The Portable Therapist

by MCMAHON, SUSANNA

• ISBN13: 9780440506034
• ISBN10: 0440506034
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 1994-07-10
• Publisher: Dell

Summary

Drawing from questions her patients ask most, the author teaches how to deal with the issues you car about. With compassion, wisdom and enlightening ideas, this book encourages you to be true to yourself, develop social interests and discover the positive, capable, confident human being you are meant to be.

Author Biography

Dr. Susanna McMahon is the author of The Portable Therapist, The Portable Problem Solver: Having Healthy Relationships, and The Portable Problem Solver: Coping with Life's Stressors. Educated at the University of Houston, she has worked for the federal government in Texas and in Germany, and was director of the Community Mental Health Program in Madrid.

Table of Contents

Introduction	xiii
I. Philosophical Issues	3	(42)
Who am I?	3	(2)
What is the meaning of life?	5	(3)
What is the meaning of paradox?	8	(2)
What makes the world so crazy?	10	(3)
Why is there so much pain?	13	(2)
Why am I so afraid?	15	(2)
Isn't it "normal" to be insecure, jealous, possessive, depressed, or miserable?	17	(2)
Why can't life be fair?	19	(2)
What effect does my past have on me?	21	(2)
What can I do about my future?	23	(2)
Why don't we need guilt and anxiety?	25	(3)
Does evil exist?	28	(2)
Why am I good?	30	(2)
What is therapy?	32	(3)
Why can't the therapist change (or fix) me?	35	(2)
What is success?	37	(2)
What does God have to do with it?	39	(1)
What is the question?	40	(1)
What is the answer?	41	(4)
II. Conceptual Issues	45	(60)
What is within my control?	45	(3)
What is Self-Esteem?	48	(2)
Why don't I have Self-Esteem naturally?	50	(2)
Does Self-Esteem mean being selfish?	52	(2)
Can too much Self-Esteem lead to self-centeredness?	54	(2)
How can I learn to have Self-Esteem?	56	(3)
Why don't the self-help books work for me?	59	(3)
If I have Self-Esteem, will I be happy?	62	(2)
If I have Self-Esteem, will I be perfect?	64	(2)
When will I have enough Self-Esteem?	66	(2)
How then will I know when I am okay?	68	(2)
How do I accept myself as I am?	70	(3)
How can I accept myself if I don't agree with or understand myself?	73	(2)
How do I begin to love myself and take care of myself?	75	(3)
What is wrong with having illusions?	78	(3)
Why can't I keep my defenses?	81	(3)
How can I learn to let go?	84	(2)
How do I get over my past?	86	(2)
Who is this inner child?	88	(3)
What can I do for my inner child?	91	(5)
How can I stop the pain?	96	(3)
Why must I go through more pain?	99	(2)
Is there a relationship between pain, Self-Esteem, and exercise?	101	(4)
III. Individual Issues	105	(62)
I've been doing this all my life; why change now?	105	(2)
Why am I so angry?	107	(3)
Why do I feel that I am out of control?	110	(2)
Why am I depressed?	112	(3)
Why am I so afraid of my feelings?	115	(2)
I have everything I need; why am I miserable?	117	(3)
Why am I so resentful?	120	(3)
Why am I so confused about everything?	123	(2)
I sometimes have crazy thoughts; does this mean I am crazy?	125	(3)
Why am I so critical (judgmental)?	128	(3)
Why am I so possessive?	131	(3)
Why am I always crying? (Or, why do I never cry?)	134	(3)
Why can't I stand up for myself?	137	(3)
Why can't I say "No"?	140	(3)
How can I stop abusing alcohol? Drugs? Food? Sex? Others? Myself?	143	(3)
I was an abused child--why do I abuse myself?	146	(3)
I am doing so much and nothing's working--what's wrong?	149	(3)
What am I missing?	152	(3)
Why do I feel that I am not here or anywhere?	155	(2)
Why do I sometimes want to die?	157	(3)
Why do I feel so weak when I ask for help?	160	(2)
Why do I feel so different from others?	162	(5)
IV. Relationship Issues	167	(58)
What is Social Interest?	167	(2)
What is a good relationship?	169	(3)
What is a codependent? How can I stop being one?	172	(3)
Why can't I have a good relationship?	175	(3)
Why can't I fall in love with the "right" person?	178	(3)
What is the role of sex in the relationship?	181	(3)
Why can't I change my partner?	184	(3)
If I change, will my partner?	187	(3)
What can I do for others?	190	(3)
What is wrong with putting others first?	193	(3)
How will I know when to give to others and when to say "No"?	196	(3)
What is a "dysfunctional family"?	199	(3)
Why am I still afraid of my mother or father?	202	(3)
Why do I hate?	205	(3)
What can I do when others hate me?	208	(3)
When do I know that it is time to leave the relationship?	211	(4)
How can I fall out of love?	215	(4)
What is good communication?	219	(6)
V. The End	225
What is a "Natural High"?	225