Blog
Featured
Why anxiety: I have always taught that anxiety is a biological necessity. In the right amounts it helps us prepare for important matters, helps keep us out of harm’s way, and helps us respect and adhere to the norms of the particular society with which we identify.
Many years ago, I saw a young woman in therapy who was having difficulty feeling it was okay to wrap up our work together. “How can I leave when things still happen?” she worried.
We sleep to dream. We sleep to refresh and we sleep to unwind. When we can’t count on sleep, it colors every aspect of our lives.
Forgiveness is a skill worth cultivating. