Disavowed Anger and Positive Emotions with Paul Wachtel
From Psychiatry & Psychotherapy Podcast by David Puder, M.D.
January 5, 2026 · 1h 44m
About this episode
Paul Wachtel discusses the concepts of disavowed anger and positive emotions in psychotherapy, emphasizing their origins and therapeutic implications.
In this episode, renowned psychologist Paul Wachtel, PhD, returns to explore disavowed anger and disavowed positive emotions in psychotherapy. Discover how anger differs from simple repression, its roots in childhood and preverbal experiences, its positive functions (like self-protection, boundaries, and drive), and the vicious cycles of over-niceness that can lead to frustration, psychosomatic symptoms, or explosive outbursts. Dr. Wachtel also contrasts collaborative, integrative approaches with more adversarial models, emphasizing how therapists can help patients reclaim disallowed emotions for a fuller, healthier sense of self. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.75 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog Link to YouTube video
People in this episode
Guest: Paul Wachtel
Topics covered
- disavowed anger
- positive emotions
- psychotherapy
- childhood experiences
- therapeutic approaches
Keywords
- self-protection
- boundaries
- drive
- over-niceness
- psychosomatic symptoms
Mentioned in this episode
Products: Psychiatry CME Credits
Books & works: Disavowed Anger and Positive Emotions
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