Breggin (2016). Rational Principles of Psychopharmacology for Therapists, Healthcare Providers and Clients. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy The Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy invited me to do an overview article about my work in the field of psychopharmacology and psychiatric drugs, including my critique of adverse drug effects (side effects). My […]
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Chapter 5 of Promoting Psychological Well-Being in Children and Families. Edited by Bruce Kirkcaldy. Palgrave Macmillan, 2015. Peter R. Breggin I have spent more than half a century as a psychiatrist and psychotherapist trying to understand human suffering. Why does every single one of us come out of childhood suffering […]
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Breggin, PR. (2015). The biological evolution of guilt, shame and anxiety: A new theory of negative legacy emotions. Medical Hypotheses 85, 17–24 The theory of negative legacy emotions proposes the first unitary concept for the biopsychosocial function of guilt, shame and anxiety, and seeks their origin in biological evolution and […]
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Breggin, PR. (2015). Understanding and Helping People with Hallucinations Based on the Theory of Negative Legacy Emotions. The Humanistic Psychologist, 43: 70-87. This article applies the new concept of negative legacy emotions to understanding and helping people suffering with psychosis and hallucinations. The theory of negative legacy emotions proposes that […]
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Breggin, PR (2008). Practicle Applications: 22 Guidelines for Counseling and Psychotherapy. Ethical Human Psychology and Psychiatry, 10, 43-57, 2008. This article describes 22 principles for the conduct of therapy or counseling, most of which are also applicable to all human relationships. The creation of a safe space and a caring, […]
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Breggin, PR (2002). From Dimensions of Empathic Therapy, Springer Publishing Company, pp. 177-89. Empathy lies at the heart of being helpful to other human beings. However, empathy does not necessarily spring forth spontaneously from us in all situations or toward all of our patients and clients. Many clients will challenge […]
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Breggin, PR (2001). Empowering Social Work in the Era of Biological Psychiatry. [The annual Ephraim Lisansky lecture of the University of Maryland School of Social Work.] Ethical Human Sciences and Services, 3(3): 197-206. Although I am a psychiatrist, it seems to me that social work, along with counseling, embodies my […]
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“A dangerous assignment,” In Howard Rosenthal (Ed.). Favorite Counseling and Therapy Homework Assignments: Leading Therapists Share their Most Creative Strategies, pp. 58-59. Philadelphia: Brunner Routledge, 2001. adangerous.pbreggin.2001.pdf
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Breggin, PR (1999). Empathic Self-Transformation and Love in Individual and Family Therapy The Humanistic Psychologist, 27(3), 267-282. ABSTRACT: Empathic self-transformation and a healing presence are key to successful therapy. Empathy, the willingness and ability to understand and care about the suffering of another person, requires a loving attitude. Love, in […]
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Breggin, PR (1997). Psychotherapy in Emotional Crises without Resort to Psychiatric Medications. The Humanistic Psychologist 25(1), 2-14. ABSTRACT: Mental health professionals are being pressured to rely upon the medical model, including psychiatric diagnosis and medication. But there are many reasons not to tum to psychiatric drugs in emotional crises, including […]
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