love

Tell Me Everything

By Elisabeth LaMotte / November 30, 2024

If only we therapists could concoct a reliable strategy to help our clients prevent affairs. If only we could convincingly illuminate the heartbreak and damage and devastation in advance to help motivate adults who find themselves deep in the throes of an intense crush to carve out a different path. The trouble typically is that…

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Nina Nesbit and “When You Lose Someone”

By Spencer Northey / March 22, 2022

The authenticity and simplicity of these lyrics and the video caught me today. Like with many songs on this blog, the words and emotion feel like I’m communicating directly with a client. They echo what I’ve heard clients express to me over the years, and especially these past years. I feel a lump welling in…

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Hadestown and Orpheus’s Tragic Reactivity

By Spencer Northey / September 9, 2021
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The Orpheus and Eurydice tale broke my heart when I first learned it in high school, and I have been in the bargaining phase of acceptance of it ever since. It was one of the many contributors to my decision to become a relationship therapist. I’m probably not kidding. In short, the story is about…

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The Beatles, “Hold me Tight,” and Emotion-Focused Therapy

By Spencer Northey / August 26, 2021
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    This post is about both Hold Me Tight by the Beatles, one of their least favorite, but still famous songs AND the groundbreaking couple therapy book Hold Me Tight by Dr. Sue Johnson. (Note: I chose to post the cover from the movie Across the Universe because the sound and video quality is better than…

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R.E.M. and the Gottmans’ Four Horsemen

By Spencer Northey / June 15, 2021
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It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine) Recorded 1987 By Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michal Stipe Performed by REM World serves its own needs, listen to your heart bleed Tell me with the rapture and the reverent in the right, right You vitriolic, patriotic, slam,…

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Marvin Gaye, Antiracism, and Therapeutic Differentiation

By Spencer Northey / May 27, 2021
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What’s Going On By Al Cleveland, Renaldo Benson, and Marvin Gaye You know we’ve got to find a way To bring some lovin’ here today  (full lyrics at the end of this post) In 1971 Marvin Gaye released the hauntingly beautiful song “What’s Going On” in response to the police brutality, inequality, and suffering he…

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Bebe Rexha and Heartbreak

By Spencer Northey / May 18, 2021
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  I’m a mess, I’m a loser I’m a hater, I’m a user I’m a mess for your love, it ain’t new I’m obsessed, I’m embarrassed I don’t trust no one around us I’m a mess for your love, it ain’t new  (see full lyrics at the end of this post) Dear Mess, If your…

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Coat of Many Colors

By Spencer Northey / May 7, 2021
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Coat of Many Colors Written and Sung by Dolly Parton My coat of many colors That my momma made for me Made only from rags But I wore it so proudly (see full lyrics at the end of this post) This song tells a beautiful story of a mom’s differentiation, and how it supported her…

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One Step at a Time

By Spencer Northey / April 27, 2021
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One Step at a Time Sung by Jordin Sparks Written by Robbie Nevil, Lauren Evans, Jonas Jeberg and Mich Hansen We live and we learn To take one step at a time There’s no need to rush It’s like learning to fly Or falling in love (Just falling in love) It’s gonna happen when it’s supposed to happen Then…

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Take Yo’ Praise

By Spencer Northey / April 21, 2021
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Take Yo’ Praise by Camile Yarbrough We’ve come a long long way together Through the hard times and the good I have to celebrate you baby I have to praise you like I should  Vingette: Sean and Selena have been together for about 7 years, they are working through surviving the pandemic and raising a…

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