BiteSize Therapy
@bitesizetherapy.bsky.social
Psychologist. Personal thoughts, not professional advice. An account for therapists.
Pinned
“Freud’s Ghost in the Machine” 🤣
A more serious offering: “The Digital Depths”
A more serious offering: “The Digital Depths”
February 6, 2026 at 5:05 PM
“Freud’s Ghost in the Machine” 🤣
A more serious offering: “The Digital Depths”
A more serious offering: “The Digital Depths”
For those overwhelmed by the depth and breadth of Rascal’s account, the Maillard reaction is not a psychoanalysis thing 🤣
January 16, 2026 at 3:39 AM
For those overwhelmed by the depth and breadth of Rascal’s account, the Maillard reaction is not a psychoanalysis thing 🤣
Did you sear the beef beforehand? I know it says you can skip that step but…
January 16, 2026 at 3:17 AM
Did you sear the beef beforehand? I know it says you can skip that step but…
Although in plain English the word 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 has a connotation of adversarial belligerence, confrontation as a therapeutic technique should be carried out with courtesy and tact and, above all, with genuine curiosity.
- Frank Yeomans
- Frank Yeomans
January 13, 2026 at 9:06 PM
Although in plain English the word 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 has a connotation of adversarial belligerence, confrontation as a therapeutic technique should be carried out with courtesy and tact and, above all, with genuine curiosity.
- Frank Yeomans
- Frank Yeomans
“I’ve sometimes jokingly said that your functioning as a therapist could improve 31.6% if you would just substitute one word for another…’Both, and’ is one way, or ‘also’ vs. ‘really.’” Saying or thinking, ‘What you’re really feeling is…’ implies what you’re thinking is false.
- Paul Wachtel
- Paul Wachtel
January 9, 2026 at 8:56 PM
“I’ve sometimes jokingly said that your functioning as a therapist could improve 31.6% if you would just substitute one word for another…’Both, and’ is one way, or ‘also’ vs. ‘really.’” Saying or thinking, ‘What you’re really feeling is…’ implies what you’re thinking is false.
- Paul Wachtel
- Paul Wachtel
2/2
“Thus, the two terms (unconscious and implicit) are roughly equivalent and are mostly differentiated by who is writing and for whom.”
- Stoycheva & Weinberger, 2014
“Thus, the two terms (unconscious and implicit) are roughly equivalent and are mostly differentiated by who is writing and for whom.”
- Stoycheva & Weinberger, 2014
January 4, 2026 at 9:22 PM
2/2
“Thus, the two terms (unconscious and implicit) are roughly equivalent and are mostly differentiated by who is writing and for whom.”
- Stoycheva & Weinberger, 2014
“Thus, the two terms (unconscious and implicit) are roughly equivalent and are mostly differentiated by who is writing and for whom.”
- Stoycheva & Weinberger, 2014
1/2
“Where analysts talk about unconscious processes, nonpsychoanalytic branches of psychological science employ a different label, 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑡, in the belief that this term is more value neutral, scientific, and empirical…”
“Where analysts talk about unconscious processes, nonpsychoanalytic branches of psychological science employ a different label, 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑡, in the belief that this term is more value neutral, scientific, and empirical…”
January 4, 2026 at 9:22 PM
1/2
“Where analysts talk about unconscious processes, nonpsychoanalytic branches of psychological science employ a different label, 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑡, in the belief that this term is more value neutral, scientific, and empirical…”
“Where analysts talk about unconscious processes, nonpsychoanalytic branches of psychological science employ a different label, 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑡, in the belief that this term is more value neutral, scientific, and empirical…”
Many intuitively resonant ideas and common cultural notions come from the psychoanalytic tradition (e.g, identity crisis, inferiority complex, defense, projection) but are often not seen as psychoanalytic. There is an idea that if it makes sense, it isn’t psychoanalysis.
- Nancy McWilliams
- Nancy McWilliams
December 30, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Many intuitively resonant ideas and common cultural notions come from the psychoanalytic tradition (e.g, identity crisis, inferiority complex, defense, projection) but are often not seen as psychoanalytic. There is an idea that if it makes sense, it isn’t psychoanalysis.
- Nancy McWilliams
- Nancy McWilliams
Alpha function acts on the data from a person’s total emotional experience…it renders this emotional experience comprehensible and meaningful…By naming it alpha function, Bion hoped to be able to keep the concept open to avoid the premature imposition of meaning.
- Joan & Neville Symington
- Joan & Neville Symington
December 30, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Alpha function acts on the data from a person’s total emotional experience…it renders this emotional experience comprehensible and meaningful…By naming it alpha function, Bion hoped to be able to keep the concept open to avoid the premature imposition of meaning.
- Joan & Neville Symington
- Joan & Neville Symington
“My clinical experience with treatments that seemed to founder…because conflict and psychic pain that should have been verbalized were instead being expressed largely through somatic discharge.”
- Joyce McDougall
- Joyce McDougall
December 30, 2025 at 2:55 AM
“My clinical experience with treatments that seemed to founder…because conflict and psychic pain that should have been verbalized were instead being expressed largely through somatic discharge.”
- Joyce McDougall
- Joyce McDougall
Wilfred Wonderland 🤣🌲
December 22, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Wilfred Wonderland 🤣🌲
Surprisingly, “One Battle After Another” is not about Therapy Twitter.
December 22, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Surprisingly, “One Battle After Another” is not about Therapy Twitter.
Are you now too distinguished for “Tryst for the Mill”? 🤣
December 19, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Are you now too distinguished for “Tryst for the Mill”? 🤣
A patient communicates on three channels (verbal, non-verbal, reactions evoked in others). The therapist communicates this way, too. Thus, it’s vital for a therapist to believe in their approach. If the therapist speaks inauthentically, 2 out of 3 channels will be playing something different.
