Although I have been a therapist for more than half of my life, I have never attempted to put into writing the insights that I have gained in working with the wonderful people with whom I have been so privileged to help. Now, with this blog, I hope to share some constructs and hypotheses I have developed, and more that I continue to discover.
To be clear, my observations are no more than case studies, and my findings are anecdotal. However, I do believe with great certainty that there is truth to be gained from working with similar cases over the years, and to have taught personality theory at the post-secondary level for three decades. The interaction of the classic theories of psychological personality development and my own application in the practice setting inform my musings, thus creating some "Ah Ha!" moments, for me, and for my clients.
I am a psychologist in private practice in Washington, DC. I also teach one or two classes per semester at The Catholic University of America, in the Department of Psychology. I am the former Director of the Counseling Center at Catholic, and my practice currently serves not only the general public, but also students attending small, satellite campuses and programs in Washington from several universities around the country. My practice has always centered on young people and issues with which they deal, which can often be framed as identity development. Identity encompasses a wide range of issues from self-esteem, to anxiety and depression, and to sexual orientation and gender identity. I even can stretch the identity work into couples counseling. As I have aged, so, too, has my clientele, and one of my biggest "Ah Ha!" moments was realizing how identity may develop in adolescence, but without revisiting that development, often in psychotherapy, that identity that formed in early adulthood remains with us for life! Anyone of any age can benefit from examining the constructs of how one views themselves and their world.
In the coming days and weeks, I intend to write about these "Ah Ha!" moments, and to offer ways of looking at ourselves and the way we view our particular experience and personal history. Again, these are my professional opinions, and not research findings, but I sincerely believe in what I do, and about that which I will put to paper. Thank you for following me!
John C. Parkhurst, Ph.D.
