Question 1: What is the role of a therapist compared to the role of a life coach? Question 2: I have an 11-year-old son who is beginning to develop a mustache. I gave him chizuk. From a practical standpoint, what is the appropriate way to discuss this with him? Question 3: What is MW’s perspective on offering lavish food as a reward for extra learning? Question 4: What is TMS therapy, and is it effective? Question 5A: Is the previous caller asking about the TMS alternative approach (often associated with Dr. Sarno)? It works on the mind–body connection, and it was very helpful for me.Question 5B: I would like to share that while I strongly believe in the mind–body connection, I also chose to go on medication, and it has been very helpful. I want people to know that medication can be used alongside alternative modalities. 

Question 1-  If someone experienced trauma in childhood, can ketamine treatment be helpful? Question 2-  My elderly parents were not the best parents when we were growing up, and now my siblings and I are struggling to care for them. It’s emotionally heavy. I’ve spoken with my rov and I know what my responsibilities are and what they are not. How can I cope with the emotional weight of dealing with them? Question 3- I’m 19, and my mother is very controlling about how I dress and how much makeup I wear. I’m afraid to stand up to her because I don’t know how she’ll react. Should I confront this once and for all, or should I avoid it? Question 4- Why do some parents struggle to compliment their children and express emotional love? 

Feedback 1A: About a year ago, I reached out regarding my fear of starting EMDR, and you encouraged me to allow myself to let go. It have a major impact on me.  Question 1B: Can you help me understand why, after I processed my feelings of anger , now I find myself feeling pain. How does this work?  Question 1C: I feel drawn to explore certain painful parts of my trauma history and the emotions that come with it. At the same time, I hesitate because I’m afraid revisiting it may trigger anger toward family members. How should I approach this? Question 2- why are children and teens from dysfunctional homes fight to go back to the dysfunctional home/environment? Question 3A- My son’s therapist recommended doing a few sessions with me, explaining that this work would help my son. How does working with a parent create change in the child?Question 3B- Additionally, why would my son hit me but not hit my husband? Question 4- I recently read an interview about Spravado, and it sounded like a medication that can address almost everything. If it’s so effective, why isn’t everyone using it? 

Question 1: A weekly caller, Aryeh, reached out about a year ago regarding a dog that barked every time it saw him. He shared how much it bothered him that the dog consistently barked at him.  Question 2: Can a person rely on their gut instinct when making major life decisions—such as deciding whether to change a child’s school? If intuition can be trusted, why do people still seek guidance from others instead of relying solely on their instinct? Question 3: In my recent therapy sessions, I’ve been experiencing moments where my brain freezes. My mind becomes numb, almost physically locked. Interestingly, I’m fully functional and productive at work and at home. This internal part of me insists that I’m “making it all up” and blocks me from doing therapeutic work by telling me that my experiences aren’t real. What is happening, and how can I work with this part?Question 4: My son, who is in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade, is a perfectionist. He becomes very stuck if he does not immediately understand the Gemara, and he can't let go when something doesn’t come out perfectly. His principal suggested we address this now because it can develop into anxiety. I don’t understand the connection—how does perfectionism lead to anxiety? 

Question 1: A 15-year-old boy recently climbed a scaffolding, putting himself in a dangerous situation. What awareness should we have about why teenagers engage in risky behavior, and what can adults do when they witness or hear about a teen doing something unsafe? Question 2:  My daughter is in third grade and tends to work at a slower pace. She is usually the last to take out her sefer, and her teacher says she often does not complete her classwork and appears spaced out during lessons. The teacher suggested trying Ritalin. What are your thoughts on this, and how should a parent approach this kind of recommendation? Question 3: I know someone in his late forties who creates chaos in almost every environment unless everything goes exactly his way. What is my responsibility when observing this pattern? Am I allowed to tell his spouse that her husband may have traits of Narcissistic Personality Disorder? 

Question 1:  What is the appropriate role of a wife in setting limits at home, and when is it healthy for her to hold her ground rather than “give in”? My husband sometimes uses ice-water as a consequence for the children. Is this considered acceptable, or is it inappropriate? Question 2:  How should parents handle explaining a sibling’s ASD to the other children in the home? For example, when one child does things on Shabbos that are not allowed for others, or when his behavior is developmentally different, what is the best way to help the other children understand? Update 3: I previously called about my husband’s drinking. I wanted to share an update: we spoke openly, he sought help, and he is now sober. Our home and our relationship have improved tremendously because of it. Question 4: Is there a psychological explanation for why a person repeatedly puts themselves into unhealthy or harmful situations?