Michael J. Formica, EdM, NCC, LPC-r

11/07/2024

My latest blog post on Psychology Today discusses how mindfulness out of context diminishes the practice.

Mindfulness, or shamatha, is a subdiscipline of meditation. It is, in part, an exercise in nonattachment. Plot twist: Awakening to self-awareness is a destructive process.

04/06/2024

This is my latest blog lost on Psychology Today. It discusses grief veiled in anger and different perspectives--Buddhist, Taoist, yogic and post-modern psychology--on the process of grief, which is not linear, but a spiral.

Untangling the intimate intricacies of anger and loss.

01/15/2024

12/04/2023

The notion of parenting through benign neglect has recently garnered media attention. What we learn is stepping back from helicopter parenting isn't such a bad thing.

My latest post on Psychology Today.

The virtues of ‘good-enough’ parenting.

07/22/2023

This is my latest post on Psychology Today.

Update: This post was just chosen as an Editor's Choice Essential Read.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/enlightened-living/202307/grieving-the-living-losing-those-who-are-still-here

06/02/2022

This...

It is the time of year when kids are signing each other’s yearbooks. But what happens when no one wants to sign yours?

05/14/2022

02/14/2022

This...

Attempting on orders of the wife to make new friends, a nervous San Franciscan hosts a pancake party Saturday morning, and it blew up.

01/22/2022

Echoing the words of The Dalai Lama, the best way we can honor Thay is to continue his message of peace.

Zen master, peace activist, teacher of mindful living — Thich Nhat Hanh is one of the most important spiritual leaders of our time. Lindsay Kyte tells the story of what is perhaps his greatest teaching — his courageous life.

12/06/2021

My most recent blog post on Psychology Today discusses grieving the emotionally estranged parent. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/enlightened-living/202112/grieving-the-emotionally-estranged-parent

Healing the relationship you never had.

11/12/2021

Provide food & comfort this Veteran’s Day.