Group therapy has a strange rhythm. Over time it oscillates between two poles: pain and boredom, even if group is also filled with deeply important moments and awakenings. Eventually someone sighs, half joking: “Why am I paying for this?” The question captures a philosophical insight that Arthur Schopenhauer recognized long ago: human life is an endless cycle of desire. People laugh because everyone recognizes the truth in it. Group therapy can be uncomfortable, repetitive, emotionally exhausting, and occasionally boring and disconnected. Yet people keep coming back because it’s also so deeply moving and feels so important and life-affirming. Group: The Schopenhauer Effect (2026) is a new film based on a recent YouTube series (called Group: The Series) that captures this paradox better than anything else that I’ve seen on film about “process-oriented” groups, a highly demanding form of group therapy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyTSX2PCaF4 Schopenhauer on Desire, and Group Therapy as a Kind of Art The film (and the book, The Schopenhauer Cure, by Irv Yalom, on which it is loosely based) takes its title from Schopenhauer’s sense of how we constantly desire something we cannot have. We long for something, obtain some version of it, briefly enjoy it, and then inevitably grow

Every week I meet people who feel a strange mix of amazement and unease about artificial intelligence. AI drafts their emails, outlines their presentations, cleans up their photos, and recommends the right words when they’re not quite sure what to say. It’s astonishingly useful. It’s also a very quiet kind of risky. Not in the sci-fi Terminator sense, but in the small, daily ways the “human touch” gets diluted—until we look up and realize that what used to be an expression of care or intention now reads like a decent imitation of both. Humanism has long offered a simple standard: treat people as ends in themselves, not tools; tell the truth; honor the dignity and agency of the person in front of you. Existentialists add something sterner: life doesn’t hand you meaning; you make it, through authentic choices in the face of anxiety, absurdity, and aloneness. Put those together and you get a compass for an AI era: choose presence over polish, candor over convenience, and responsibility over outsourcing. When the “uncanny valley” moves into language We usually hear about the uncanny valley in robotics—the eerie feeling when a face or voice is almost human, but not quite. That idea

Our world is getting more complicated, socially and emotionally, so it isn’t surprising that mental health issues are increasingly prevalent, often leading people in two opposite directions: self-isolating or interpersonally “acting out.”  You may have found yourself doing one or both in the last couple of years. Finding meaningful, effective approaches to mental health care is more critical than ever. One often underappreciated but profoundly impactful option for “doing the work” is group therapy.  Unlike individual therapy, which focuses solely on the personal experience you are having as a single individual (even if this often focuses on relationships), group therapy offers a unique setting where emotional struggles, healing, and deep personal growth occurs collectively in a “living lab” where things are happening right now and between us with the therapist acting as a facilitator and interpreter of these interactions: difficulty with conflict, social fear, barriers to joy, difficulty accepting compliments, sharing painful experiences.  Group is sometimes jokingly referred to as the “grad school of therapy,” where people go for a way to access their struggles in a more complete way, but is a method that takes time and an ability to manage a sometimes-heated or more stressful environment than usually

If you’ve ever considered attending group therapy, you may feel a mix of curiosity and uncertainty about what to expect. Group therapy is an effective and supportive approach to addressing a variety of mental health conditions, providing benefits that extend far beyond individual therapy. Knowing what happens during a group therapy session can help ease your nerves and prepare you to make the most of this powerful healing experience. Understanding Group Therapy Group therapy involves a small group of individuals, typically facilitated by certified group therapists or other qualified mental health professionals. These sessions are designed to address specific mental health challenges while fostering personal growth and emotional well-being. Unlike individual therapy, where the focus is one-on-one, group therapy provides a dynamic group setting that allows participants to learn from one another and build meaningful connections. There are various types of group therapy, each tailored to meet different therapeutic goals. For example, some groups focus on skill-building, such as improving social skills, while others address specific mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, or trauma. Regardless of the focus, the supportive group environment encourages participants to share their experiences, gain new insights, and receive support from others who can relate to

Starting therapy can feel both exciting and a little nerve-wracking. Whether you’re seeking support for a specific issue or simply exploring ways to improve your mental health, understanding what to expect during your first therapy session can ease some uncertainties and help you feel more prepared. This guide outlines the key steps involved in your initial therapy or counseling session, from finding the right licensed therapist to beginning the collaborative process of building a better future. Finding the Right Therapist Before your first therapy appointment, it’s essential to find a therapist who suits your needs. This involves researching professionals with expertise in the areas you want to address, such as anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, or stress management. Factors like location, availability, and insurance compatibility (or out-of-pocket cost) can also play a role in your decision. Most importantly, look for a licensed therapist whose approach aligns with your preferences. There are many types of therapy, such as existential therapy, integrative therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, or solution-focused therapy. Hundreds more “brands” of therapy mean that sometimes having a conversation with a potential therapist about the way they do therapy can make it easier to know what their approach is really

