A mention in the trade press...

[Dr. Richard Grossman]

Hi everybody,

FYI, the lead story from the trade newspaper that is mailed to all New England psychologists: 

http://www.masspsy.com/leading/8_9.10_market.html

Thank you all for participating and making this the special place that it is. 

Richard

[teartracks]

[CB123]

Wow.

I'm glad for the positive press for you, Dr. G.  Something about it makes me feel a bit shakey and exposed though. 

I think I had just completely lost sight of the fact that this is a public forum--maybe more so since the board has been closed to new members, perhaps?  It did make me go back through some old posts and remove what felt too easily identifiable.  There's a LOT of them though! 

CB

[CB123]

Guest,

We all have our scars and fears from living with N's and what they have done to us.  They are all different. 

You've just seen mine.

CB

[Dr. Richard Grossman]

Hi CB,

Don’t worry--New England psychologists can’t hurt you unless you see them.  

But seriously, I understand.  This Board is usually such an out of the way place, I too get lulled into thinking what I write won’t be seen elsewhere—and I use my real name.  But you never know--and it’s always better, when possible (and it’s not always possible) to restrict identifying information.

The other point I want to make is that (in meteorological terms) this publicity/exposure was simply a microburst.   The reporter e-mailed me out of the blue and asked how it was when she googled “Massachusetts psychologist” my name appeared near the top, and what SEO did I use.  I had no idea what a SEO was (search engine optimization program), nor did I know why my name appeared near the top.  So she interviewed me to find out what I “did”.  The idea that anyone would interview me about “marketing” anything was hilarious to me—since the “m” word I am preoccupied with is (no, not “money”) but “meaning”.  So, I crawled back into the moldy basement where I slowly started constructing this web site a decade ago and had a good laugh.  Which is not to say I’m not proud of where this project has gone.  I feel very lucky (and less alone) to “know” all of you, to have learned about your lives, the good parts and bad, and to think this site (which is a part of me) has had a positive effect...and lucky to have suffered and rejoiced (in my own particular ways) along side all of you for over ten years.  

Richard

[Ales2]

The article stresses the importance of finding the right fit with a therapist. I don't think this can be underestimated. I found my last therapist by reading his book and knew he would understand me. 

Congrats to you Dr. G. This site has also been very helpful to me while I was in therapy - it was great to be able to express feelings about therapy itself with other like-minded people and frequently it helped me stick with it.

 

[Dr. Richard Grossman]

Guest,

I can’t speak for the rest of the Board, but absolutely no apologies are necessary as far as I am concerned.  You’ve always been a valued member.  I’m not sure under what circumstance I would take you up on your generous offer, but I tell you what, if anything happens to me (due to the randomness of the universe) write an e-mail with those words to my daughter.   I’m sure she’ll get a kick out of them.  (She’ll probably be the owner of some well-known “foodie” restaurant in NYC by then—not too hard to find!)

and

Ales2,

Thanks.  I’m glad the Board helped you stick with your therapist—it sounds like you found a good one…



Richard

[teartracks]

Dr. G.,

I seem always to be the one asking this question.  Can you give us an update on any changes you have in mind for the board?

tt

[sKePTiKal]

Hey CB! I feel the same way you do about being identified through my posts - especially as I add more & more details, and current events. I know enough about what is possible on the techie-backend side of of the software & servers... to justify that worry, some. One time, I even erased all my old posts, I was so scared.

It's not that I want to hide from everyone, mind you. In fact, I've been trying to push myself lately to come out from behind whatever shred of my last ego-defenses still exist, here. But, the first time around between my version of what happened to me - and my mom's version - was so awful, so "sensational" (exagerated & exacerbated), and I was so "stigmatized" (that would be humiliated and discredited; not believed) - that I simply can't get past the "what ifs" - the worst that could happen - i.e., my brother & mother finding out what I've written about them. For one thing - it'll be all about them. AGAIN. And I'll be to blame &tc. AGAIN.

Then, there is the fact that as I heal and grow - I'm contradicting myself. Changing my mind about things. Gosh; that's embarassing! But necessary, I think. Processing my chronology of events, to try to get it to read like a high school history textbook (and not the latest action movie script) does open up new ways of looking at things... and putting them firmly "in the past" - or "let go of", in emotional terms. Lately, my brain's been in overdrive - the chattering mind is completely ADD right now - and I've got ideas, and directions, and just "stuff" running through it so fast... that I'll start a great big long post... and then just delete it... because somehow I know - it's just mental energy and the "content" is just not important to anyone - not even me. Maybe that's a side-effect of not obsessing so much on the old feelings; the old wounds... and my monkey mind is looking for something new to make me "important" - a legend in my own mind.

Unnecessarily.

[Dr. Richard Grossman]

Dr. G.,

I seem always to be the one asking this question.  Can you give us an update on any changes you have in mind for the board?

tt

Hi tt,

The only potential change that I sometimes ponder concerns allowing new members to join.  The Board has been delightfully peaceful, but (some may think), at the expense of getting adequate responses to posts.  I do not envision going back to the way things started (when anyone, including guests, could post), or even “open admission” to membership (when guests could not post but anyone could join)—if I allowed either of these policies, because of the numbers, I would be quickly overwhelmed.  At the height of the “open admission” period the Board was getting over 6000 posts per month—the bulk of which I read, or at least skimmed.  So, I’ll either let things stay the way they are (with a terrific group of people—all of whose posts I enjoy reading) or allow “limited admission”—application (e-mail about oneself and the reasons one wants to join) plus $25 good-faith donation to the Board???

Perhaps Board members, including yourself, could share your thoughts about this…

Richard

[Dr. Richard Grossman]

Hi Guest,

Thanks for your response!

As for the $25, I would rather order something to be sent to you which you wanted...like a book? Maybe you could set up a dynamic wish list of stuff you want!

Unfortunately, for over 30 years I've been unable to tell my wife, my 3 step-children, and my daughter (only 25 years) what I want (stuff-wise).  Every birthday/holiday I have to apologize profusely...(Perhaps this lacuna dates back to my 9th birthday when the gift from my parents/mother was an academic book entitled:  "Beethoven's Nine Symphonies"...)

Richard

PS  I  haven't read the book yet (it's on my shelf)--but my favorite piece of music in the world is the second movement of Beethoven's 7th Symphony.  What could all this mean???

[Hopalong]

Hmm.

I think people without voices don't think they deserve to want anything, like a present. With a bow on it.

Homework for you, Doc G!

If you need help in supporting the Board financially, I believe it's always all right to ask for what you need.

You sure aren't greedy.

Reading 6000 posts a day???? Lord.

thank you.

Hops

[Dr. Richard Grossman]

Hi Hops,

Thanks for your thoughts.  By the way, are you accepting new patients and do you take insurance?   

I definitely don’t need financial support in running the Board—although I appreciate all donations and see them as just another form of “thank you” (which, of course, I get plenty of in other ways).  The main reason for asking people for a donation when becoming a member (if I ever decided to go in that direction) would be to limit the numbers, and make sure people really were serious about being here (rather than a casual chat room).

If people could also respond to the other concern of my post:  are there enough active members such that posts get adequate responses?  If so, I’d be more than happy to keep the Board closed to new members (except by special request)…

Richard

[mudpuppy]

are there enough active members such that posts get adequate responses? 

I have only responded lately, not asked for responses, so I'm probably not the best one to answer this, but that has never stopped me in the past so why start now?
I think the board could use more and different perspectives and voices. Seems a might too peaceful to me.

mud

[Dr. Richard Grossman]

Hi mud,

Thanks for the input!

Richard