• Author of Trauma: The Invisible Epidemic, psychiatrist Paul Conti, M.D. provides a comprehensive review of mental health and character functioning on the Huberman Lab Podcast. 

• Psychologist, London School of Economics professor, and author of The Perfection Trap, Thomas Curran explores perfectionism on Hidden Brain.

• One perspective on “progress” in psychotherapy. 

• Understanding the dynamics and systemic qualities of functional and dysfunctional teams. 

• Co-authors of The End of Adolescence: The Lost Art of Delaying Adulthood, Nancy Hill and Alexis Redding offer a unique perspective on the increasing prevalence of inhibited maturity in this piece from The Atlantic. 

• Peter Coleman of Columbia University discusses the significance, necessity and ultimate purpose of conflict, conflict resolution and repair across numerous social systems. 

• In a recent trip to Paris, I came upon Pierre-Paul Prud’hon’s depiction of “The Abduction of Psyche by Zephyrus to the Palace of Eros,” now on exhibit in the Louvre; this acclaimed work elaborates and deepens the Cupid/Psyche relationship so pivotal in Greek mythology. 

Please check out the library of available blog articles and podcast recordings.

• Russell Kennedy on Anxiety



• Becoming Unrecognizable in Your Partner's Eyes

The Men's Group Seminar: Robert Greene’s “The Laws of Human Nature”

Robert Greene is the controversial author of numerous books and international bestsellers including The Laws of Human Nature (2018), Mastery (2012), The 50th Law (2009), the Art of Seduction (2001), and The 48 Laws of Power (1998). Not formally trained in psychology and highly resistant to being categorized as a “self-help" author, Greene attempts to delineate the psychological factors and social dynamics influencing human behavior. 

He is especially interested in narcissism, power, manipulation, and behavioral derivatives of “the shadow” that he deems universal. Nevertheless, he has been criticized by those who suggest he merely provides a blueprint for executing devious coercive tactics garnered from “the dark side” of human nature. Other views of Greene, however, argue that he has made important contributions to organizing the mysteries and unfathomable qualities of social behavior and human response patterns into taut principles and rules that ring true with their cultural, historical, and psychological relativism. I have been especially interested in how he conceptualizes approaches to managing toxic people and situations, and describes the necessary negotiation of individual self-agency with the conventions ("codes") of social and cultural systems.

In the next in-person meeting of the Men’s Group Seminar on Saturday, October 28, 2023 (10:15 to 11:30 AM), we will sample Greene’s perspective by focusing on his “laws of human nature.” His Google Talk “The Laws of Human Nature” and the detailed summary on YouTube of the Laws of Human Nature (Parts I and II) will be our focus. 

To register for this upcoming seminar, please see the directions below.

The Relationship Group Seminar: Communication Styles and Their Impact on Relationships

Communication is perhaps the most common presenting issue for couples seeking therapy, and arguably the most significant determinant of satisfaction in intimate relationships. Yet the term is so widely used that it lacks specificity and pragmatic meaning. That is, communication may refer to any number of dimensions of the emotional and behavioral dynamics between partners and may vary in its role in other relationship domains such as conflict resolution. Further, researchers argue that communication is a theoretical construct consisting of numerous inter-related factors that go beyond merely what is spoken. For example, a range of nonverbal communications between partners has been described including the capacity to emotionally “code” and “decode,” defensiveness, expectancies and appraisals, and perspective-taking (i.e., to feel attended to/understood so that you are more likely to consider your partner’s perspective). Well-known are John Gottman’s “four horsemen of the apocalypse,” scientifically determined negative communication tendencies that capture both verbal and nonverbal patterns in couples that are highly predictive of separation and divorce.  

In the next in-person meeting of the Relationship Group Seminar on Saturday, October 28, 2023 (11:45 AM to 1:00 PM), we will approach the topic of communication from the perspective of styles. This perspective captures both the dominant orientations of each member of the couple as well as the dynamics that ensue from their respective orientations. Four main individualized styles (passive; aggressive; passive-aggressive; and assertive) and three communication dynamics (the mutual constructive pattern; the demand-withdraw pattern; and the mutual avoidance pattern) have been identified. Other experts, including linguist Deborah Tannen, emphasize the influence of gender and culture on communication styles. Reviews of Tannen’s work have found several of her style continuums (e.g., competitive vs. affiliative; direct vs. indirect) especially applicable to couples.  Our seminar will elaborate on this material but the main focus will be the TEDx Talks by Amy Scott (Build don’t break relationships with communication: connect the dots) and Beth Luwandi Lofstrom (Communication is ruining your relationships). 

To register for this upcoming seminar, please see the directions below.

Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Group: One Opening

There is currently one opening in an ongoing psychodynamic psychotherapy group in my practice. Referrals are welcomed (please contact me at 949-338-4388 or at jt@jamestobinphd.com). This therapy group utilizes the emerging dynamics among group members as a basis from which to examine characteristic ways of thinking, feeling, and relating to others. The group is a therapeutic experience and entry will occur only after a pre-group screening interview and preparation phase.