michael

Sometimes, clients will come to me to help make “an important decision.” Over the years, I’ve discovered and developed a protocol for making decisions, that seems to benefits folks.1 Often, their issue is a relationship matter, as many counseling issues are relationship-oriented. However, what I offer here is a structure for many other issues as well

One of my favorite counseling stories from the Old Testament is the account of Jacob wrestling with God “by the ford of the river Jabbok.” (Book of Genesis, Chapter 32:22-32). The larger account is full of metaphorical elements which can be of use in counseling sessions. But here, I want to focus on only one.

Let me begin with a story I’ll frequently share with clients. The Old Monk and the Cobra Somewhere in the Indian subcontinent, there’s a village. Beside the village is a small mountain, and on top of it is a shrine. The people of the town, who climb the rugged path for their spiritual exercises, regularly

This is one of those “my father taught me” statements. And that’s how I speak of it whenever I teach it to my clients. Truth be told, I don’t recall either him or my mother specifically speaking those particular words – yet I can honestly state their very presence spoke them every moment of their

Last year, as every year, ended with a narrative about the Holy Birth of a Prince of Peace. Born in innocence and vulnerability Now, The Seer, as the Elder Year – is ready to let go, move on, and perhaps find some rest. He leans his furrowed forehead onto the Mighty Tree of Life. His

Even from my youth, that forceful solo Bass air from the midst of G F Handel’s Messiah is seared into the musical memory chambers of my brain, including the frantic energy of the orchestra with its stirring lead-in. Yet it has never made its way to become one of the memes of the Holiday season – as

Let me begin with an illustration. Let’s say I ask a particular person (person A) this question: “How are you feeling today?” And he answers, “I’m feeling depressed.” That’s a level one question – a data-level question, and he gives me a data-level answer – “depressed.” Now I ask him a second, meta-level or meaning-level

The other day, I pulled from my living room bookshelf a small volume I’d long forgotten – a small paperback with a blue cover by the American poet, William Stafford, with the title “You Must Revise Your Life.”[1] I don’t remember when or why I purchased it, perhaps Robert Bly had mentioned it. And strange

Apologia: Truth be told, I don’t write about Burning Man from having direct experience. I’ve had clients who were “burners”, and have observed from a distance this annual ritual (according to a BM ad) “emphasizing art, self-expression and self-reliance.” Now, I must admit my real interest in Burning Man is that my son Michael has

Some (many) years ago, when I was in training for the work I do today, a guest trainer named Richard Bandler (of NLP fame) was working with my group of ‘therapists-in-training.’  And I vividly recall him telling us the following story: Richard had met a man who came to him for therapy – with the question