Category Archives: Defense Mechanisms

The most prominent psychological defense mechanisms, including repression, denial, idealization, splitting and projection. This is the category for you.

Snobbery and Pretentiousness

Posted on October 4, 2012 by Joseph Burgo

Twice within the last six months, I’ve heard the 18-year-old son of friends use the expression “put to shame.” The first time, he told me that Lea Michele’s rendition (Glee) of “Don’t Rain on My Parade” put Barbra Streisand’s version … Continue reading →

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Projecting and the Law of False Attribution

Posted on August 14, 2012 by Joseph Burgo

I’ve been meaning to write this post for more than a year now; from the beginning, I’ve had this particular title in mind although I’m not 100% sure that it’s the right one. If anyone has a better suggestion for … Continue reading →

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‘Hard’ and ‘Soft’ as Character Traits

Posted on June 12, 2012 by Joseph Burgo

I haven’t written a post in two weeks — unusual for me — because during that period, I have felt almost overwhelmed by the events in my life, mostly enjoyable and of great meaning to me: my oldest son’s 21st … Continue reading →

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Vacation Breaks in Psychotherapy and Defenses Against Need

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Joseph Burgo

Clients often react to their therapists’ vacation breaks as a kind of “abandonment”, responding in ways that shed light on their feelings about neediness and dependency. Continue reading →

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Emotional Dependency in Psychotherapy

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Joseph Burgo

If psychotherapy is to be effective, the client must to a degree become emotionally dependent upon the therapist. Continue reading →

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