Robert W. Firestone

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Robert W. Firestone (September 8, 1930 - ) is an author, artist, and clinical psychologist whose theory (Separation Theory and Voice Therapy Methodology) integrates psychodynamic, existential, and humanistic schools of thought. His work explores how defenses against interpersonal pain and death anxiety impact people’s relationships, sexuality, and child-rearing, and predispose self-destructive and violent behaviors. He has written extensively about methods for identifing and challenging destructive thought processes that control those maladaptive behaviors

[edit] Biography

Robert W. Firestone

Robert W. Firestone, PhD, was born in Brooklyn in 1930, the son of a doctor and a fashion designer. His mother's career in fashion was an important early influence on his developing artistic sensibilities. Firestone was raised in the melting pot of New York's metropolitan area but his home in Brooklyn was near the ocean. The sound of the freighters’ foghorns late at night kindled a lifelong love of the sea and a search for adventure and personal development. The themes of the city and the sea, separately and together, are visited frequently in Firestone's work as an artist.

Firestone's desire to understand himself and people in his life led him to study psychology, while his need for a creative outlet led him to painting. He was educated at Syracuse University, received a B.A. in Psychology at the University of California at Berkeley in 1951, an M.A. in Psychology in 1954 at California State University (Los Angeles, and received his PhD in Clinical Psychology in 1957 from the University of Colorado in Denver. Firestone's postgraduate work was spent studying schizophrenia and working with patients in the extremes of emotional suffering.

From 1957 to 1979, Dr. Firestone was engaged in the private practice of psychotherapy as a clinical psychologist working with a wide range of patients, amplifying his original ideas on schizophrenia and applying these concepts to a comprehensive theory of neurosis.

Robert Firestone has been affiliated with the Glendon Association as its main theorist since the nonprofit organization’s 1982 inception. His innovative ideas related to psychotherapy, couple and family relationships, suicide, parenting, and existential issues have been the inspiration and cornerstone of the organization’s research and publications.

[edit] Robert W. Firestone, Psychologist

Firestone’s work is particularly noteworthy for its combination of theory and practice. For several decades, he has conducted an in-depth, intergenerational study of a group of families with whom he lives. This work’s objective is the general improvement of participants’ lives through an ongoing discussion of how defenses impact people's lives and of ways to challenge and change maladaptive behaviors based on those defenses.

His studies of negative thought processes and their associated affect have led to the development of Voice Therapy (Firestone, 1988), an advanced therapeutic methodology used to uncover and contend with aspects of self destructive and self limiting behaviors. Further information is available below.

Firestone has applied his concepts to empirical research and to developing the Firestone Assessment of Self-Destructive Thoughts (FAST)(Firestone, & Firestone, 1996/2006), a scale that assesses self-destructive behavior including addiction, and the Firestone Assessment of Suicidal Intent (FASI). The FAST and FASI are published by Psychological Assessment Resources (PAR).

[edit] Major Psychological Theories and Innovations

[edit] The Fantasy Bond

Firestone’s major concept, the “Fantasy Bond,” is a term used to describe an imaginary connection formed originally by the infant with the parent or primary caregiver. It also describes an illusory connection to another person that adults often attempt to establish in their intimate associations, a process that leads to deterioration in the relationship (Firestone, 1984, 1985, 1987).

Isn’t a “bond” a positive attachment? It’s important to distinguish the specific use of the word "bond” from its other uses in psychological and popular literature. It is not meant to describe “bonding” in a positive sense nor does it refer to a secure attachment between parent and child or a relationship that includes loyalty, devotion, and genuine love. In contrast to these positive meanings of the term "bond," the fantasy bond acts as a painkiller that cuts off feeling responses and interferes with the development of a true sense of self. The more a person comes to rely on fantasies of connection, the less he or she will seek or be able to accept love and affection in a real relationship.

What is the function of the fantasy bond? The fantasy bond is the primary defense against separation anxiety, interpersonal pain, and existential dread. It alleviates pain and anxiety by providing partial gratification of the infant’s emotional or physical hunger. Infants have a natural ability to comfort themselves by using images and memories of past feeding experiences to ward off the anxiety of being temporarily separated from their mother and to help reduce their feelings of hunger and frustration. When parents are often unavailable or inconsistent in meeting their infant’s needs, the infant increasingly turns to an image of being connected to them. In other words, the fantasy bond is a substitute for the love and care that may be missing in the infant’s environment (Firestone, 1984).

