Vacation Poor America Of all developed countries in the world, Americans are the worst at taking time off from work. Compared to the good people in England, France, Germany, Spain, Brazil, Norway, Denmark, Italy, and Sweden (I can go on), the good people in the United States take less than the 14 days they have earned; on average they […]
Yes, You DO Need A Vacation! Read More »
There are hundreds of symptoms that can indicate a mental health issue is developing, but it can be difficult to know when to pay attention to them and when they are not a concern. Here is a relatively simple way to be able to assess whether you are experiencing mental health symptoms that you should not ignore and
Mental Health Symptoms To Not Ignore Read More »
“No pain, no gain!” Is psychotherapy supposed to hurt? Is it necessary to wear waterproof mascara to every session? Are you going to be a royal mess after you spill your guts out on the floor and have to scoop them back up after “our time is up?” What’s it really like to be in therapy, anyway? What’s it supposed to
Should Psychotherapy Sessions Hurt? Read More »
If you’ve ever suffered an important loss in your life…whether it was the loss of a loved one, a beloved pet, or a special dream…then you know what it means to grieve. Mourning a loss is an important process, and it’s one that you cannot just skip because it feels really bad. With grief, there’s no way out
Stop Kicking the Turtle! Or How to Let Yourself Grieve Read More »
What Does Depression Have to Do With Bread? When you’re making bread the old-fashioned way, using yeast, kneading dough, then putting it in a bowl and letting it rise in a warm place… getting bigger is exactly what you want it to do. But if you’re dealing with Depression, the last thing you want to do is let it
Poke At Your Depression Read More »
Ho, Ho, Ho? It is January 21st today and my Christmas tree is still up. A hectic holiday season that included 2 bouts of the flu, preparing to teach Abnormal Psychology, and other commitments have taken their toll on seasonal order. All my other Christmas decorations are down and put away, except for my Christmas tree, which still
When Should You Freak Out? Read More »
I became a therapist thinking that people just naturally wanted to change, grow, get better, become healthier… and how cool was that going to be to assist in that process?! Boy, was I naive. After 20 years as a therapist, what I discovered is that it is extremely rare for anyone to make real change unless they absolutely
Why People Don’t Change Until They Have To Read More »
If you suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, then that first cool hint of air, untinged by the humidity of summer, doesn’t make you feel all excited and happy for the beginning of Fall. Instead, it can make you dread the eventuality of shorter days, more darkness than light, more desire to hibernate and eat carbs than to communicate and live. There Is
Uh Oh…It’s Fall Again Read More »
Have you looked in a mirror lately? You were probably looking for something: spinach stuck in your teeth from lunch, a stain on your shirt, another laugh line. “The mirror is the worst judge of true beauty.” ~Sophia Nam Mirrors and the Fun House You might be able to see those things. Mirrors do a fair job of reflecting back those physical things. Although your mood
What Your Mirror Can’t Show You. Read More »
Filtering Difficult Experiences I’m a big fan of the emotional equivalent of “emptying the trash.” By writing in a journal people get in touch with their feelings and express them without censorship. It’s a research-tested treatment for those suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress. And if you journal right before bedtime, it often leads to better sleep. I Don’t Have
Daily Emotional Dialysis Read More »
