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They like me. They really like me!

Posted in About This Site, Interviews, Thoughts and Musings, tagged , , , , , , , , on June 21, 2017| 1 Comment »

2d274907839718-sally-field-oscar-1985-speech-today-150217_27422441b72ca02103b8ba97bd2931d4I love prizes. Everyone loves prizes. Who doesn’t love winning a prize?

So…I am deeply thrilled (and delighted) to announce that this very blog (my blog!) The People’s Therapist, has just been named a top mental health blog of 2017 by OnlineCounselingPrograms.com.

So far, no statuette (although I’m clinging to the hope one might arrive in the mail.) But hey, it’s recognition, and I like recognition.

Here’s the list of winning blogs (there are thirteen, and they’re listed alphabetically, so yes, I’m down there near the bottom, but that in no way reflects my comparative grandeur.)  And yes, of course I urge you to take a peek at those other, dear little lesser blogs when you get the downtime.  Because I’m gracious like that.  Big-hearted.  Classy.

Anyway, here’s a nice long, special interview with moi-self, talking all about being The People’s Therapist, writing The People’s Therapist and reflecting the awesome glory of The People’s Therapist.  Please enjoy.

I want to thank Lauren Delapenha, and everyone at OnlineCounselingPrograms.com, as well as the lovely and talented rapscallions at AboveThelaw.com.  But most of all (he says, barely containing his emotion) I want to thank you, my fans.

I love you.  And now, choking back sobs, I’ll step (with immense dignity) offstage as the sound of the orchestra swells in the background.

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Please check out The People’s Therapist’s legendary best-seller about the sad state of the legal profession: Way Worse Than Being a Dentist: The Lawyer’s Quest for Meaning

And now there’s a new Sequel: Still Way Worse Than Being a Dentist: (The Sequel)

My first book is an unusual (and useful) introduction to the concepts underlying psychotherapy:Life is a Brief Opportunity for Joy

I’ve also written a comic novel about a psychotherapist who falls

in love with a blue alien from outer space. I guarantee pure reading pleasure: Bad Therapist: A Romance

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Required Reading

Posted in About This Site, Current Events, Guest blogger, tagged , , on August 31, 2015| Leave a Comment »

51AWxyv-23L._SX322_BO1,204,203,200_My book about law and lawyers, “Way Worse then Being a Dentist,” has been referred to quite often as “indispensable,” “a classic” and, of course “required reading” for lawyers, potential lawyers, future lawyers and their friends, neighbors and the people who love them.

But, naturally, there’s “required reading” and then there’s…required reading. And now I’m both.

The lovely and talented Martin Underwood, of Life Productions, in London, UK has placed me right smack at the top of his “bibliography” in the handbook for his “More Than Law” course for lawyers looking to career transition.

If you’re interested in learning more about Martin’s coaching and the course he offers through Life Productions, click here. Martin’s a clever guy, a former barrister with an Oxford degree and a winning smile, and I can’t imagine a few weeks spent doing what he tells you would be time badly spent.

If you’d like to place a toe in the water, you might check out a webinar we recorded together a few months back.  That was loads of fun – and you can listen to it here.

At very least, I would strongly recommend you tackle the list of suggested reading, starting right at the top: Screen Shot 2015-08-31 at 8.47.39 AM
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If the post above wasn’t enough to convince you…here’s another enthusiastic exhortation to please check out The People’s Therapist’s legendary best-seller about the sad state of the legal profession: Way Worse Than Being a Dentist: The Lawyer’s Quest for Meaning

And…my first book is an unusual (and useful) introduction to the concepts underlying psychotherapy: Life is a Brief Opportunity for Joy

My latest book is a comic novel about a psychotherapist who falls in love with a blue alien from outer space. I guarantee pure reading pleasure: Bad Therapist: A Romance

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moved beyond words

Posted in About This Site, Current Events, tagged , on July 7, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Screen Shot 2015-07-07 at 7.24.19 PM

Here’s the original post.

I can’t summon my usual wit in this instance, folks.  As a Jew and a gay man and a human being I’m humbled and moved and…well, thank you, Eva Mozes Kor.  Thank you.

