#MM03 – Q&A Mondays with Moshe Lang: Clients as Experts & The Gift of Yoga

This is Episode 3 of the new Q and A series with psychologist Moshe Lang, one of Australia’s best known family therapist, renowned author and teacher.

Every fortnight WAWID listeners send me questions to ask Moshe. These questions can be be about anything to do with his journey, therapy or in the field of mental health.

Moshe is an incredibly curious person, and loves a challenge – he tells me he’ll tackle anything sent his way. This weeks questions are:

1) Do you think that one of the reasons people visit a psychologist is because they no longer feel that they are experts (i.e. in control) in their own lives? In my experience people readily offer solutions to other’s problems but these are seldom helpful. You assist people to find a solution that they own as theirs. They can then learn how to resolve new issues more easily.

Do you agree with this? What techniques do you use to help people in this process?

2)  I understand that yoga is an important part of your life. Can you share some of your thoughts about yoga and its relevance to psychotherapy?

More Info on Moshe

Moshe Lang is one of Australia’s best known family therapists. Born in Israel, he migrated to Australia as a young man and settled here in 1961. He studied psychology at the University of Melbourne, and is the Director of William Road Psychotherapy Centre.

Between 1965 and 1979 he was senior psychologist at the Bouverie Clinic and Director of Training. In 1975, during a sabbatical, he worked in Ramat-Chen Mental Health Clinic in Israel. In 1979, he founded Williams Road Family Therapy Centre, the first independent family therapy centre in Australia. Moshe remained involved with the Centre until 2012 – sharing co-directorship with Dr Brian Stagoll from 1981 to 1997.

He was Foundation President of the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy (1979-1988), and from 1982 to 1984 was President of the Victorian Association of Family Therapists (now known as Australian Association of Family Therapy). Moshe is also the Recipient of the Inaugural Award of Special Services to Family Therapy from the Australian New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy (1994), and a Life Member of the Australian Association of Family Therapy (1992). Moshe gave the key-note address at the Inaugural Family Therapy Conference in Melbourne (1980).

Moshe has practiced and taught clinical psychology and family therapy in Melbourne since 1965 – the first 15 years at The Bouverie Clinic and since 1979 from 3 Williams Road, Windsor. He has been a regular commentator on issues associated with clinical psychology and family therapy, and he is well known for his workshops and unique teaching style, marked by clarity, humour and empathy.

Moshe has published extensively in the professional literature on themes ranging fromwork with children and adolescents, depression, eating disorders, suicide, school refusal,work with Holocaust survivors and their families, couples therapy and teaching family therapy. His publications include the Children’s Depression Scale (with Miriam Tisher), which has been extensively used, translated and published in numerous languages including Dutch, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Hindu, Arabic, Nigerian and Hebrew.

He is the co-author of Corrupting the Young and Other Stories of a Family Therapist and Resilience: Stories of a Family Therapist (with Tesse Lang); as well as A Family in Therapy and The Answer Within (with Peter McCallum). These highly regarded books have been extensively reviewed and translated to Hebrew and French.

Recently he has brought out two highly praised DVDs, Behind Closed Doors, providing the viewers, professional and general public alike with the opportunity to see him at work.

Recommended Resources:

To learn more about Moshe head to his website – http://moshelang.com.au/

Books:

Corrupting the Young and Other Stories of a Family Therapist – Moshe Lang

Resilience: Stories of a Family Therapist – Moshe Lang (with Tesse Lang)

A Family in Therapy and The Answer Within – Moshe Lang (with Peter McCallum)

Behind Closed Doors, (DVD) – Moshe Lang doing couples therapy!

There books are also available as e-books at  – moshelang.com.au/where-to-buy/

Feedback

Leave me or Moshe a comment or some feedback about this episode in the comments section. I’ll respond to everyone!

Amy Felman

5 Comments

  1. Lachlan on August 18, 2016 at 3:36 pm

    Moshe and Amy,

    Thank you for your very full and thought provoking response to my question. I was captivated listening to it. Thank you both for reflecting deeply on related issues.

    I was very interested to hear the 1 word answer: listen! And I enjoyed the discussion around ways of providing answers to clients’ problems. The illustration of how easy but unhelpful it is to provide the answer to achieving a healthy life (exercise etc) was good.

    As an (ex) client I feel that this is what you excel at Moshe. You are an active, or reflective, listener who shows your client that you are listening. You also help to simplify, interpret and refocus. You showed that you were walking in my shoes with me. You are also respectful and accepting of differing approaches of your clients. You never give the feeling that you are passively listening to the information.

    One of the strengths of the 2 of you working together in the podcast is that you illustrate the process of good listening. Amy is the active listener who explores, rewords and summarizes Moshe’s message

    Amy, your podcast is a wonderful learning tool. I hope it is much utilized.

    Best wishes
    Lach

  2. Terra on August 18, 2016 at 3:45 pm

    My question for Moshe is:
    Developmental trauma is currently at the forefront of research with better understandings of how trauma can effect childhood development.
    In your experience as a family therapist, what is the most important focus for families who are dealing with a child with complex trauma?
    Thanks,
    Terra (Canada)

    • Amy Felman on August 18, 2016 at 4:02 pm

      Hi Terra,
      Thanks for the great question. I will put this one to Moshe in the next round!
      Amy

  3. Catherine on August 18, 2016 at 3:58 pm

    Just listened to Monday with Moshe – love it! You two have such a great dynamic and I laughed a few times too at the banter between you two. I listen to his Answers a few times as there’s so much to take out if it and ponder and reflect. Thank you both!! 🙂

    • Amy Felman on August 18, 2016 at 4:01 pm

      Hi Catherine,
      I totally have to listen back too, lots in there 🙂 Moshe we’ll be pleased you’re getting a laugh out of these episodes too as he’s big on the use of humour in therapy!
      Thanks for the comment.
      Amy

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