Check out our newly updated blog at http://blog.theshulmancenter.com...
New websites under construction as we expand our
services to include therapy for hoarding and
cluttering. See www.hoardingtherapy.com and www.hoardersanonymous.org
New word
lexicon: "Moneymoon"--The time between a purchase and the
regret or buyer's remorse.
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Goldman Saks and The Era of Lies, Greed and
Denial
As most
of you have probably heard by now, the Goldman Saks investment
firm has been charged by
the
Securities and Exchange Commission with fraudulent practices.
In essence, the charges appear to
stem from
Goldman's repeated practices of selling stocks which it knew
were bad and then also selling
stocks or
derivatives which, in essence, made money if the former stocks
failed. This, according to the
SEC (not
to mention common sense and decency) was a violation of
Goldman's fiduciary duty toward its
own
customers if not a less "legal" but more egregious violation
of its duty to the country which brought
to its
knees economically by such
practices.
Certainly,
Goldman was not the only investment firm or individual broker
who engaged in these practices. But it
appears
it was the largest. What is the difference between these kind
of practices and plain stealing? Not much
if
anything.
And yet,
during recent hearings on Capitol Hill, Lloyd Blankfein,
Goldman's CEO, denied that he or his firm was
responsible
for anything other than some bad business decisions. He denied
Goldman owed its clients any
fiduciary
duty to tell them that the stocks they purchase are "shitty"
and, further, that Goldman was actually betting
against
those stocks and standing to make huge profits when they
failed. This is the same Lloyd Blankfein who,
back in
November 2009, boldly stated he felt he was "doing God's work"
as a banker.
Bernie
Madoff, move over, you've met your match.
A sign of
the times? How did we get here? This is more than an isolated
incident. Apparently, honesty and fairness
and
concern for our fellow citizens has fallen out of
vogue.
It's in
this larger context of terrible headlines that more and more
average Americans see the deck stacked against
them and
feel the playing ground is uneven at best. Stealing in all
forms and across all demographics is on the rise.
The
American Dream teeters on the brink as "every man for himself"
takes over. Short-term gain vs. long-term
sustainability
is the modern credo. You'd think Goldman (and other firms)
would know their days were numbered just as Bernie
Madoff had repeatedly confessed he knew. Either that, or they
knew but fell under the unstoppable
compulsion
that any addict knows too well: until bottom.
But are
we even at the bottom? Goldman still appears to be in denial.
Hopefully, we the People no longer are. Only time will
tell...
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The Shulman Center Comes to
You!
I
recently had the privilege of working with a family in
California who was struggling with a myriad of issues
including compulsive shopping and
spending, dishonesty, credit card fraud and identity theft.
They had the
resources to fly me out from
Detroit to work with them intensively over 3 days. It was an
incredible experience
for
all of us and I hope to have made a lasting impact in their
lives.
If
you or someone you know wishes to explore in-person intensive
therapy on-site with you, please contact us
to
discuss this.
__________________________________________________________________
Live Simply So Others May Simply
Live?
While
I was in California, I was immersed in the mecca of
materialism. Amid the McMansions and fancy cars, I frequently
wondered: how happy are these people? While not all the
well-to-do are shopaholics anymore than all those of modest
means are at peace without plenty, my gut and my research
sensed "conspicuous consumption" at nearly every
turn.
I
appreciated my ability to find joy and sanity in simplicity
and on a budget! My $100/night hotel room provided breakfast
and a small outdoor pool where I was able to read and relax. I
could walk less than a mile in either direction and enjoy the
beauty of the mountains and the sun and sky. A Saturday
Farmers Market was a treat to peruse and various restaurants
offered reasonably-priced carry-outs/take-aways which I
enjoyed in the evening in my hotel room in front of the
TV.
I
chose not to rent a car but, rather, rely on the goodness of
friends to get me to and from a local support group meeting
and then to the airport. There really was little I needed to
buy. I could just enjoy my surroundings and my own sense of
accomplishment and fulfillment.
