Why Do I Do That?

by Joseph Burgo

Overview

Why Do I Do That? adapts the basic strategies of psychodynamic psychotherapy to a guided course in self-exploration, highlighting the universal role of defense mechanisms in warding off emotional pain. With easy-to-understand explanations, the first part teaches you about the unconscious mind and the role of psychological defenses in excluding difficult feelings from awareness. Individual chapters in the longer middle section explore the primary defense mechanisms one by one, with exercises to help you identify your own defenses at work. The final part offers guidance for how to "disarm" your defenses and cope more effectively with the unconscious feelings behind them. Psychological defense mechanisms are an inevitable and necessary part of the human experience; but when they become too pervasive or deeply entrenched, they may damage our personal relationships, restrict or distort our emotional lives and prevent us from behaving in ways that promote lasting self-esteem.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940162983255
Publisher:	New Rise Press
Publication date:	06/11/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Sales rank:	720,926
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Joseph Burgo, Ph.D. has practiced psychotherapy for more than 35 years, holding licenses as a marriage and family therapist and clinical psychologist. He earned his undergraduate degree at UCLA and his masters and doctorate at California Graduate Institute in Los Angeles. He is also a graduate psychoanalyst and has served as a board member, officer and instructor at a component society of the International Psychoanalytic Association. He currently writes the popular blog "After Psychotherapy" where he discusses personal growth issues from a psychodynamic perspective. His other books include The Narcissist You Know and Building Self-Esteem: How Learning from Shame Helps Us to Grow

Editorial Reviews

"This thought-provoking book explores the psychological defense mechanisms Burgo believes all people harbor. In a congenial tone, the author reiterates that human emotions and their associated defenses [are a] part of everyday life. Exercises at the end of chapters apply techniques for recognizing and defusing oppressive defenses in readers' own lives and bring the book down to a personal level, creating a valuable resource for readers."

Publishers Weekly