Scenes Through the Narrow Window Personal and Professional Reflections of a Clinical Psychologist

by Popkin, Ph.D, Samuel J.

• ISBN13: 9798350999570
• ISBN10: 8350999578
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2025-06-13
• Publisher: BookBaby

Summary

"Scenes Through the Narrow Window" is a series of 20 essays, referred to as "Scenes," which discuss several topics of importance to this former professional clinical psychologist and psychotherapist. Some are deeply personal discussions of the author's struggles with his own mental health problems as well as more academic/philosophical commentary on important issues that many individuals can relate to in their own lives (e.g., maturity, forgiveness, gratitude, loss, growth, and change.) The work serves as an intimate memoir of personal and professional experiences and is written with both passion and compassion for the human condition. The title of the book refers to the author's experience of insight into important life issues, insights which often are experienced in unpredictable, brief moments, which he describes as "narrow windows of opportunity" to give expression to inspiration.

Author Biography

Sam Popkin, Ph.D, is a retired clinical psychologist who served 28 years in five Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers. He also maintained a private practice in psychotherapy with emphasis on the diagnosis and treatment of depression, anxiety disorders, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Dr. Popkin grew up in the lovely seacoast town of Swampscott, Massachusetts. He graduated summa cum laude with Honors in Psychology from Bowdoin College (Brunswick, ME) in 1977. He obtained his Masters and Doctoral degrees in Clinical Psychology and Adult Development and Aging at the University of Southern California. He had postdoctoral training in geriatric psychology at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute. Dr. Popkin has authored/co-authored several journal articles and book chapters with emphasis on issues in cognitive aging. His primary avocation is music, and he is a self-taught keyboard player who has enjoyed playing in several bands over the years. He presently resides in Northport, Alabama with his wife Mary (Weekes) and their adored cat and dog, Mija and Gracie, respectively. Dr. Popkin's son and daughter live in Atlanta, GA.