Peace,
after all, can't really be bought. Money and things may make
life easier at times. Often, however, we over-complicate our
lives with them.
How
can you simply your life
today?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Free Intimacy with Money Telephone
Seminars
It is
with great excitement and confidence that I share about the
free "Intimacy with Money" telephone seminars conducted by my
long-time friend Tom Lietaert and my more recent friend Andrew
Hogan who currently work out of Boulder/Denver,
Colorado.
Book(s) of the month:
Orange is The New Black: My Year
in a Women's Prison by Piper Kerman and Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding
and The Meaning of Things by Randy O'Frost and Gail
Steketee.
While I've read
neither of these new books, they've gotten decent reviews. I
hope to read them
soon.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Compulsive Theft
& Spending in The News! April/May
2010:
April 1--Mr. Shulman was featured in an article about
shoplifting in The Carroll Fair magazine.
April 8--Mr. Shulman
was a featured presenter on men's issues in therapy and
recovery at The
National Association of Social Workers
Michigan Chapter Annual Conference in Dearborn,
Michigan.
May 1--Mr. Shulman is a
featured contributor on compulsive theft and spending on Carol
Lawyer's May www.interventionfirst.com
May--Mr. Shulman will be featured
in articles in The Toronto Star newspaper and in Canada's
Chatelaine magazine on shoplifting addiction.
May 29--Mr. Shulman's online education course called
"Creating an Honest and Theft-Free Workplace" based
on his book and Power Point
presentation through 360 Training Services will be available.
CEs are available. See www.360training.com
May: Mr. Shulman will be featured in an article about
compulsive shopping in The Buffalo News.
Beyond
May...
September 8-11--Mr. Shulman
will be a guest presenter on compulsive shopping and spending
at The National Conference on Addiction Disorders near
Washington, D.C.
September: Mr. Shulman authored a chapter on employee
theft for a U.K. book entitled "Risky Business"
which will be
released.
December 1-4--Mr. Shulman will be presenting
on employee theft detection and prevention at The National
Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds Annual Conference in
Las Vegas.
Mr.
Shulman created an online continuing education course on
compulsive shopping and spending called "Bought Out and
$pent!" based on his book and Power Point presentation. The
course, offered through The American Psychotherapy
Association, is available for purchase by APA members and
non-members. CEs are available. He is also working on
authoring a therapist certification program in compulsive
theft and spending for the APA. See http://www.americanpsychotherapy.com/
Mr. Shulman is assisting the
Baton Rouge, Louisiana court system a court-ordered three hour
facilitated educational program for retail fraud offenders.
The program is based on material from his book "Something for
Nothing: Shoplifting Addiction and Recovery"
(2003).
Mr. Shulman is assisting with a
CNN TV news story about compulsive shopping/spending in
today's economy.
Mr. Shulman will be featured in a
segment on shoplifting addiction in the MSNBC series "Theft in
America" to air in late 2010.
Mr. Shulman is consulting
on a major motion picture tentatively called "The
Rush" in which the lead character is addicted to
shoplifting and stealing.
Mr. Shulman continues to assist
the Kingman, Arizona court system with his
court-ordered home-study program for retail fraud
offenders. The program is based on material from his
book "Something for Nothing: Shoplifting Addiction and
Recovery" (2003).
Mr. Shulman is
consulting with an author who is writing a novel about two
kleptomaniacs who fall in love with each
other.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Contact The
Shulman Center
Terrence Shulman
P.O. Box
250008
Franklin, Michigan 48025
Call (248) 358-8508 for free
consultation!
Products
for Purchase--ON SALE through 2009!
Mr. Shulman's three books
"Something for Nothing: Shoplifting Addiction & Recovery"
and "Biting
The Hand That Feeds: The Employee Theft
Epidemic... New Perspectives, New Solutions," and
"Bought
Out and $pent! Recovery from Compulsive $hopping and $pending"
are available for $25.00 each
(includes shipping/handling).
2nd International Conference on
Compulsive Theft & Spending 2 DVD set (6 Hours). Recorded
9/08. $100.00
or
Call (248) 358-8508