So fantasies alone can relieve pain? The power of the human imagination to relieve pain is extraordinary. For example, research studies conducted during World War II found that daydreaming and fantasizing about food partially reduced physical hunger pangs in people who were near starvation (Keys, Brozek, Henschel, Mickelsen, & Taylor, 1950).

In addition, children support the fantasy of connection with behaviors that relieve tension, such as thumb-sucking or rubbing a blanket, which later are elaborated into other self-soothing, self-nurturing behaviors such as drug abuse (Firestone, 1993). People develop a sense of pseudoindependence, a feeling that they can take care of themselves and don’t need other people.

Does everybody develop a fantasy bond in their intimate relationship? To varying degrees, all people have tendencies to make these imagined connections with significant people in their lives. In fact, destructive fantasy bonds exist in a large majority of couple relationships and are apparent in most families (Firestone & Catlett, 1999).

Most people have a fear of intimacy but at the same time, they are terrified of being alone. Their solution is to form a fantasy bond, an illusion of connection, love, and closeness, that allows them to maintain a certain emotional distance while relieving loneliness. However, the process of forming a fantasy bond reduces the possibility of achieving and sustaining a satisfying personal relationship (Firestone & Firestone, 2004).

What are the signs that partners have formed a fantasy bond in their relationship? People may notice a loss of spontaneity and playfulness in their relationship and be less interested in talking and listening to each other. They may develop a routinized, mechanical style of lovemaking and experience a reduction in the level of sexual attraction and desire (Firestone, Firestone, & Catlett, 2006). They may begin to withhold the desirable qualities in themselves that attracted the partner. They may begin to sacrifice their independence and individuality to become one half of a couple. They tend to substitute form for substance. For example, everyday routines are used to replace the real companionship, love, and affection that existed at the beginning. People’s capacity for self-deception enables them to maintain an internal image of closeness and intimacy, while they act in ways that contrast with any recognizable definition of love (Firestone, 1987; Parr, 1989).

[edit] The Critical Inner Voice

The critical inner voice can be thought of as the language of the defensive process. It has been defined as an integrated system of thoughts and attitudes, antithetical toward self and hostile toward others, that is at the core of an individual’s maladaptive behavior (Firestone, 1997a). The concept of the “voice” is not restricted to cognitive processes but is generally associated with varying degrees of anger and sadness.

The critical inner voice is often experienced as a running commentary in one's mind that interprets events and interactions in ways that cause the person emotional pain and distress. When people view their lives from this negative perspective, they exaggerate the consequences of their mistakes, for example, and tell themselves that they will continue to fail and that they should give up altogether. The process of believing the negative prescriptions and prohibitions of the critical inner voice leads to self-limiting, self-defeating behaviors and negative consequences. In other words, people often make their actions correspond to the self-attacks of the voice.

Are you saying that people can’t always trust their own thoughts? Yes. We have found that although most people are aware of some aspects of the voice, they may be unaware of destructive thoughts existing on a more unconscious level. For example, at times people do not realize that they are attacking themselves or that they are simply accepting a negative image of themselves. The crucial point here is that most people are unaware of the damaging effect that these thoughts are having on their emotions, their actions, and the way they are conducting their lives in general.

Is the critical inner voice like a conscience? No. The voice is not a conscience or a moral guide. Although the voice may sometimes seem to be related to people’s values and ideals, its statements against the person usually occur after the fact and are filled with self-recrimination (Firestone, 1987b). The demeaning tone of the voice tends to increase feelings of self-hatred rather than motivating people to change undesirable actions in a constructive manner. In addition, these destructive thoughts are often contradictory, as in the case of addictions. First they influence people to act in self-defeating ways and then they condemn them for those very actions–-a destructive cycle that is familiar to people with substance abuse problems (Firestone, Firestone, & Catlett, 2002, 2003).

Aren’t there positive thought processes? Yes. There is a wide range of thought processes such as self-reflection, daydreaming, fantasizing, planning constructive actions, etc. However, we are using the term “voice” to refer to destructive attacks, not to positive types of thinking. There are also seemingly positive voices of vanity that are compensations for painful feelings of low self-esteem. And there are apparently friendly voices that encourage people to engage in addictive behaviors. “You haven't had a cigarette in a week. It won't hurt to just have one. It's obvious that you're not hooked.” These voices are destructive in that they set people up to act against their own interest(Firestone, 1997a).

