by Gina Simmons, Ph.D. “I throw up every day before work now,” Karen said in her therapy session. “When I hear his voice, I shake. I can’t sleep, I’ve lost weight. This job is KILLING ME! “ she cried. Karen worked for a bullying boss who’s recent tirades escalated to an unbearable level. The last [...]
by Gina Simmons, Ph.D. Walking about the tree-lined, red-brick covered campus of San Diego City College, you can feel a hopeful energy. This multi-cultural, inner-city campus attracts bright teenagers, middle-aged professionals, recovering addicts and suburban housewives all seeking some sort of growth and advancement. As former adjunct psychology faculty at City College, I feel a [...]
By Gina Simmons, Ph.D. Ben watched his wife from behind as she washed dishes. Feeling warm and sexual he swooped behind her and grabbed her around the waist. “Ahhhhh” she screamed whirling around with a pot in her soapy hands. “You scared me! You know I hate being grabbed from behind!” she shouted, throwing the [...]
By Gina Simmons, Ph.D. How many of us dream of getting back at the office bully, the dishonest friend, or the sadistic professor? A client discovered that his wife was having an affair with her boss. My client reported that he sneaked into the office and wiped out the boss’s computer hard drive in a [...]
by Gina Simmons, Ph.D. Before he became famous for the Star Wars films, writer/director George Lucas made a movie called THX 1138. In this film, set in a dystopian future, opposite-sex passion was forbidden and punishable by death. Two lovers of the opposite sex try to hide their feelings, only to find it impossible to [...]
By Gina Simmons, Ph.D. Getting a cancer diagnosis scares the holy heck out of even the most steel-boned of humanoids. The stress of doctor’s appointments and the confusing array of treatment options, insurance limitations and medical bills often engenders fear and frustration. After suffering biopsy’s, x-rays, surgeries and getting “properly pilled and properly billed,” (as [...]
By Gina Simmons, Ph.D. She called me a “stupid bitch!”, said Angela, aged 14, referring to her exasperated mother. Angela’s parents brought her to my office complaining about her defiance, her angry outbursts and poor school performance. Angela shouted and cursed at her parents and they shouted and cursed right back. Mom and Dad routinely [...]
By Gina Simmons, Ph.D. “I think my husband is sexually abusing our baby,” a counseling client confided. The young mother reported disturbing observations including: mysterious abrasions on her daughter’s rear end, the child screaming every time the dad approached, and the kicker, “I saw him naked with an erection in the babies’ room last night!” [...]
By Gina Simmons, Ph.D. This week a man in rural eastern Kentucky, furious about how his wife prepared his eggs, shot five people dead, then killed himself. Stanley Neace’s hostile behavior over the previous few months prompted eviction proceedings from his mobile home park residence. Apparently his family lived, for a long time, with an [...]
By Gina Simmons, Ph.D. Ever have one of those days when everything seems to go wrong? Recently I returned from vacation to find our refrigerator had died a horrible death. Greeted by the lovely aroma of decomposing food, our plans to unpack and relax promptly self-destructed. After filling three large bags with waste from the [...]
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