Fragile power | Why having everything is never enough
 

A revealing exploration of people whose wealth, fame, beauty, and social status grant them immense power. Celebrity culture drives us to aspire to be like the few who seem to have figured out how to have it all. But is it possible that they simultaneously have everything and nothing at all?


Having treated some of the world’s most successful people, psychotherapist “Dr. Paul” sets out to answer why so many people who have everything end up feeling like their achievements are never enough—as well as what that pattern can reveal about ourselves and the society in which we live.


The exclusivity of living behind the velvet rope or the gilded gate doesn’t guarantee happiness for the rich, famous, and powerful; there are downsides to attainment as well. We all—including people who seem protected by their privileged lives—can experience the self-destructive behaviors common to modern life, including chronic stress, addiction, anxiety, imposter syndrome, infidelity, negative body image, and narcissism.


From the therapist’s chair, we learn how feelings of shame, insecurity, abandonment, and emotional pain are all part of the human condition. With empathy, we can overcome our sense of isolation by realizing that we all crave—and deserve—understanding, intimacy, and real connection.


Fragile Power | Why Having Everything is Never Enough is available on Amazon in paperback, as an audio book or for Kindle.

additional writings & interviews include

Books:
 

Gay and Rich | A Journey into the Wealthy Male Homosexual Identity: Qualitative Findings (August, 2011)

 

Family Business and Responsible Wealth Ownership: Preparing the Next Generation. Chapter: Resolving Intergenerational Conflicts Through Resilience and Grit. (Globe Law and Business, 2021)

 
Peer Review Journal Articles:
 

Addressing family entropy in the context of behavioural health challenges- a new paradigm of culturally competent and clinically excellent care. The International Family Offices Journal (June, 2023)

 

Treating wealthy patients and their families: A guide for competent psychotherapeutic care. The Journal of Wealth Management (Summer 2012)

 
Select Articles & Expert Commentary:
 

World Economic Forum: There is a mental health crisis in entrepreneurship. Here’s how to tackle it. (March 22, 2019)

 

The Three Types of Narcissism. Health (December, 2022)

 

Three Types of Narcissism and how they Affect Behavior. Insider (July, 2022)

 

Is Hypersexuality a Symptom of Narcissism. PsychCentral (2022)

 

What is the Dark Triad and why are People with these Traits so Dangerous? Health (2022)

 

For mega rich heirs, the anxieties that drive Succession are all too real. The Washington Post (2023)

 

Do Toddler Selfies Make Them Narcissists? Romper (2023)

 

How to Recognize a Dark Triad Personality. Psychology Today (2022)

 

Types of depression you didn’t know you could have. Readers Digest (2021)

 

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Bi-polar Disorder. Health (2021)

 

Four steps to proactive investment in family mental health and well-being. Campden Family Business (September, 2022)

 

Gender non-conformity in ultra-high net worth & high-performance families. Campden Family Business (June, 2021)

 

Investing in good mental health and family relations makes business sense. Campden Family Business (November, 2019)

 

Mental health disorders in wealthy Families: Cutting them off doesn’t work. (August, 2017)

 

Family Governance and Prenuptial Agreements (October, 2021)

 

Sustaining the family business: The importance of listening to next gens. Campden Family Business. By Glen Ferris (16 May, 2023)

 

Resolving conflict with communication: Whey talking it out can save Family a family business. Campden Family Business. By Glen Ferris (16 May, 2023)

 

Why are family businesses failing to properly plan for succession? Campden Family Business. By Glen Ferris (2023)

 

Covid-19 take mental health toll on family business leaders and next generations. Campden Family Business. Interview by James Beech (January 2021)

 

Why Investors Should Care About the Mental Health of Startup Founders. Entrepreneur Middle East (February 14, 2019)

select articles & expert commentary (con’t):

 

Transformative Adaptation: Extending psychosocial safety from the boardroom into the family room. Entrepreneur Middle East (December 8, 2022)

 

Why Your Mental Health is Key to Your Survival in a Family Business. Entrepreneur Middle East (September 29, 2021)

 

Why Some Traits of Successful Entrepreneurs Could Exacerbate Mental Health Issues and Substance Abuse (December, 2019)

 

Engaging The Next Generation in Family Enterprises. Middle East Business Magazine and News

 

Family Feuds: how should UHNWs treat rebellious offspring? Tatler (2022)

 

Tatler Experts’ Corner: I’m successful and my family is financially secure, yet I still feel something is missing. What’s wrong? (February, 2021)

 

Tatler Experts’ Corner: My daughters are insisting we liquidate shares that enable us to give generously to charities. How can we resolve this conflict (April, 2021)

 

Opinion: 3 actions to address the PTSD crisis in global development. (May, 2019)

 

Reddit Chat on Mental Health and Entrepreneurship. (2019)

 

Connecting with the Narcissistic Patient. Addiction Professional (April, 2018)

 

Privilege and Adolescent Addictions. Addiction Professional (2023)

 

Confessions of a son in the throes of losing his father. The Goodman Project, (August 2016)

 

Prescription Drug Addiction: The dark side of concierge medicine. Addiction Professional (September, 2015)

 

What your therapist is really thinking. The Wall Street Journal (December, 2015)

 

How to set intentions to get unstuck and improve your mental health. Readers Digest (2022)

 
Select Podcast Appearances:

 

Medium. Dr. Ra discusses mental health and wealth with Dr. Paul Hokemeyer, author of Fragile Power.