Is the “voice” similar to auditory hallucinations or voices experienced by psychotic individuals? Critical inner voices occur as thoughts and can be distinguished from hallucinations as in the psychoses. They are not experienced as external sensations but are a way of thinking about ourselves as though we are being talked to. Both hallucinations and the voice tend to have a parental tone, that is, a directing, controlling, evaluating, and judging quality. In the case of psychotic patients, hallucinated voices reflect a more drastic split within the personality (Firestone, 1957, 1988).

Does everybody have these destructive thoughts? Is everybody split or divided in this way? To varying degrees, all people are divided within themselves and have a basic conflict in relation to their goals and aspirations in life. On the one hand, they have feelings of warm self-regard, and traits and behaviors that they like or feel comfortable with in themselves. On the other hand, they have a harsh, judgmental, and critical view of themselves. This antagonistic point of view is expressed by destructive voices. Sometimes these destructive thoughts become intense and take precedence over people’s more realistic or rational ways of thinking. See Divisions of the Mind Chart.

How can therapists determine the extent to which a client’s behavior is being influenced or controlled by the voice? Destructive thoughts vary along a continuum of intensity ranging from mild self-reproach to suicidal ideation. Similarly, self-destructive behavior exists on a continuum that may include self-denial, self-defeating behaviors, accident proneness, substance abuse, and eventually direct actions that cause bodily harm. There is a relationship between these two continuums--an individual’s behavior is strongly influenced by his or her negative thinking (Firestone, 1986; Firestone & Firestone, 1998, 2002; Firestone & Seiden, 1990).

Mental health professionals have long recognized that self-limiting, self-destructive behaviors can be represented on a continuum of seriousness or severity. Robert W. Firestone and Lisa Firestone believed that the self-critical statements of the voice could be used to construct a scale that would assess self-destructive thinking along a continuum. They expected that one could better assess the seriousness or “dangerousness” of suicide intent by identifying where and with what frequency an individual’s thoughts lie along the Continuum of Negative Thought Patterns. They developed the Firestone Assessment of Self-Destructive Thoughts (FAST) (Firestone & Firestone, 1996/2006)for therapists to use as an assessment tool in clinical settings (Firestone, 1997b).

Is there evidence to support the hypotheses about the influence of the critical inner voice on people’s behaviors and lives? Yes. Empirical research from reliability and validity studies on the FAST demonstrated the predictive power of the concept of the voice in suicide (L. Firestone, 1991). Results of testing more than 1,300 outpatient and inpatient subjects showed that the FAST distinguished between suicidal and nonsuicidal individuals better than other instruments currently used in clinical practice.

[edit] Separation Theory

Separation Theory, developed by Dr. Robert Firestone, represents a broadly based, coherent system of concepts and hypotheses that integrates psychoanalytic and existential systems of thought. Separation theory explains how early trauma leads to defense formation and how these original defenses are reinforced as the developing child gradually becomes aware of his or her own mortality (Firestone, 1990e, 1997a).

Voice Therapy methodology, which is based on Separation Theory, helps clients expose and separate from dependency bonds and destructive “voices,” remnants of negative childhood experiences that seriously impair their sense of self, spirit, and individuality (Firestone, 1988).

How does Separation Theory add to our current understanding of human behavior? Separation Theory focuses on two major sources of psychological pain, interpersonal and existential, that impinge on the child and disturb the individuation process. Interpersonal pain is caused by deprivation, rejection, and overt or covert aggression on the part of parents, family members, and other significant figures, particularly during the early years. Existential pain refers to the basic ontological problems of aloneness, aging, deterioration, and death, as well as to other facts of existence that have a negative effect on a person’s life experience: racism, crime, economic fluctuations, poverty, political tyranny, war, ethnic strife, terrorism, etc. (Firestone, 1994).

Historically, psychoanalysts have investigated the effects of interpersonal pain, whereas existential sychotherapists have directed their attention to philosophical and existential issues. Neither system deals sufficiently with the important concerns of the other; yet to ignore either seriously impairs an understanding of psychological functioning. In our opinion, both systems of thought must be integrated to fully understand the individual.

What are the major concepts in Separation Theory? The Fantasy Bond and the Critical Inner Voice are the basic concepts in this theoretical approach. The fantasy bond, an illusion of connection with another person, is the primary defense against both interpersonal and existential pain. The critical inner voice can be conceptualized as a secondary defense that protects the fantasy bond.

Is Separation Theory based on certain underlying philosophical assumptions? Yes. The theory reflects a humanistic view of people as innocent rather than inherently bad or corrupt. Human beings are not innately destructive or self-destructive; they become aggressive, violent, or self-destructive only in response to emotional pain, fear, rejection, and deprivation.

