Friendships are a profound part of life, but sometimes they’re not all roses

Thomas Verny is a clinical psychiatrist, academic, award-winning author, public speaker, poet and podcaster. He is the author of eight books, including the global bestseller The Secret Life of the Unborn Child and 2021’s The Embodied Mind: Understanding the Mysteries of Cellular Memory, Consciousness and Our Bodies.Following my column last month on loneliness, I received many questions from readers pertaining to friendship. In this column, I shall address this subject based on what I’ve learned in 60 years of clinical psychiatric practice and 80-plus years of living.