PinnedIt’s Important My Therapist Makes MistakesRobin B. Zeiger, Ph.D. Does your therapist make mistakes? If the answer is a resounding yes, I have a smile on my face. It is important that therapists are less than perfect and in touch with their humanity. Many moons ago, I learned in my own personal analysis, it is often important not to say “I am sorry” I reserve this simple phrase for errors that are a part…Psychotherapy6 min read
Mar 28Becoming Bigger as I Grow Smaller: The Wisdom and Humility of DreamsRobin B. Zeiger, Ph.D. In each of us is another whom we do not know. He speaks to us in dreams and tells us how differently he sees us from the way we see ourselves. Carl Jung Our dream images and stories bring us images and treasures from the unconscious…Dreams5 min read
Mar 23Dark Feet & Dark Wings: Wendell Berry’s Wisdom in Difficult TimesRobin B. Zeiger, Ph.D. To go in the dark with a light is to know the light. To know the dark, go dark. Go without sight, and find that the dark, too, blooms and sings, and is travelled by dark feet and dark wings — Wendell Berry This week I…Ukraine4 min read
Mar 22Perhaps We Can Find Peace in Every StepRobin B. Zeiger, Ph.D. In difficult times like these, I find myself reaching again for Thich Nhat Hahn’s Peace is Every Step. Hahn, a world-famous Vietnamese Buddhist, peace Activist, and prolific writer on mindfulness lived through many difficult times. …Peace3 min read
Mar 22Time-Out is Not a Punishment: It is an Act of PeaceThe year I spent on the psychotic adolescent unit at Camarillo State Hospital was one of the most formative years of my life. No, I was not a patient. Rather, I completed an internship as my last formal clinical training before I became a “grown-up” psychologist. I will never forget Henry “Hank” Marshall, the chief psychologist and unit head. I was in my 20’s and “wet behind the ears.” He was truly a Wise Old Man as a compassionate psychologist and beloved clinical supervisor. I will never forget what he taught me about time-outs.Children3 min read
Mar 15Hamantaschen & Putin-taschen for Purim: Fighting Evil with CookiesRobin B. Zeiger, Ph.D. This year for the Jewish holiday of Purim (March 16–18th), Hamantaschen has become Putin-taschen thanks to some caring and creative Israeli students in Warsaw. Hamantaschen is a triangular shaped cookie that was named after Haman, the evil villain in a 5th century BCE Persian story. The…Purim4 min read
Mar 6Life is Too Short for Bad CoffeeRobin B. Zeiger, Ph.D. Several months ago, I moved into a new clinic. One of my first orders of business was to find a nearby coffee shop to frequent. I discovered the above sign in a neighborhood coffee shop. This sign paired with friendly service and cozy outdoor tables settled…Coffee Shop5 min read
Feb 26Revisiting the Five and Dime of My ChildhoodRobin B. Zeiger, Ph.D. The dreams of the night sometimes bring us such surprising moments. I was recently treated to a special visit from my past, the Five and Dime Store of my childhood. It was the day of my son’s wedding. It was my second COVID wedding of a…Nostalgia5 min read
Feb 23The Lighthouse of My ChildhoodRobin B. Zeiger, Ph.D. What are the dreams and memories of your childhood that carry you and escort you along the way? What piece of your childhood do you still long for? What can you still taste and smell and feel?Childhood Memories4 min read
Feb 21The Power of Lighthouses: Amanda Gorman & MeRobin B. Zeiger, Ph.D. We have never met & yet we have still lost sight of each other, Two lighthouses quavering in the fog. We could not hold ourselves. From “Lighthouse” Amanda Gorman, Call Us What We Carry. In the past weeks, I have found myself captivated by Amanda’s Gorman’s…Amanda Gorman4 min read
