Oedipal Complex 2: Putting Out the Fire: Addiction, Male Connection, and the Work of Recovery image

Oedipal Complex 2: Putting Out the Fire: Addiction, Male Connection, and the Work of Recovery

In my work with men struggling with addiction, I have often found that the addictive behaviour itself is only part...
James Leitch
August 12, 2026
The Oedipal Complex 1: When a Son Becomes His Mother’s Partner image

The Oedipal Complex 1: When a Son Becomes His Mother’s Partner

One of Freud’s most enduring—and controversial—contributions to psychology was the Oedipus complex, named after the...
James Leitch
August 12, 2026
It's Never Too Late to Become Who You Were Meant to Be image

It's Never Too Late to Become Who You Were Meant to Be

One of the most common things I hear from clients is, "I wish I had figured this out years ago." Sometimes it's a...
James Leitch
August 4, 2026
Recovery Beyond Shame: Rethinking the Moral Language of the 12 Steps image

Recovery Beyond Shame: Rethinking the Moral Language of the 12 Steps

The 12-Step program and principles of Alcohol Anonymous has helped millions of people find freedom from addiction....
James Leitch
August 1, 2026
Lighthouse, Not Lifeboat: A Different Way of Thinking About Therapy image

Lighthouse, Not Lifeboat: A Different Way of Thinking About Therapy

"You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to navigate them." One of the metaphors that has become central to my...
James Leitch
August 1, 2026
G.O.D. : Gift of Despair: When Hitting Bottom Becomes the Beginning of Healing image

G.O.D. : Gift of Despair: When Hitting Bottom Becomes the Beginning of Healing

Recently, a client came to therapy carrying an overwhelming sense of shame. They had begun the difficult work of...
James Leitch
August 1, 2026
When the Problem Is Not the Problem: A Jungian Perspective on Psychological Growth image

When the Problem Is Not the Problem: A Jungian Perspective on Psychological Growth

One of the most significant shifts in my work as a psychotherapist has been recognizing that the presenting problem...
James Leitch
July 30, 2026