Wisdom Leaves Room to Be Wrong

We are all playing the game of life, but the rules that shape our behaviour are not always fixed. How do competition, cooperation, culture, and power influence the way we live? And what happens when we decide to change the rules?

When a young person refuses therapy, the answer shouldn’t automatically be that nothing can be done. Consent is not always a starting point; sometimes it is something that develops through trust, understanding, and meaningful connection. Drawing on decades of clinical experience, this article explores how therapists can move beyond a simple yes-or-no understanding of consent and help young people become willing participants in their own change.

Human beings need to belong, but belonging can become dangerous when it demands loyalty at the expense of compassion, independent thought, or connection with others. From family conflict and parental alienation to online communities and global tribalism, this article explores how the need to belong can turn into exclusion and hatred—and why we need forms of belonging that unite us without requiring us to dehumanize anyone else.

How do you help a teenager whose explosive behaviour has taken over family life? Through a challenging family case, this article explores the importance of changing the patterns that reinforce behaviour while helping young people develop accountability, emotional tolerance, and respect for boundaries. At the heart of meaningful change is a powerful realization: “I’m not entitled to their yes.”