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Please check out The People’s Therapist’s legendary best-seller about the sad state of the legal profession: Way Worse Than Being a Dentist: The Lawyer’s Quest for Meaning

My first book is an unusual (and useful) introduction to the concepts underlying psychotherapy: Life is a Brief Opportunity for Joy

My latest book is a comic novel about a psychotherapist who falls in love with a blue alien from outer space. I guarantee pure reading pleasure: Bad Therapist: A Romance

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one MILLION

Posted in About This Site, tagged , , on November 11, 2013| Leave a Comment »

photo(1)The odometer rolled over today:  1,000,000 lifetime views.

Thanks for reading.
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Here’s my new book – a comic novel about a psychotherapist who falls in love with a blue alien from outer space – Bad Therapist: A Romance. I guarantee pure reading pleasure…

Please also check out The People’s Therapist’s legendary best-seller about the sad state of the legal profession, Way-Worse-Than-Being-Dentist

My first book is an unusual (and useful) introduction to the concepts underlying psychotherapy: Life is a Brief Opportunity for Joy

(In addition to Amazon.com, my books are also available on bn.com and the Apple iBookstore.)

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Huffington and a-Puffington

Posted in About This Site, Interviews, Radio, Thoughts and Musings, tagged , on April 29, 2013| 1 Comment »

talking-headsThe People’s Therapist has joined the bloviating classes…I’ve now appeared as a talking head on a real live (sort of) television talk show – HuffPost Live.

Anyway – here’s the link.

The segment seemed to go well, although I had the unnerving if not atypical sensation of being the hot-headed radical spouting fire at a garden party.  Hélas, c’est mon destin.  At least my hair looked good.  At least, I think it did.

This time around, blessedly, the other panelists weren’t biglaw partners, law professors and authors of books with titles like “You can be super-duper happy as a lawyer if you just smile a lot!”  Been there, done that.

For a rather gloomier view of the current nightmare that is biglaw, click here.

It must be admitted, it is fun to be on tv and get to talk.

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My new book is a comic novel about a psychotherapist who falls in love with a blue alien from outer space. It’s called Bad Therapist: A Romance. I guarantee pure reading pleasure…

If you enjoy these columns, please check out The People’s Therapist’s book about the sad state of the legal profession, Way Worse Than Being a Dentist: The Lawyer’s Quest for Meaning

My first book is an unusual (and useful) introduction to the concepts underlying psychotherapy: Life is a Brief Opportunity for Joy

(My books are also available on bn.com and the Apple iBookstore.)

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blue alien from outer space

Posted in About This Site, Current Events, Thoughts and Musings, tagged , , , on March 22, 2013| 1 Comment »

My new book is out.  It’s a comic novel about a psychotherapist who falls in love with an alien from outer space.

From start to finish… pure reading pleasure.

Buy it at Amazon Bad Therapist: A Romance.  Buy it at BN.com.  Also available via the Apple ibook store.

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A Reading/Book-Signing in Hong Kong

Posted in About This Site, AboveTheLaw series, Current Events, Interviews, Thoughts and Musings on October 15, 2012| 3 Comments »

First – yes, this blog, and my columns on AboveTheLaw.com, are coming back to life – or will be shortly. I’m just waiting for the new book to come out (and no, the new book is not what you’re expecting.)

More immediately, for all my Hong Kong readers, here’s a fun event coming up on the evening of November 20th, 2012, featuring wine and canapes:

I look forward to the opportunity to meet more of my readers and share a few thoughts about the madness of biglaw. Hope you can make it.

Will

PS: If you’re in NYC On October 26th, 2012 and would like to hear me opine upon the divine absurdities attendant to biglaw, please come to the 2012 Fall Symposium of the National Association of Legal Search Consultants (NALSC), where I’ll be a featured speaker – information is available here.

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If you’re interested in the scientific and philosophical underpinnings of psychotherapy, you might enjoy my first book, Life is a Brief Opportunity for Joy

My second book takes a humorous look at the current state of the legal profession, Way Worse Than Being a Dentist: The Lawyer’s Quest for Meaning

(Both books are also available on bn.com and the Apple iBookstore.) 

For information on my private practice, click here.

