Boundaries: It’s Time To Say No When You Need To
Originally posted on Psychology Today. I have always had a hard time with boundaries. For whatever reason, it’s hard for me to ask for what I need, and it’s hard for me to say no. I’m pretty good with people who are like me, gentle people who are always thinking...
Forgiveness Is The Answer To (Almost) All Of Our Ills
Never does the human soul appear so strong and noble as when it forgoes revenge and dares to forgive an injury. — E.H. Chapin Why should anyone forgive? There is no single reason, but this much is clear: harboring anger and resentment is physically, mentally,...
Here Come The Holidays
Originally posted on Psychology Today Estrangement from family members is so common that Wikipedia lists a definitionfor it. It only takes one unhappy person to cause estrangement in a family. Estrangement often hurts because we know, from Norman Rockwell paintings,...
How To Beat Perfectionism, Make Progress, and Find Happiness
Originally posted on Psychology Today Most people think of philosophy as a system of ethics or an explanation of the purpose of life, so they miss its most practical aspects. Ancient philosophy was a way to create mental clarity—to clear the mind of what psychologists...
In Search of Cracks
Originally posted on Psychology Today by Marty Nemko, Ph.D. Especially when trying to solve a big problem, it's easy to miss a crack of opportunity, a tiny opening in a small window.. Perhaps these examples will help you stay alert to them so you can widen or at least...
Trust: It’s Not Too Late To Love
Originally posted on Psychology Today by Duana C. Welch Ph.D. I am two years old. I know I don't look it. But I am two years old, and my ears hurt. The pain is terrible. My mother has picked me up. She is walking the floors with me, holding me tenderly, patting my...
Why Are Kids So Anxious These Days?
Originally posted on Psychology Today. What’s happening to our kids? Why are so many anxious, withdrawn, and on medications? Is it a good thing that kids are talking about how they feel, or have they become too focused on what’s wrong with them and ignoring the...
What to Do About Your Teenager’s “Eye-roll”
Originally posted on Psychology Today If you are or have been the parent of a teenager, or have ever spent more than a few hours with a teenager, especially when they are around their friends or parents, you are unfortunately familiar with the disdainful eye-roll. It...
Your Child and Sports
Originally posted on Psychology Today by Marty Nemko My parents wouldn't let me play Little League baseball because they thought I might hurt my fingers. (I play the piano.) Too bad. The odds of something really bad happening were tiny but the odds of my enjoying and...
Easing a Child’s Summer to School Transition
Originally posted on Psychology Today by David Rettew, MD For many kids and families, summer can be a time to let things slide, a least a little bit. Bedtimes may be somewhat later and not so stringently enforced, meals somewhat more casual, and mornings...
How Poor Sleep Affects Hormones and Mental Health
Originally posted on GoodTherapy.org In today’s high-paced society, the benefits of a good night’s rest can be easily overlooked. While you may be tempted to skimp on sleep and do something you consider more “productive” with your time, neglecting sleep can actually...
Praising Your Child: What Are You Really Saying?
Originally posted on Time.com by Stephen Camarata, PhD, author of The Intuitive Parent The wrong kind of praise can undermine confidence For many years, the conventional wisdom has been that praising a child at every opportunity boosts confidence and self esteem. In a...
7 Things Happy Couples Do
Originally posted on Psychology Today by Dr. Jeffrey Bernstein Why is it that some couples happily go the distance and so many others throw in the relationship towel along the way? The answer is that relationship happiness does not occur by accident. Happy couples...
4 Ways To Set Your Boundaries Straight
Originally posted on Psychology Today by Mariana Bockarova Ph.D Madeline had always prided herself in being a "nice girl". As a young child, she was taught that being kind to others was a virtue, so she grew up paying special attention to the positive feedback she...
Why Change Is So Hard (And Why It Doesn’t Have To Be)
Originally posted on Psychology Today by Robert J Maurer Ph.D. Change can be challenging. Many of us endeavor to eat healthfully, lose weight, increase our exercise and sleep, expand our relationships, organize ourselves, and improve our work success. However, time...
7 Simple Ways to Make It a Better Day
Originally posted on Psychology Today by Samantha Boardman, M.D. When someone visits a psychiatrist for the first time, it’s usually at an inflection point: Something big has happened, is happening, or is about to happen. Helping patients navigate their way through...
How to Help Someone With Anxiety
Originally posted on Psychology Today by Alice Boyes, Ph.D. Helping someone with anxiety can be intimidating. Often the anxious person feels completely overwhelmed by their anxiety, especially if they experience panic attacks or find themselves gripped by anxious...
What We Want Most From Relationships (But Rarely Get)
Originally posted on Psychology Today by Nancy Colier, LCSW Most couples come to see me to learn better communication skills—or at least that’s what they say in the first session. What gets described as communication problems, however, are in fact...
Decision-Making Difficulties?
Originally posted on Psychology Today by Tina Gilbertson, LPC While getting a facial from a student at a beauty school the other day, I overheard a conversation between another student and her client. “Would you like me to tell you what I’m doing as we go through your...
Communication Issues Within Your Relationship
Originally posted on PsychCentral By Jane Collingwood Even in the strongest of relationships, there will be times when small irritations can cause mountains to grow out of molehills, so it’s important to keep striving for better communication. As the essence of...