Kellevision

Why a Therapist is Against the Death Penalty

A therapist against the death penalty?  I'm sure no one is shocked by this.  We are famous for being flaming liberals.  However, my primary objection to the death penalty may not be what you suppose, i.e. that criminals can be rehabilitated.  I do not believe that people like John Wayne Gacy or Ted Bundy could have been rehabilitated.  However, I still do not think we should have been given a death penalty.  Why?

"Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son about his Father"

One of my readers reminded me of this movie.  It is a beautiful, but heart wrenching documentary created for a son, about his father. 

Introverts vs. Antisocials - Being Quiet and Enjoying Being Alone is not a Mental Illness

I hear a lot of people referring to themselves or others and "antisocial" and expressing the belief that this means they are "abnormal".  I think it is important to clear up two major misunderstandings about this way of thinking.

Living with a Sociopath

If you have never had a sociopath in your family, you have no idea how much fun you are missing out on.  The technical term for a sociopath is Antisocial Personality Disorder if you want to look the diagnosis and technical description.  But the diagnostic criteria doesn't do justice to these folks nor describe the mesmerizing effect they have on other people.  

Personality Disorders

A lot of clients I see are diagnosed with Axis I disorders like Schizophrenia, Major Depression and Bipolar Disorder when in actuality, they are suffering from a Personality Disorder.  Personality Disorders are rarely discussed because they ultimately cannot be medicated and require long term psychotherapy.  Insurance companies do not cover them and, at least where I live, the county mental health authority does not treat them.  So in order for people with Personality Disorders to get any help, they are mislabeled as one of the "Big Three" (Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder or Major Depression) - disorders which are covered by most systems.  I think this is a great disservice to patients and clients.  People have a right to know what is really going on with them and what the proper treatment provided.  What are Personality Disorders?