not for everyone. My take on Alison Brook Woods' book Talk: The Science of Conversation and the Art of Being Ourselves (2025) is that it's an amazing book! The book is essentially equivalent to several years of therapy and psychoanalysis. Trust me on this. Because I've been talking with Psych-girl for … Continue reading TALK: A Book Not For Everyone
PsychoBabble May Be Hazardous To Your Health
PsychoBabble may be hazardous to your health is the case Joe Nucci makes in his book PsychoBabble: Viral Mental Health Myths & the Truths to Set You Free. (2025) He's not wrong. I know this because my Psych-girl has hanging in her office this sign: Social Media may be hazardous to your health. Let's talk about that. … Continue reading PsychoBabble May Be Hazardous To Your Health
My (not) Fine Spine
My spine is (not) fine; nor is my neck. Which is stiff. The top of my spine (vertebra 1c and 2c) and the bottom (vertebra 4l and the sacrum) is stiff and sore. From top to bottom I hurt. I have been knocked out of balance by events out of my control. Crooked I am. … Continue reading My (not) Fine Spine
The Collage As Story
The collage as story first was revealed to me in 2003. As I recall - there was an ad in the "want ads"* section of my local newspaper. A person (woman) was having a class in her condo about collage making. For a fee, of course. I thought why not? Because at the time I was … Continue reading The Collage As Story
My Garden is my Life
My garden is my life. However, maybe not how you'd think. I'm moving, I've mentioned before. Which usually means that you have to leave your garden, too. But that's not the case with me. Because I take that which is important to me, with me. Psych-girl, last session, didn't get it.* Lately, She and I … Continue reading My Garden is my Life
A Psychodynamic look at Hunter Biden
This is a psychodynamic* look at the case of Hunter Biden based on his recent three-hour and fifteen minute interview. I've referenced my credentials in previous, similar posts regarding Luigi Mangioni and Shannon Sharpe. I came away with sympathy for Mr. Biden. Additionally, with the thought: I'm glad I'm not him. Let's get into it. … Continue reading A Psychodynamic look at Hunter Biden