…ability to pursue or accept real love and connection. In this Webinar, Dr. Lisa Firestone will explain her father’s concept of the fantasy bond. She will discuss how the original “bond” that is formed in a family can keep people stuck in the past, reliving rather than living their own lives. The incorporation of these early fantasy dynamics can lead to limiting psychological defenses and a critical self-concept that go on to negatively impact how…
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Presenter: Dr. Lisa Firestone 3 CE Credits – $35 90 Minutes Earn 3 CE’s by watching the Webinar and reading an article by Dr. Firestone. Differentiation refers to the struggle that all people face in striving to develop a sense of themselves as autonomous individuals. When working with clients to fully develop themselves, a fundamental question to have them consider is: are they living based on pursuing the things that really light them up, that…
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…following transcript contains part of an exclusive interview with Dr. Lisa Firestone and Dr. Sheldon Solomon. Sheldon Solomon talks about how Terror Management Theory began. ….we were egghead researchers trying to understand why people couldn’t get along with other people who didn’t share their beliefs about reality. And then we stumbled onto Ernest Becker’s work and, you know, his concept of death denial being central to understanding human behav…
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…peutic Model for Differentiation, co-authored by Dr. Robert Firestone, Dr. Lisa Firestone and Joyce Catlett, we describe the four steps involved in differentiation. Step one involves separating from the destructive attitudes (critical inner voices) we internalized based on painful early life experiences. The second step requires us to separate from the negative traits in our parents or influential caretakers that we’ve taken on as our own. The thi…
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…needs and priorities? In this book, noted clinical psychologist Robert W. Firestone sets forth his theory — synthesizing psychodynamic and existential approaches to the psyche — underlying his voice therapy methodology. From childhood, Firestone maintains, humans are prevented from experiencing an individuated life by the pressures of society and destructive interactions within the family. The goal of Voice Therapy is to uncover the insidious for…
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…s on the resolve to terminate his or her existence.” Thus begins Robert W. Firestone’s exploration into the depths of the human problem of suicide. Suicide is a leading cause of death in our nation. What internal factors cause a person to end his or her life, and what are the familial and societal factors that may be making a destructive contribution? The answers to both questions are at the heart of Suicide and the Inner Voice. Dr. Firestone beli…
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…s on the resolve to terminate his or her existence.” Thus begins Robert W. Firestone’s exploration into the depths of the human problem of suicide. Suicide is a leading cause of death in our nation. What internal factors cause a person to end his or her life, and what are the familial and societal factors that may be making a destructive contribution? The answers to both questions are at the heart of Suicide and the Inner Voice. Dr. Firestone beli…
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…tened anxiety. Disorganized (Unresolved) Attachment Do you crave emotional intimacy, but also feel it’s safer to be on your own where you won’t get hurt? Was your primary caregiver abusive? Did your primary caregiver show love one minute and abuse the next? Disorganized attachment can be a combination of avoidant and anxious attachment styles. Perhaps your caregiver was frightening, abusive, or behaved toward you in inappropriate ways. You may hav…
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…nature of our impulse to shun that which is unfamiliar and transcend these fears to realize the commonality between all people. We must avoid relying on illusion and comfortable beliefs and be willing to become conscious of our pain and the pain of others. This is the common ground, the common humanity, we must acknowledge to achieve a meaningful peace. I believe in humankind’s capacity to change negative personality characteristics and unethical…
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…rselves as willing to go “all in” when it comes to love, or we may live in fear of getting “tied down.” However, we may not be aware of how much these tendencies trace back to our earliest relationships and the attachment patterns we formed to our caretakers. Getting to know our attachment patterns can be a gift that keeps on giving in terms of better understanding how we think, feel, and act in our relationships. In this blog, I’ll focus on avoid…
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