Psychotherapy

Autonomy, Alignment, and the Psychotherapy of Systems

Autonomy, Alignment, and the Psychotherapy of Systems

The emergence of artificial intelligence that can update itself, modify internal models, and act with partial autonomy raises a set of questions that sound surprisingly familiar to psychotherapists. Concerns about misalignment, harmful optimisation, or systems losing...

Why Questions Feel Like Criticism in the Schizoid Process

Why Questions Feel Like Criticism in the Schizoid Process

People whose internal world is organised around a schizoid process [this is jargon for people who need a lot of safety in their life] often experience ordinary questions as criticism. This reaction is not about being ‘overly sensitive’, nor is it a sign of...

What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Self-Identifying as ADHD

What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Self-Identifying as ADHD

Self-identifying as having Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) means recognising in yourself a pattern of symptoms that seems to fit ADHD and using that label personally—often before (or instead of) a formal clinical diagnosis. In the UK, formal diagnosis...

Another Thought about Why We Put Things Off

Another Thought about Why We Put Things Off

Often when I really need to get something done I find that I don’t. Having spoken with many people, I find that there is a familiar set of circumstances: the creeping delay, the mental circling, the sudden urge to tidy the kitchen instead of starting the task that...

Is the Flow State a Form of Dissociation?

Is the Flow State a Form of Dissociation?

The flow state, described by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi as “being completely involved in an activity for its own sake,” is often hailed as the pinnacle of human productivity and creativity. But from a psychotherapeutic perspective, it prompts a deeper question: is flow a...

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