The approach represents an ultimate challenge to the defense system. It is our belief that psychological defenses are maladaptive because they cut deeply into an individual’s life experience, and when they persist into adult life, they eventually become the essential psychopathology. Yet, it is important to acknowledge that these defenses were originally formed under conditions of stress and often served as survival mechanisms in the face of overwhelming pain and anxiety.

The underlying philosophy places primary importance on the individual as a unique entity. Efforts toward preserving the life within each person are given priority over supporting any group or system, whether the couple, the family system, ethnic or political groups, nationality, or religion.

Another aspect of the theory is its focus on transcendent goals such as generosity or altruism as sound mental health principles. By extending themselves to others, rather than seeking immediate gratification, people find more meaning in life (Firestone, Firestone, & Catlett, 2003).

[edit] Voice Therapy

Voice therapy is a psychotherapeutic technique that brings internalized negative thought processes to the surface with accompanying affect in a dialog format such that a person can confront alien components of the personality. It is so named because it is a process of giving language or spoken words to negative thought patterns that are at the core of an individual’s maladaptive or self-destructive behavior (Firestone, 1997a).

How Was Voice Therapy Developed? Voice Therapy was originally developed as a laboratory procedure to investigate how people defend themselves and to understand the structure and function of the negative thought process that underlies defensive, maladaptive behavior. It has also been used as a psychotherapeutic methodology that combines cognitive, affective, and behavioral components into an integrated treatment strategy (Firestone, 1997a).

The principal technique of Voice Therapy involves an individual’s verbalization of his or her negative thoughts in the second person format. Clients are asked to use “You”(rather than “I”) as though another person were addressing them. This methodology is important for two reasons: (1) this is the form in which most people think critically about themselves or experience negative internal dialogue, and (2) this technique usually brings out considerable affect, leading to meaningful emotional and intellectual insight.

What are the steps in the therapeutic process in Voice Therapy? The techniques of voice therapy consist of three components: (1) eliciting and identifying negative thought patterns and releasing the associated affect; (2) discussing insights and exploring reactions to verbalizing the voice; and (3) counteracting self-destructive behaviors regulated by the voice through the application of appropriate corrective suggestions. In this phase of treatment, client and therapist attempt to interrupt maladaptive behavior patterns through collaborative planning and suggestions for behavioral change that are in accord with each individual’s personal motivation.

How does Voice Therapy differ from cognitive-behavioral therapy? The emphasis on exposing negative thought processes in voice therapy overlaps cognitive-behavioral therapies to a certain extent. However, this approach is very different in that the methods deal more with the expression of feeling than with the analysis of logic or illogic.

[edit] R.W. Firestone, Artist

It was during his time as a postgraduate student at Berkeley in the 1950s that Robert Firestone created his first major body of work--a series of remarkably original oils depicting patients, friends, and associates, as well as scenes from his many travels. These "expressionistic" paintings, steeped in traditional discipline and technique, highlight his striking sense of composition and color and evoke strong emotions and feelings.

The award-winning Art of R.W. Firestone captures the architecture, energy, and dynamism of metropolitan life and reflects a strong, original style. Firestone's most recent work is noteworthy in its adventurous use of a new formal artistic language where the sensitivity of the artist’s hand cohabitates harmoniously with digital technology.

Firestone merges computers, scanners, and specialized software with his unique perspective on people and places to produce his works. In the award-winning picture Self Portrait with Artist's 10 Children, Dr. Firestone's portrait is overlaid with pictures of each of his 10 (now 12) children in a complex photo mosaic.

Another picture shows a schooner that R.W. Firestone captained and which circumnavigated the globe in the late 1970s. It was the subject of a video documentary broadcast on PBS. In this piece, Friendship Under Sail, the schooner is overlaid in photo mosaic form with pictures of it's original 13-member teenage crew.

Robert Firestone's artwork has been exhibited in galleries and museums in the U.S. and Europe and is held in many private and corporate collections.

