The Art of Listening

We often think of our conscious experience as one driven by language. Our thoughts are shaped by words; our emotions processed in conversation. Yet, while language is a sharp tool for expression, the level of detail and nuance it affords us can also get us lost. And like many other animals, we communicate our needs before we’re able to speak. So what if consciousness, the quality of being us in the privacy of our mind, was in fact ...

The children we once were will always stay with us. And when we drift back to treasured moments from childhood, we find that our play was a great source of growth. Games, toys, and play-pretends helped us explore the world; they taught us how to interact with others and express our ideas for the first time. In fact, playing was integral to our personal development. So why did we ever give it up? And what happens when we continue to...

When you think of a familiar memory, colors, images, scents and emotions can come to mind. Our imaginations hold the ability to transform even the simplest of experiences into sensorial memories. It is this same creativity that resides at the heart of the therapeutic hour. Inside the confines of the therapy room, we possess the power to recreate images that encapsulate our inner worlds and give voice to the thoughts and emotions th...

In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, some words of advice keep coming back around: “Look after yourself”, “self-care first”... Simple, in theory. But how do we truly prioritize our well-being? What can we do to build confidence and strength, and balance out our emotions, when life challenges us? Today’s guest has long grappled with these fundamental questions. 

Jamie Cromer Grue is a licensed clinical psychologist and ps...

Cultures are dynamic and powerful forces that shape our identities and influence our perspectives on the world. They serve as bridges, effortlessly connecting the depth of our heritage with the construction of our futures. But for Asian Americans, the balance between traditional values and modern ideals poses a distinct challenge as they strive to find their place within society.

Between visibility and invisibility, the pervasiv...

If you tune into this podcast every week, you know that we often start our episodes with a moment of reflection. We speak about identity, self-expression, faith, understanding, and deep moments of existential questioning.

This moment of connection is what the Art of Listening is all about. It's a collection of voices dedicated to depth talk therapy and understanding, and it will be complete in a handful of episodes. In the spirit o...

Music is an art form that connects us to others, beyond language and culture. It strikes a chord that moves us both physically and emotionally. In this sense, whether we're artists or amateurs, music can be a powerful outlet and refuge for our emotions and experiences. It holds the remarkable ability to facilitate feelings, transformation, and unity. Today's guest believes that too, and draws a parallel between music and the transf...

Finding meaning and purpose is an integral part of the human experience, which is why, in psychotherapy, in religion, and in many other areas of our lives, we look for guidance. This universal need for contemplation can be thought of as spirituality. Yet, in the field of psychoanalysis, spiritual thinking is often overlooked, as it departs from traditional psychoanalytic theories. Today’s guest argues otherwise.

Amelio D’Onofrio has...

From the first beat of our hearts to our final moments of connection, love weaves its way through every aspect of our lives, guiding and enriching us. This life force goes beyond our conventional understanding of romance. Love is also the bonds we share with our friends, the support and care we receive from our families, and the self-love and compassion we cultivate within ourselves.

As natural as it can be, love is complex. Dev...

Love and belonging are some of the fundamental human needs necessary for survival. But as profound as they are, living with others, resonating with them, and “fitting in” is a delicate balancing act. Our sense of identity is deeply influenced by the acceptance, comfort, or rejection we experience from those around us, but certain aspects of ourselves will not align comfortably with others. 

As psychoanalysts, we are mindful of a...

The field of psychotherapy and analysis is a dynamic space that constantly evolves, and we are all determined to embrace these changes authentically. Over the past 31 years, Gloria Myers Beller and I have been sharing genuine, profoundly authentic conversations. The depth and breadth of our discussions as colleagues and true friends is a big part of what has inspired me to create The Art of Listening. 

As a seasoned psychotherapist,...

Among the myriad of beginnings, endings, losses and changes that punctuate our lifetimes, few are as challenging as the act of bidding farewell to a long and rewarding career. Over the years, substantial time, labor, and heartfelt devotion are invested, forging identities and finding purpose. So when the familiarity, the comforting sense of routine, and the deep relationships we have nurtured come to an end, we can experience emoti...

What does it mean to truly know who you are? How do you represent you to you? As we navigate our lives, we find ourselves constructing an identity through expression; assembling a mosaic of behaviors, interests, and beliefs. These characteristics, Johanna Arenaza refers to as 'body, heart and soul.’

Johanna is a practicing psychoanalyst, an award-winning and internationally competitive dancer. Between her home country of Spain and ...

Knowing others is a fundamental part of our human experience... But it is also an impossible task. And while empathy brings us closer to understanding this ‘otherness’, it still maintains a quality of difference –that those we empathize with are inherently distinct from ourselves.

But perhaps there is a space within our minds where we can understand each other simply as we are, or once were, before we shaped our own journeys – as e...

The weight of grief descends upon us all at some point in life. It arises from loss, whether of people or parts of ourselves we can no longer recognize. 

When it comes to the unbearableness of grief, our primal instincts may be to swallow the feelings and push forward. But it is only when we allow the feelings of mourning and embrace what loss means that we can unmask the transformative nature it holds.

Through his extensive ...

Throughout our lives, in our quest for meaning, we often seek out intellectual pursuits, believing that the more we know, the more we will be able to understand ourselves and the world around us. 

While education equips us with theoretical knowledge, an excessive emphasis on intellectualism can overshadow the profound growth opportunities pure human connection is capable of, which often transcends the confines of logic. Similarl...

Nancy McWilliams is renowned for her immense contributions to the field of Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis. Her career, which spans six decades, has included roles in teaching, private practice, writing, and speaking. Of the many, Dr. McWilliams’ awards and achievements include the Gradiva prize, the Erikson Scholar award, and leadership, scholarship, and international academic excellence awards from Division 39 of the American Ps...

Academia is a critical part of any scientific or medical practice. It provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and research findings that form the foundation of these fields. But in a field like talk therapy, which relies on nuance and circumstance, academia also has its limitations. 

On the other hand, taking an approach to the practice which blends personal feelings, experiences, and biases alone can be equally as dangerous to pa...