When the Familiar Becomes Strange
Psychotherapy and the Recovery of Perception James Tobin, Ph.D. Introduction Years ago, while watching Adrian Lyne’s 1986 film 9½ Weeks—a controversial and often provocative exploration of erotic desire and power—I was struck by a brief conversation that seemed...
Observing the Mind: On Vipassana (Insight) Meditation
Most people have had the experience of getting caught in their own mind. A thought shows up—small, almost forgettable—and then it begins pulling on everything else. One idea leads to another, then another. The body tightens, emotion builds, attention narrows. What...
Why Loving Couples Keep Having the Same Fight
How Intimate Relationships Quietly Re-awaken the Emotional Patterns We Thought We Had Outgrown James Tobin, Ph.D. Part I The Puzzle of Repetition. Why loving couples continue to re-create conflicts they recognize, predict, and sincerely wish would end. One of the more...
Does Couples Therapy Work? What 30 Years of Research Reveals About Relationship Success
Most couples wait years before seeking help—often until resentment, emotional distance, and recurring conflict have become deeply entrenched. The research is clear: couples therapy can work remarkably well, but success depends less on finding a “magic technique” and...
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