Imagine that there’s a Homeowner who believes his roof is leaking.

He becomes so preoccupied with this concern (despite a rational lack of evidence for it) that he calls a roofing Repairman.

After the Repairman finishes inspecting every shingle of the roof, he tells the irrational Homeowner:

“I’ve inspected every shingle and there is no leak in your roof”.

The Homeowner finally calms down — thanks to the Repairman’s reassurance.

That night, as the Homeowner lays in bed feeling relieved, a new thought pops into his head:

“Yeah — he looked at the shingles, but he didn’t look under the shingles!” …

Anthony Ashmore LCSW

Halloween is my favorite time of year, despite the fact that I’ve never been one for costumes.

I’ve always been more involved in the cinematic segment of the Horror Film Community — first as a fan and now as a Film Professional.

For me, Horror Films speak to my belief in resilience and the fortification of surviving trauma.

But more so than Horror Films, I find Halloween costumes to be a much more interesting staple of the macabre ritual we ever-so-sentimentally celebrate every October.

Within our collective memory, whether it was during the course of Elementary School or in our 20s at a Nightclub — all of us have some memory of costumes playing a role in our Halloween experience. …

There’s an intrinsic link between the Bartender and the Actor.

That link is that both roles are usually fulfilled by the same person.

At any given time in Los Angeles or New York, a restaurant patron can easily look over toward the Bar or Cocktail Lounge, only to observe a hustling Actor, actively working their night gig.

Needless to say, ambition is disruptive.

Being married to a dream can delay marriages, promotions, job consistency, mortgages, financial security — and a variety of other worldly milestones that “a normal person” may otherwise conquer quite masterfully.

Beyond being a Psychotherapist, I am also a Screenwriter and Film Professional. …

Anthony Ashmore LCSW

It was the early 1990s— and I remember laying on the shag carpet in our living room.

Back then, my favorite television station was the “USA Network.”

That particular station always had a variety of late 70s and early 80s horror films scheduled on their programming slate (all of which fascinated me, for some reason).

Even at nine years old, I was particularly intrigued by horror films — especially when visiting the video store and observing the sensational artwork on VHS cover sleeves.

But, on this particular occasion, while laying on the floor with my chin on a pillow — I absolutely could not take my eyes off the screen. …

Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder & Histrionic Personality Disorder.

We’ve all met them.

They come into our lives and then exit just as quickly — leaving you mystified as to the interpersonal trauma you’ve just experienced.

They’re the only people in your life that you seem to end up arguing with.

Whether it’s their fluctuating moods, fickle behavior, critical attitudes, or instigating rhetoric — we’ve all, at one time or another — dealt with a friend or lover who has a Personality Disorder.

In my practice, it is extremely common to encounter a variety of different Personality Disorders within my client population. …

Anthony Ashmore LCSW

I find extremes to be dangerous.

In my work, as a Psychotherapist, my role is typically that of a middle man.

My presence is not authoritarian and not necessarily passive.

I am not being paid to “give advice” and I am also not being paid to “simply listen.”

My job is to offer clinical suggestion, mediation and support — to everyone and anyone who enters my office.

Moderation, however, is the most important aspect of my work.

In stark contrast, our current societal climate has completely rejected any form of a moderate ideological construct.

You’re either a Trump-Supporting, Bigoted White Nationalist — or a Liberal, Soros-Loving Socialist who believes in Anarchy and uses terms like “comrade.” …

Anthony Ashmore LCSW

In my private Psychotherapy practice, one of the first questions I’m often approached with is “do you specialize in CBT?”

After informing them that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a cornerstone of my treatment model, I’ll ask them: “What’s your understanding of CBT and why does it interest you?”

… crickets. A blank stare. An uncomfortable silence.

It seems that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has become a trendy new clichè term to throw around a Psychotherapist’s office.

Most clients report having read about CBT in a magazine or overhearing something about it from their wealthy friend in the Hamptons.

The reality of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, however, is very different from the trendy self-help reputation its acquired through being casually written about in glossy magazines and tongue-and-cheek Brooklynite blogs. …

Anthony Ashmore LCSW

During this period of racial tension in our national timeline, I’ve been forced to confront my White Privilege.

Being a Clinical Psychotherapist and having gone through Social Work School, I’ve had a little bit more of an opportunity to contemplate the subject than the average American.

As one of my African American colleagues sat across from me in a recent supervisory session, he recounted a story of being pulled over at 3am by a Police Officer for “driving suspiciously.”

“All I was doing was driving to 711”, he said in a choked tone. “I wanted a Vitamin Water and some Starbursts. …