Life often presents challenges that can leave us feeling overwhelmed, uncertain, or stuck. Whether you’re facing anxiety, depression, or simply looking for ways to enhance your emotional health, individual therapy offers a transformative opportunity for personal growth. By providing a safe space to explore your thoughts and feelings, therapy can help you develop the skills needed to overcome obstacles and build resilience. In this article, we’ll explore how individual therapy focuses on fostering emotional well-being by addressing emotional or psychological difficulties, strengthening communication skills, and empowering you to thrive. A Safe Space for Exploration Individual therapy offers a supportive space where you can openly discuss your thoughts, emotions, and experiences without fear of judgment. This safe space encourages you to reflect deeply on your inner world, helping you achieve a deeper understanding of yourself and your challenges. Whether you’re navigating major life transitions or seeking relief from persistent stress, therapy provides a dedicated time and place to focus on your mental and emotional health. This environment enables you to identify patterns, gain clarity, and take meaningful steps toward improving your mental health. Gaining Insight and Building Resilience One of the most valuable aspects of therapy is the opportunity to gain

Songs featured in this blog: Like Him (by Tyler, the Creator, CHROMAKOPIA, 2024) Stand (by Yebba, Dawn, 2021) seven (by Taylor Swift, folklore, 2020) Mother I Sober (by Kendrick Lamar, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, 2022) Fourth of July (by Sufjan Stevens, Carrie & Lowell, 2015) If you don’t have some part of you carrying an unfathomable anguish as you walk the path of your life, it’s okay to stop reading this blogpost. Maybe come back when you feel that weight. “Unfathomable.” Where does this word come from? Un.fathom.able. A fathom is a measure of depth. It is about six feet. Six feet is the traditional depth at which we bury our dead. One fathom. Why six feet? Fathom comes from an old word for outstretched arms. One source says the old word referred to “something which embraces” or grasps. Sailors used to measure depth by dropping a line over the side of a boat with a weight at the end of it. After the weight hit bottom, they pulled the line up by stretching out their arms with each pull of the line. By counting the times they stretched out their arms, they could tell how many “fathoms”

No matter how hard we try to avoid suffering, it seems that life will always test our limits. Sometimes, it doesn’t take much to feel swept away and fear we’ll never find our way back to a sense of safety and stability within ourselves. When we eventually regain our balance, we may look back and wonder why we panicked. But in those moments, the fear of losing ourselves for good can feel very real. Overcoming this anxiety requires faith in something solid and reliable. I find the wisdom of the Zen Buddhist tradition offers a simple but poignant answer. In Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind, Shunryu Suzuki writes as he describes “big mind,” “The true understanding is that the mind includes everything… Nothing outside yourself can cause any trouble. For us there is no fear of losing this mind. There is nowhere to come or to go…” If we can slowly question, understand, and start to believe this, a shift happens. We can’t escape ourselves, so the joy and vitality we’ve felt, maybe especially in childhood, can never truly disappear. It’s just beneath the surface, waiting to be found again. Where else would it go? It can feel hard to believe this,

1. Freedom When people first learn about existentialism, it can seem like a depressing, boring, or hopeless philosophy. But for those practicing existential psychotherapy (or at least addressing existential themes in therapy), dealing with some of the difficult or terrible stuff in an authentic and brave way can help people experience the most precious gems of life: real joy, love, desire, wildness, belonging. Here is a list of what Irv Yalom boiled down to the four “existential givens” that we wrestle with: our essential freedom and ultimate responsibility; our isolation and unavoidable loneliness; the meaning we must provide or find in life’s meaninglessness; and the inevitability of our death and the deaths of everyone we love. People often come for psychotherapy to deal with one or more of these existential givens without even realizing that is what they need to do. Unless you studied philosophy or psychology in grad school, you probably didn’t come across these concepts. But they are everywhere, and these 4 existential givens are a very helpful way of seeing the fundamental struggles we all face (or avoid facing). We each get to make choices and deal with the consequences, never knowing what will actually happen as

I have been a therapist in private practice for 25 years, but I was in therapy for about 15 years before that. I started as a client when I was 11 years old; and over the years, I had great therapists and terrible therapists. Here is what I learned from being a mental patient and from working with (and witnessing) a wide variety of colleagues for decades. 1. There’s no need to be defensive or awkward about needing help and support. I called myself a “mental patient” above, on purpose. Look, I seriously needed therapy. I had to see a shrink. A check up from the neck up. Some serious psycho-archaeology. Where is all this shame about needing therapy coming from? I grew up in the D.C. area where a ton of people (kids and adults) were in therapy in the 70s and 80s. It seemed totally normal and lots of people could get it (insurance paid for it much more freely than it does now). It’s sad how awkward people are about it, and it’s now 50 years later. 2. Everyone is different, and no therapist or therapy is the “best”: There are approximately 1.7 trillion different “approaches” to therapy, and each of these

Emotional intimacy is the glue that keeps relationships strong, vibrant and fulfilling. It’s about understanding, accepting and connecting with your partner on a deep, psychological level. However, building and maintaining emotional intimacy can be challenging. At the Colorado Center of Clinical Excellence, we understand this challenge and are committed to helping couples foster stronger bonds. Before we delve into how therapy can help, let’s first identify some signs that you may need to build more emotional intimacy in your relationship: Feeling Disconnected: Experiencing a sense of isolation or disconnection, even when sharing the same physical environment, could be a potent sign of dwindling emotional intimacy. It’s like you’re co-existing rather than truly connecting on an emotional level. This situation often implies that you and your partner are not emotionally synchronized, which can gradually erode the fabric of your relationship if left unaddressed. Lack of Communication: Maintaining regular, open and sincere communication is a crucial pillar for any relationship. If you notice that your conversations have dwindled down to surface-level exchanges or have ceased entirely, it’s a significant warning sign that should not be overlooked. Avoiding Conflict: While it may be natural to want to steer clear of disagreements or heated