In psychotherapy we are primarily addressing emotional wounds. Emotional wounds can only heal in presence. In sitting with what hurts, in allowing it to hurt us, in tears, in anger, in facing our limited existence…
Posts Published by Kaif Mahmood
The therapist’s mental health
Facebook post, 7 July 2026 Today I came to know that Victor Yalom, a well-known psychotherapist, died in February this year. He committed suicide. Yalom was an existentialist-humanistic therapist, like his father Irvin Yalom, who…
The contemplative conversation
You have just had an argument with a close friend. This relationship seems to be shaking. You try to understand what you did wrong, and what the friend did wrong. You try to understand life…
Walking barefoot
The language of the body We are taught from childhood to use words for our thoughts. But we can also use words not just for the thoughts we have, but for the sensations we have….
A dog called Blacky
When I think of Blacky, I think of the wide, big eyes that looked curiously at me, asking if I love him. I think of his growls. He growled when he was happy being petted,…
Rani and Bagheera
Rani is a brown dog who lives outside my house. She is about 7 years old. I made friends with Rani when I moved to this neighbourhood three years ago. She was scared at first,…
Psychotherapy as a political practice
For any idea to mean something substantial for a human being, it must be rooted in a deeply and honestly felt emotional experience in the present moment. Else, the idea is only an intellectual entity…
The art of listening
Unlike what some may consider a quality of effective writing, the purpose of this post is not to grab your attention. Often what our attention is offered exists on a spectrum from boring to grabbing,…
The mystery of human relationship
This article was originally posted on this blog on 25 October 2021. It was lost because of a technical error, and hence I am posting it again. Kirti is a 51-year old woman. She sits…
Everyday life
As you begin to read this post, let us start with a small exercise. Bring your attention to the quality of light on the screen, which is generated by an electrical process. Now, bring your…