Original 13-member Teenage Crew

[edit] Quotes

“We acknowledge the problems of violence, addiction, suicide, mental illness, and the widespread use of dangerous drugs by our children. Why not attempt to get at the core of these concerns, seek the underlying truth, however frightening, and confront the myths of families in our society? Can’t they afford to be scrutinized?” - excerpt from letter

“The discoveries I made about widespread damaging family practices were also disturbing to me as they opened up my own conflicts in relation to parenting…years of clinical experience with patients and their families have convinced me of certain unavoidable and painful truths about negative family interactions. Despite my resistance, I had to question and break down my idealized perception of family life.” - excerpt from letter

“My colleagues and I see parents, as we see all human beings, as having experienced a certain amount of unnecessary suffering in their growing up. We are not pessimistic and believe that they can overcome their negative compulsions toward their children if they work through the problems of their own backgrounds.” - excerpt from letter

“Perhaps in future generations, parents could learn to value their own lives and allow their children to preserve their human heritage rather than partially taking back the life they gave. Perhaps in future generations, parents would no longer be ‘the lost children.’” - excerpt from letter

“Faced with the existential reality of aloneness, sickness, aging and one's eventual death, man can choose to close off emotionally, desensitize himself and depersonalize, or choose to give value and meaning to life. As a clinical psychologist, author and psychotherapist, I have devoted myself to helping people face their personal demons, know themselves and triumph over their psychological pain and suffering. As an artist, I have attempted to live a creative life, searching for and striving for meaning and beauty. Working with the computer as a creative instrument, I have attempted to invent something feelingful, sensitive and beautiful out of an unfeeling machine. The computer like all of man's technological achievements has been used for both good and evil machinations. Life and creativity are the antithesis of cynicism and despair. Intimidated by the issue of death and dying, we often turn our backs on life and feeling but instead we could choose to embrace life. We are all fragile and helpless, and therefore brothers. Ideally that would imply empathy, tolerance and generosity towards our fellows. I live and share life closely with a multitude of other people and try to exemplify a sense of love, enlightenment and joy in being and becoming. My art and my insights into life are a very personal offering to others, a simple sharing of my feelings and perceptions. In my artistic productions, I utilize a variety of images, impressions and approaches to address the fullness and complexity of my experience. In all of my work, I try to blend color and composition into an enjoyable visual experience.” - from Artist's Statement in monograph

[edit] References

Firestone, L. (1991). The Firestone Voice Scale for Self-Destructive Behavior: Investigating the scale's validity and reliaility. (Doctoral disseration, California School of Professional Psychology.) Dissertation Abstracts International, 52, 3338B.
Firestone, R.W. (1957). A concept of the Schizophrenic Process. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. University of Denver.
Firestone, R. W. (1984). A concept of the primary fantasy bond: A developmental perspective. Psychotherapy, 21, 218-225.
Firestone, R. W. (1985). The fantasy bond: Structure of psychological defenses. Santa Barbara, CA: Glendon Association.
Firestone, R. W. (1986). The "inner voice" and suicide. Psychotherapy, 23, 439-447.
Firestone, R. W. (1987). Destructive effects of the fantasy bond in couple and family relationships. Psychotherapy, 24, 233-239.
Firestone, R. W. (1988). Voice Therapy: A psychotherapeutic approach to self-destructive behavior. Santa Barbara, CA: Glendon Association.
Firestone, R. W. (1990). Voice Therapy. In J. K. Zeig & W. Munion (Eds.), What is psychotherapy: Contemporary perspectives (pp. 68-74). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Firestone, R. W. (1993). The psychodynamics of fantasy, addiction, and addictive attachments. American Journal of Psychoanalysis, 53, 335-352.
Firestone, R. W. (1994). Psychological defenses against death anxiety. In R. A. Neimeyer (Ed.), Death anxiety handbook: Research, instrumentation, and application (pp. 217-241). Washington, DC: Taylor & Francis.
Firestone, R. W. (1997a). Combating destructive thought processes: Voice Therapy and separation theory. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Firestone, R. W. (1997b). Suicide and the inner voice: Risk assessment, treatment, and case management. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Firestone, R. W., & Catlett, J. (1999). Fear of intimacy. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Firetone, R. W., & Firestone, L. (1998). Voices in suicide: The relationship between self-destructive thought processes, maladaptive behavior, and self-destructive manifestations. Death Studies, 22, 411-433.
Firestone, R. W., & Firestone, L. (2002). Suicide reduction and prevention. In C. Feltham (Ed.), What's the good of counselling and psychotherapy: The benefits explained (pp. 48-80). London: Sage Publications.
Firestone, R. W., & Firestone, L. (2004). Methods for overcoming the fear of intimacy. In D. Mashek & A. Aron (Eds.), The handbook of closeness and intimacy (pp. 375-395). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
Firestone, R. W., & Firestone, L. (2006). The Firestone Assessment of Self-Destructive Thoughts. Lutz, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources. (Original work published 1996.)
Firestone, R. W., Firestone, L., & Catlett, J. (2002). Conquer your critical inner voice. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.
Firestone, R. W., Firestone, L., & Catlett, J. (2003). Creating a life of meaning and compassion: The wisdom of psychotherapy. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Firestone, R. W., Firestone, L., & Catlett, J. (2006). Sex and love in intimate relationships. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Firestone, R. W., & Seiden, R. H. (1990). Suicide and the continuum of self-destructive bheavior. Journal of American College Health, 38, 207-213.
Keys, A., Brozek, J. Henschel, A., Mickelsen, O., & Taylor, H. L. (1950). The biology of human starvation (Vol. 2). Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press.

