Author Archives: ajb

About ajb

I am clinical psychologist and academic coach with more than twenty years of psychotherapy, academic coaching, and training experience. I operate from my base camp in the Chesapeake Bay Country of Tidewater Virginia. I have a long-term interest in the relationship among public policy, education, mental health, poverty, and change language.

I Prefer that Tucker Carlson be Angry

Posted on November 11, 2018 by ajb

I prefer that Tucker Carlson be angry and intellectualize a great deal less. Tucker Carlson’s happiness is not the point. I listened to Tucker Carlson talk to Brian Kilmeade this past Friday (November 9, 2018), the day after an Antifa … Continue reading →

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Poverty and Living on the Edge

Posted on November 3, 2017 by ajb

Perhaps I misunderstand the article “Living on the Edge” in last week’s Rappahannock Record in Kilmarnock, Virginia but the tone suggests that any “gap” in the matrix of services for those deemed “less fortunate” points to a need for some … Continue reading →

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Opiate Dependency and Chronic Pain in the Lower-back

Posted on September 25, 2017 by ajb

100 million Americans have chronic pain. Although the U.S. makes up 5% of the world’s population, it uses 80% of the world’s opiates. Lower back pain is the most common type of chronic pain and LBP is the most-common reason … Continue reading →

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Self-hypnosis Training for Habit Control, Addictions, and Those in Recovery

Posted on September 5, 2017 by ajb

Habit control is one condition for which hypnosis and self-hypnosis training are often utilized. I refer to those patients who wish to smoke and drink less frequently, address emotional eating, and maintain more poise and calm in situations that have … Continue reading →

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Are Manners Really Important? by Ginger Philbrick

Posted on August 9, 2017 by ajb

What about Manners?  Are manners really important? Is being polite necessary, or even important, anymore? A new book to help us in our efforts to employ good manners is just off the press!  It is larger than any I’ve seen … Continue reading →

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Opioid Dependency, Habit Disorders and Self-hypnosis for Those in Recovery

Posted on June 14, 2017 by ajb

Hypnosis is sometimes called “an empty syringe,” and a properly-trained therapist can sometimes potentiate psychotherapy for opioid dependency and habit disorders via the supplemental use of self-hypnosis training. In other words, the contents of the syringe are given enhanced potency. Oyster … Continue reading →

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Replacing Obamacare: Personal responsibility and common sense

Posted on January 7, 2017 by ajb

When conservatives talk about replacing Obamacare with something that will “maintain coverage,” we should notice that they are talking about more big, paternalistic government that enables those among us who abdicate responsibility for our own circumstances. We need more personal … Continue reading →

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National Child Abuse Month: Inter-generational Plunder?

Posted on April 1, 2016 by ajb

April is National Child Abuse Month, and I am asking my friends to do three things: (1) think of deficit spending as fiscal child abuse, (2) get the term “inter…-generational equity” into the conversation and (3) hold elected representatives to … Continue reading →

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Addictive relationships: Are therapists enablers?

Posted on March 21, 2016 by ajb

Author, trainer, and therapist, John Bradshaw, speaks of addictive relationships during his presentation on the topic: Healing The Shame that Binds You. This presentation was made during his promotion of his book by the same title and was recorded by … Continue reading →

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Muslims hate the United States?: Morning Joe thinks not!

Posted on March 11, 2016 by ajb

On March 9th, Republican front-runner Donald Trump said that Muslims hate the United States, and former congressman and journalist, Joe Scarborough, devoted no small amount of time on his television program, Morning Joe, castigating Mr. Trump for putting forward such … Continue reading →

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