Author: elzanfrank
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The background story to my way of practice
Conventional therapy is rooted in spoken language. Beginning with Freud on the couch, it was a monologue, analysed by an analyst according to pre-ordained themes. From there it developed to where it is today, with conversation focused on the biographies and on the thought processes of the speaker, and on patterns of relationships – also…
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Suicide in Primary school children
In a previous blog, I wrote that I could do a whole blog on suicide. Little did I know that I would write a follow-up. In the past two weeks, two grade 7 boys have committed suicide in my region: Both boys attended caring schools, with committed headmasters and teachers, good governance, and proper anti-bullying…
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On Depression and Anxiety
Part two: Loss of Power and Depression A woman comes to see me. She comes because of high anxiety that is threatening her daily existence. No longer able to make even the simplest choice, e.g. what to make for supper, her anxiety about her own anxiety is now putting a stop to any attempts to…
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Are we Overemphasising Emotions?
From the ” Emotions?” post series. First some anecdotes I overhear a mother on a playground responding to her son, “But if you don’t tell me how you feel, I can’t help you.” How I wished that I could respond like a tennis umpire, “Off!” My daughter, aged 16, went off to boarding school. She…
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Motivation as Instinct: Part Two
Motivation is energy. It is a pro-life force. It is what makes life worth living. TAKING OUR CUE FROM TODDLERS: 12 major life forces Physical exploration is an inherent feature of homo sapiens. We love to explore with our bodies – after all, how did we get to migrate all over the world? This section…
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Part Two: Are We Overemphasizing Emotions?
Possible consequences of an over-emphasis on emotions: An anecdote The son of a school friend, who was rather awkward and nerdish, struggled to find a date for his final year high school dance. My friend felt really sorry for her son. How dejected he must feel. His 15-year-old sister, who later became a successful occupational…
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Motivation as Instinct
Want to know about instinct? Observe a toddler. Motivational drives are noticeably inherent in a child. Typical toddler behaviours can tell us a lot about our own natural, instinctual, genetically determined drives: We can all learn a lot about human nature by observing a toddler. In this post, I provide an overview of motivational drives…
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The Pretense of Happiness, the Existence of Despair: The Myth of Authentic Living & the Downside of Gratitude.
The world will ask you who you are, and if you do not know the world will tell you. C.G. Jung The idea of authentic living, as opposed to false living, has a long history. The idea of an inner nature that can become corrupted, resulting in an inauthentic life, is a philosophical concept that…
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Loss of Power & Depression
By definition, depression is about the loss of power. Somehow power has seeped out of your veins. Which is why you just want to lie down. Go to sleep. Give up. Die. It is all too much. You no longer have the energy or the will to take it on. It is psychological defeat. You…
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Pathways to Depression & Why Images are Necessary for Healing
In the following days I will write about Psychological factors that are pathways towards depression, as well as consequences of them. Finally I write why I believe that using only words in therapy is not sufficient for healing. The Absence of Adoration A baby is born, and there you have it – the expectation of…
Elzan Frank 