December 19, 2025 at 12:25 AM
A patient communicates on three channels (verbal, non-verbal, reactions evoked in others). The therapist communicates this way, too. Thus, it’s vital for a therapist to believe in their approach. If the therapist speaks inauthentically, 2 out of 3 channels will be playing something different.
As this article wonderfully illustrates, the spurning of psychoanalytic thought has led to serious deficiencies in training programs.
Many new clinicians are trained to treat symptoms, but what happens when those symptoms are just the tip of the iceberg? Patients often arrive with longstanding problems that go far beyond what manuals or methodized interventions can address.
1/
1/
December 10, 2025 at 4:08 PM
As this article wonderfully illustrates, the spurning of psychoanalytic thought has led to serious deficiencies in training programs.
4/
“Shouldn’t a therapist be excellent at understanding symptoms, wise about people, and extraordinary at relationship maintenance?”
- Michael Karson (2018)
“Shouldn’t a therapist be excellent at understanding symptoms, wise about people, and extraordinary at relationship maintenance?”
- Michael Karson (2018)
December 9, 2025 at 9:40 PM
4/
“Shouldn’t a therapist be excellent at understanding symptoms, wise about people, and extraordinary at relationship maintenance?”
- Michael Karson (2018)
“Shouldn’t a therapist be excellent at understanding symptoms, wise about people, and extraordinary at relationship maintenance?”
- Michael Karson (2018)
3/
“This is, of course, exactly what it means, but clinicians hear it in a pathologizing context, as if you just said that you want to be the best member of a family. When Tom Brady discusses his pursuit of excellence, no one chides him for making the other quarterbacks feel bad…”
“This is, of course, exactly what it means, but clinicians hear it in a pathologizing context, as if you just said that you want to be the best member of a family. When Tom Brady discusses his pursuit of excellence, no one chides him for making the other quarterbacks feel bad…”
December 9, 2025 at 9:40 PM
3/
“This is, of course, exactly what it means, but clinicians hear it in a pathologizing context, as if you just said that you want to be the best member of a family. When Tom Brady discusses his pursuit of excellence, no one chides him for making the other quarterbacks feel bad…”
“This is, of course, exactly what it means, but clinicians hear it in a pathologizing context, as if you just said that you want to be the best member of a family. When Tom Brady discusses his pursuit of excellence, no one chides him for making the other quarterbacks feel bad…”
2/
“The whole idea of a treatment manual or a programmed approach is that therapeutic expertise is not needed to implement it. Some colleagues treat the desire to become excellent as if you were trying to surpass both them and your patients….”
“The whole idea of a treatment manual or a programmed approach is that therapeutic expertise is not needed to implement it. Some colleagues treat the desire to become excellent as if you were trying to surpass both them and your patients….”
December 9, 2025 at 9:40 PM
2/
“The whole idea of a treatment manual or a programmed approach is that therapeutic expertise is not needed to implement it. Some colleagues treat the desire to become excellent as if you were trying to surpass both them and your patients….”
“The whole idea of a treatment manual or a programmed approach is that therapeutic expertise is not needed to implement it. Some colleagues treat the desire to become excellent as if you were trying to surpass both them and your patients….”
🧵
“In much of contemporary psychotherapy, 𝑒𝑥𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 is a dirty word. In many programs focused on so-called evidence based treatment - which has become a synonym for manualized or at least simplified treatments - excellence is relevant only to writing the manual…”
“In much of contemporary psychotherapy, 𝑒𝑥𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 is a dirty word. In many programs focused on so-called evidence based treatment - which has become a synonym for manualized or at least simplified treatments - excellence is relevant only to writing the manual…”
December 9, 2025 at 9:40 PM
🧵
“In much of contemporary psychotherapy, 𝑒𝑥𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 is a dirty word. In many programs focused on so-called evidence based treatment - which has become a synonym for manualized or at least simplified treatments - excellence is relevant only to writing the manual…”
“In much of contemporary psychotherapy, 𝑒𝑥𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 is a dirty word. In many programs focused on so-called evidence based treatment - which has become a synonym for manualized or at least simplified treatments - excellence is relevant only to writing the manual…”
An AI therapist will know you about as well as Spotify Wrapped.
December 5, 2025 at 8:21 PM
An AI therapist will know you about as well as Spotify Wrapped.
Rascal’s neighborly discussions be like… 🤣
a man in a suit and tie is screaming and says i want the truth
ALT: a man in a suit and tie is screaming and says i want the truth
media.tenor.com
December 4, 2025 at 3:18 AM
Rascal’s neighborly discussions be like… 🤣
“Psychotherapy is no simple life hack. In our age of the quick fix, therapy is a long-term commitment that requires patience and nuance on both sides.”
- Aaron Balick
- Aaron Balick
December 3, 2025 at 8:33 PM
“Psychotherapy is no simple life hack. In our age of the quick fix, therapy is a long-term commitment that requires patience and nuance on both sides.”
- Aaron Balick
- Aaron Balick
The practice of psychotherapy 𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑘𝑠 much easier than it is. Once trainees get in the chair, illusions of ease fall away.
Becoming a psychotherapist is a popular choice as a second career in mid-life - but do you really know what you’re in for?
www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/ever...
www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/ever...
Everyone wants to be a psychotherapist now. But should they?
How many times have you heard someone say 'I'm thinking of retraining as a therapist' this year? As the professional ranks swell with new recruits, Dr. Aaron Balick explains what it really takes
www.gq-magazine.co.uk
December 3, 2025 at 8:33 PM
The practice of psychotherapy 𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑘𝑠 much easier than it is. Once trainees get in the chair, illusions of ease fall away.