[edit] Other Publications by Robert W. Firestone

Firestone, R. W. (1987). The "voice": The dual nature of guilt reactions. American Journal of Psychoanalysis, 47,[ 210-229.
Firestone, R. W. (1989). Parenting groups based on Voice Therapy. Psychotherapy, 26, 524-529.
Firestone, R. W. (1990). Compassionate Child-Rearing: An in-depth approach to optimal parenting. Santa Barbara, CA: Glendon Association.
Firestone, R. W. (1990). Prescription for psychotherapy. Psychotherapy, 27, 627-635.
Firestone, R. W. (1990). The bipolar causality of regression. American Journal of Psychoanalysis, 50, 121-135.
Firetone, R. W. (1990). Voices during sex: Application of Voice Therapy to sexuality. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 16, 258-274.
Firestone, R. W. (1994). A new perspective on the Oedipal complex: A Voice Therapy session. Psychotherapy, 31, 342-351.
Firestone, R. W. (1996). The origins of ethnic strife. Mind and Human Interaction, 7, 167-180.
Firestone, R. W. (2000). Microsuicide and the elderly: A basic defense against death anxiety. In A. Tomer (Ed.), Death attitudes and the older adult: theories, concepts, and applications (pp. 65-84). Philadelphia, PA: Brunner-Routledge.
Firestone, R. W. (2002). The death of psychoanalysis and depth therapy. Psychotherapy, 39, 223-232.
Firestone, R. W., & Catlett, J. (1989). Psychological Defenses in Everyday Life. Santa Barbara, CA: Glendon Association.
Firestone, R. W., & Seiden, R. H. (1987). Microsuicide and suicidal threats of everyday life. Psychotherapy, 24, 31-39.
Firestone, R. W., & Seiden, R. H. (1990). Psychodynamics in adolescent suicide. Journal of College Student Psychotherapy, 4, 101-123.

[edit] Video Documentaries Produced by Geoff Parr, Coproduced by R.W. Firestone, and available from the Glendon Association

[edit] Intimate Relationships and Sexuality Series

Closeness without bonds. 1986
Bobby and Rosie: Anatomy of a marriage. 1989.
Sex and marriage. 1990.
Sex and society. 1990.
Voices in sex. 1990.
Voices about relationships. 1995.
Exploring relationships. 1997.
Fear of intimacy. 1997.
Coping with the fear of intimacy. 1999.
Sex and love in intimate relationships. 2005.

[edit] Parent-Child Relationships Series

Teaching our children about feelings. 1984.
The inner voice in child abuse. 1986.
Hunger versus love. (1987).
Therapeutic child-rearing. 1987.
Parental ambivalence. 1987.
The implicit pain of sensitive child-rearing. 1988.
Invisible child abuse. 1994.

[edit] Existential Issues Series

Life, death & denial. 1990.
Defenses against death anxiety. 1990.

[edit] Friendship Series

Of birth and friendship. 1980.
Friendship under sail. 1982.
Voyage to understanding. 1983.
Children of the summer. 1993.
Friendship: Creating a life of meaning and compassion. 2002.

[edit] Suicide and Self-Destructiveness Series

The inner voice in suicide. 1985.
Microsuicide: A case study. 1985.
Teenagers talk about suicide. 1987.

[edit] Voice Therapy Series

Voice therapy with Dr. Robert Firestone. 1984.
A voice therapy session. 1986.
Sonya--An individual voice therapy session. 1991.
A voice therapy training session. 1992.
A voice therapy training session: Dealing with the Oedipal conflict. 1992.
Inwardness--A retreat from feeling. 1995.

[edit] Other Video Documentaries

The fantasy bond. 1985.
Of business and friendship. 1989.
Robert W. Firestone: A unique perspective: Part 1. 1991.
Robert W. Firestone: A unique perspective: Part 2. 1991.

[edit] External links

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