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Judge a Book by its Cover

Posted in About This Site, Current Events, Thoughts and Musings, tagged , , on December 2, 2011| 3 Comments »

The paperback version of my first book – Life is a Brief Opportunity for Joy
is now available on Amazon.com.

The terrific new cover is by Christine Sullivan, of cstudiodesign.  I hope you’ll take a look.

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I’m back.

Posted in About This Site, AboveTheLaw series, Current Events, tagged , , , , , , , on October 8, 2011| 19 Comments »

The new book is available as an ebook or paperback via Amazon Way Worse Than Being a Dentist: The Lawyer’s Quest for Meaning and BN.com and as an ebook in the Apple ibookstore.

Sorry for the wait.

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Not Worth It

Posted in About This Site, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on April 13, 2011| 86 Comments »

I was kidding around with some of the guys at my gym, tossing around the question – would you fight Mike Tyson for $3 million?

One of them joked – I think he heard this on Howard Stern – that he’d fellate Mike Tyson for $3 million. He could spend the first $1 million on mouthwash and retire on the rest.

Then another guy spoke up, a sometime professional heavyweight boxer. (I’m not making this up, he really has boxed, for big money, not too long ago – and has plans to do so again.)

“It’s not worth it. Mike would destroy you. There would be no retirement.”

He went on to explain what he meant. He knew from experience – this guy had been in the ring. You’d have more than bruises – you’d have concussions, brain injuries, damaged bones and joints. You’d never be the same – and it wouldn’t be worth it. You’re better off not having $3 million but appreciating the finer things, like being able to walk and talk and think.

I saw his point.

Biglaw is also not worth it, even for big money. That’s because it, too, destroys you – just like Iron Mike.

A lawyer client, a fifth year at a big firm on the West Coast, mused to me the other day – “This job wouldn’t be so bad if I didn’t end up crying alone in my office so much.”

“You mean, it wouldn’t be so bad if it didn’t suck?”

“Yeah,” she said. “That’s pretty much it. Imagine doing this for ordinary money. No one would consider doing this for ordinary money.”

No one would consider fighting Mike Tyson for ordinary money, either. And it’s not worth it for $3 million. Big law isn’t even worth it for $160k a year.

Don’t believe it? Allow me to elaborate.

The process begins with sleep deprivation – plain, simple sleep deprivation. Not sleeping. Staying up all night and facing sarcasm if you plan to take the following day off.

One of my clients brought a pillow into work, so she could put her face down on her desk and sleep for an hour at a time. Her officemate saw her, and told her what a good idea it was. Then she brought in a pillow, too. Only at a law firm.

You might not think sleep deprivation is a big deal. Hell, you’re a machine. You don’t need sleep. All-nighters? No sweat.

Sleep deprivation is like binge drinking. There’s a machismo around staying up all night, night after night – like doing ten shots of tequila. You’re tough. Not a problem.

Later, as you puke your guts out and pray for sweet release, you realize you were being an idiot.

Read a few scientific studies on sleep deprivation and you will understand it fries your brain and leaves you an emotional wreck. You can’t think straight, your immune system crashes, you fall apart. As one of my senior associate clients put it, “I thought I was unflappable when I got here. I’m flapped.”

Naturally, if you aren’t sleeping, you’re also not having a life. So relationships dissolve, friendships fade, your pet starts living with your parents. And you start thinking about boinking that guy from the anti-trust group, even if he isn’t much to look at.

Okay. So why is there sleep deprivation at big law firms?

(more…)

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2010 in review

Posted in About This Site, tagged on January 2, 2011| 4 Comments »

The stats helper monkeys at WordPress.com mulled over how this blog did in 2010, and here’s a high level summary of its overall blog health:

Healthy blog!

The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads Wow.

Crunchy numbers

Featured image

The Louvre Museum has 8.5 million visitors per year. This blog was viewed about 240,000 times in 2010. If it were an exhibit at The Louvre Museum, it would take 10 days for that many people to see it.

In 2010, there were 126 new posts, not bad for the first year! There were 520 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 60mb. That’s about 1 pictures per day.

The busiest day of the year was December 15th with 11 views. The most popular post that day was I suck at law.

