Blog: Musings on Current Events Archives - Page 21 of 25

Shrink at the Movies: “The Artist” (2011)

January 25, 2012 by Ken

“The Artist” (SPOILER ALERT: CONTAINS PLOT POINTS) Seeing “The Artist” this past weekend was a delight. I primarily identify as a psychotherapist, which is how I make my living in a full-time private practice in West Hollywood (part of Los Angeles County and home to many in the entertainment business), but my avocational identity as … Read more

Shrink at the Movies: “Tootsie” (1982)

January 25, 2012 by Ken

“Tootsie” (1982) [SPOILER ALERT: CONTAINS PLOT POINTS] While it’s not technically the 30th anniversary quite yet of one of the most successful film comedies of all time (that comes December 17, 2012), I love this film so much that I’m going to celebrate its milestone anniversary early. And why not? Its stars are still relevant … Read more

Gay Men’s Relationships: How to Make It Work on Four Levels

September 22, 2020January 10, 2012 by Ken

In my psychotherapy practice recently, I have worked with a number of clients on issues of how to strengthen their relationships with a partner. In my experience and observation over 20 years of doing couples therapy, and individual therapy with clients who are working on relationship issues, I think managing a relationship comes down to … Read more

Gay Men’s Careers: The Importance of Focus and Hope in Your Work

July 19, 2019October 5, 2011 by Ken

In psychotherapy and coaching sessions with my gay male clients every day, I’ve noticed lately that a frequent focus is about work issues. This makes sense, given that the news and current events atmosphere has focused on a volatile political and economic climate: we get bombarded with news daily, from everything from Facebook to newspaper … Read more

Gay Men’s Mental Health in the Current Political Climate: A Lesson in Hope and Resilience

August 20, 2011 by Ken

As the first activities in the 2012 election season begin with events like the recent Republican Iowa Straw Poll, I have noticed an increase in reported stress in my daily practice of therapy with gay men. It seems that the rhetoric in the news daily is an irritant to the men I work with in … Read more

Memory: Blessing or Curse?

April 21, 2021July 16, 2011 by Ken

the thinker statue deposit photo 11 12 20

I thought about this recently, after a particularly busy day of sessions of clients in my practice. Is having memory a blessing, or a curse? I was moved by stories of clients who are abuse survivors, with their ability to recall the traumatically abusive incidents that happened to them in detail from various self-indulgent and … Read more

Tolerations: Coping with Everyday Stressors in Gay Men’s Lives

May 10, 2018April 9, 2011 by Ken

Gay men need support for coping with everyday stressors.

Tolerations: Coping with Everyday Stressors in Gay Men’s Lives:

I recently asked my Facebook fans to suggest a topic for a blog article. The first response I got was, “Traffic and MFSAD (MuthaFuckinStupidAssDrivers)” by my handsome and charming friend Michael Smith. So, Michael, this is for you:

I decided to expand on this topic and address what we therapist/coaches often call “tolerations”. Tolerations are Life’s little annoyances that subtly but insidiously chip away at our daily quality of life. While manageable individually, taken collectively, they can make us feel tired, stressed, worn down, despondent, and contribute to a general ennui (listlessness or dissatisfaction, boredom, tedium).

Gay Men and Alcohol: The Relationship with the Bottle

April 28, 2020March 7, 2011 by Ken

Today I wanted to write about gay men and alcohol, and what I call their “relationship” with the bottle. Over my many years as a psychotherapist, one of the most frequent issues my clients bring to me is a concern about their drinking, or perhaps their drug use. There is a wide range; some people … Read more

Valentine’s Day for Single Gay Men: Coping with Hope

February 14, 2023February 14, 2011 by Ken

Valentine’s Day, for all its lovely sentiment, is perhaps one of the most divisive holidays of the year. Everyone can enjoy New Year’s; every American can enjoy President’s Day (thankfully coming up very soon) and Independence Day; we each have a birthday. But Valentine’s Day is a “holiday for lovers”, and many single people can end … Read more

Gay Men Conquering Anxiety with… Probability??

March 24, 2020February 11, 2011 by Ken

Gay Men Conquering Anxiety: Think about how you’ve been feeling lately. Felt any anxiety? If no, perhaps get another cup of coffee, read another blog, or go back to work. 🙂 But my guess is, yes, you have felt at least some anxiety about something in relatively recent times. Like maybe this morning. I … Read more