Musings from the Therapist's Chair
ByDavid Chang
February 28, 2025
Contemplation,Culture,Mental Health,Philosophy,Reflection,Spirituality
Marcus Aurelius (121 CE – 180CE) was a Roman Emperor and follower of the Stoicism, a philosophical tradition that prizes virtue and fortitude amid life’s challenges. Widely considered a...
ByDavid Chang
February 13, 2025
Contemplation,Culture,Mental Health,Philosophy,Reflection,Spirituality
We have entered a tumultuous time. The new US administration sends waves of uncertainty throughout the political and economic landscape. Talk of tariffs has frayed the trade...
In a recent conversation, a friend asked me the difference between reading books and scrolling on a phone: “If you lament the bus riders with their eyes locked on their screens, might you not...
I picked up the guitar at the age of 17. As a teen, I loved hard-rock music: Bryan Adams, Steven Curtis Chapman, Eric Clapton, Metallica, and many more. The brawn and sizzle of an overdriven guitar...
ByDavid Chang
December 31, 2024
Contemplation,Culture,Mental Health,Philosophy,Reflection,Spirituality
When Bankei was preaching at Ryumon temple, a Shinshu priest, who believed in salvation through the repetition of the name of the Buddha of Love, was jealous of his large audience and wanted to debate...
ByDavid Chang
December 24, 2024
Contemplation,Culture,Mental Health,Philosophy,Psychoanalysis,Reflection
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, so goes the carol. But is it really? December days are dreary and dark. Rain presses down, and the chill of winter...
ByDavid Chang
November 27, 2024
Contemplation,Culture,Philosophy,Psychoanalysis,Reflection,Spirituality
A few summers ago, the plants on my rooftop patio wilted after a long heat-spell. I was busy preparing my dissertation defence and neglected to water them consistently. Baking in...
ByDavid Chang
November 14, 2024
Contemplation,Culture,Mental Health,Philosophy,Reflection,Spirituality
As a counselling therapist, I listen to people everyday. It’s a demanding skill that requires constant practice. Listening is the crux of my profession, but it also feeds my soul and nourishes...
ByDavid Chang
October 11, 2024
Contemplation,Culture,Mental Health,Philosophy,Reflection,Spirituality
Shakespeare described the human form as a “mortal coil” that we shuffle off in death. For Hamlet, life is a dreary work that holds neither mirth nor meaning. To slip the mortal coil is to...