Where did they come from?

The top referring sites in 2010 were abovethelaw.com, Google Reader, facebook.com, en.wordpress.com, and abajournal.com.

Some visitors came searching, mostly for the people’s therapist, people’s therapist, the peoples therapist, peoples therapist, and the people’s therapist blog.

Attractions in 2010

These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.

1

I suck at law December 2010
40 comments and 1 Like on WordPress.com,

2

Fighting back from a bad review February 2010
32 comments

3

Maybe you’re not cut out for this place April 2010
35 comments

4

Extremely Versatile Crockery November 2010
45 comments

5

When the emptiness swallows you whole February 2010
28 comments

…and while I’m crowing about the year’s achievements, please take a look at my new book!

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A book

Posted in About This Site, tagged , , , , , , on November 19, 2010| 8 Comments »

You can order it on Amazon.  It’s also available on bn.com.

Drop by my office and I’ll sell you one in person, signed and personalized.

You can even purchase it as an ebook for the Kindle or the Nook or iPad .

Thank you, everyone, for your support of this project.

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I do it all for you, my fans

Posted in About This Site, AboveTheLaw series, Thoughts and Musings, tagged , , on February 14, 2010| Leave a Comment »

The People’s Therapist now has fans.  Literally.

I’ve created a “fan page” on Facebook.

To become a “fan” please go to my Facebook “fan page” and click “become a fan.”

Voila!

You will subsequently become eligible for all the rights and privileges that befit a loyal fan of The People’s Therapist.

Mostly, that means I can send you updates about the site and perhaps the publication of a book or an event I’ll be featured in – that sort of thing.

It will also make me feel good.

Thanks.

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What’s all this about a “people’s” therapist?

Posted in About This Site, tagged , , , , , , on January 15, 2010| 4 Comments »

This blog responds to two BAD things and one GOOD thing about psychotherapy.

First, the BAD things.

It’s expensive:  I slide my rate down to whatever you tell me you can afford.  And I mean it.  (If you don’t believe me, it’s on my website:  www.aquietroom.com.)   I’ve seen people for $200 per hour and I’ve seen people for $1 per hour, because that’s what they each could honestly afford.  They all get the same therapy.  But I can only see so many people at once, even with the groups.  This blog addresses that problem.  Here’s a space where I can share the ideas of psychotherapy with everyone.  Until I can get a book in print (which might be soon), this is what I’ve got – a public space, free to all comers, to spread the ideas I believe in – and to try to help.

It’s pretentious:  I keep a Sigmund Freud bobble-head doll in my office to remind me of two things – that Freud was a genius – and I shouldn’t take myself (or Freud) too seriously.  The ideas that change lives make you say “ah-ha!” and see something differently. Freud concocted some crazy notions (remember “penis envy”?) and some brilliant ones (the unconscious.)  The “Ah-ha” ones stuck around.  If you’re not getting an “ah-ha” from this blog, let me know.  As my old therapist, Lena Furgeri, used to say – “STAY ON MY ASS!”  Feedback is welcome.  I’m the People’s Therapist.  You’re the People.

And the GOOD THING:

Psychotherapy changes lives:  Louis Ormont, one of the inventors of group therapy, told me his dream was to make psychotherapy available for everyone – to put it in schools and all over the globe.  He started therapy groups in high schools in New York City.  “Imagine,” he said, “if children took an hour a week for emotional education, to learn to put their thoughts and feelings into words.  It could change the world!”

I agree with Lou.  There are a lot of ah-ha ideas here.  I want to get them out to you – and hear your thoughts.

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Please Don’t Expect What You Expect From a Therapist

Posted in About This Site on January 14, 2010| Leave a Comment »

The idea is to do something new.

I do not wear Bill Cosby sweaters, or sensible brown shoes.  Or seem vaguely bored.

I do not have a noise machine grumbling outside my office.  I work out of my apartment.

I’ve been a patient.  That’s how I ended up a therapist.

Welcome to The People’s Therapist.

Not your grandmother’s therapist.

On the other hand…maybe I am your grandmother’s therapist.

Does that weird you out?

Please put your feelings into words.

That’s what I’ll be doing.

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