Search Results for: Robert%20Firestone

Why We Lost a Lovable Genius: The Hidden Enemy in Suicide

…who attempt or die by suicide are listening to what my father psychologist Robert Firestone refers to as the “critical inner voice” or “anti-self,” which berates them and lures them into their ultimate destruction. This internal enemy exists within all of us. Yet to some, particularly those who struggle with depression, addiction or other mental health disorders, this enemy can be life-threatening. In truth, it can be life threatening to any of us…

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How Negative Thoughts Are Ruining Your Life

…y and therapy technique developed by my father psychologist and author Dr. Robert Firestone. It is the basis of a book we co-authored titled Conquer Your Critical Inner Voice and the subject of many of my lectures, Webinars and my upcoming six-week eCourse “Overcome Your Inner Critic.” Why I have invested so much of my time and work into this subject is because what I have found in my 30 years of research and clinical practice is that, in almost a…

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4 Ways to Stop Sabotaging Yourself

…directed and positive. However, part of us, a part my father psychologist Robert Firestone refers to as the “anti-self,” is against us. The anti-self is like an internal enemy that resides in our minds. It speaks to us through a series of self-critical, self-denying or even self-soothing thoughts known as the “critical inner voice.” The purpose of this inner voice is to hold us back from what we want and to keep us in our place, so to speak. The…

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Do You Confuse Admiration with Love? Tales of a Covert Narcissist

…my therapist recommended that I read Conquer Your Critical Inner Voice, by Robert Firestone, Lisa Firestone and Joyce Catlett. There I learned methods for challenging this compulsion. By working through the journaling exercises, I gradually modified my defensive ways of relating to men, which had included building up a relationship partner, which was a disservice to both of us. Here are some other insights I gained from reading the book that may b…

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Compassionate Child-Rearing: An In-Depth Approach to Optimal Parenting

…n move beyond our limitations and reach out to children in a way that will spare them so much unnecessary suffering . . . this book is dedicated to parents: the lost children.” –Robert W. Firestone 1990, New York: Plenum Publishing/Insight Books 1999, Santa Barbara: The Glendon Association ISBN: 0967668425…

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The Inner Voice that Drives Suicide

…nstructing them toward their ultimate destruction. My father, psychologist Robert Firestone, initially made the link between suicide and the inner voice in 1986 after interviewing a young woman who had recently made a serious suicide attempt. The woman described in detail how cruel, sadistic thoughts instructed her throughout the planning and execution of her suicide attempt. The case study led my father to write his first article on the “inner vo…

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7 Steps to Living the Life You Imagined

…hey impact our careers, relationships and our goals in life. My father Dr. Robert Firestone describes this process of differentiation, as a four-step method for freeing yourself from past prescriptions and becoming who you really are. On June 4, I will host a free Webinar “Becoming the Real You” to further explore this complex subject. I will discuss the steps of differentiation and describe key principles to keep in mind when embarking on this ch…

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relationship fix

How to Fix a Relationship

…tart to engage in a “Fantasy Bond.” A fantasy bond is a term coined by Dr. Robert Firestone describing a state two people enter, in which they relate as a single unit. In this state, the couple stops seeing each other as autonomous individuals. They stop showing respect and love for each other and, instead, relate out of form. When in a fantasy bond, a couple will often start to project onto each other and relate to each other based on projections…

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Creating a Life of Meaning and Compassion: The Wisdom of Psychotherapy

by Robert W. Firestone, Ph.D. Lisa A. Firestone, Ph.D. Joyce Catlett, M.A. Creating a Life of Meaning and Compassion offers a compilation of therapeutic insights that are valuable in achieving a better way of living. It describes a unique experience in applied psychology whereby a group of individuals challenged a wide range of defensive behaviors and transformed their lives. The authors indicate how these insights can be applied by therapists in…

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Are You Hardy Enough?

…iated individual, as outlined in my new book, co-authored by my father Dr. Robert Firestone and Joyce Catlett, The Self Under Siege: A Therapeutic Model for Differentiation. Individuals who are more differentiated, who are living their lives based on their own unique values and desires, are open to new experiences rather than tied to routine. They can think clearly and problem solve. They are proactive not victimized when faced with difficulties….

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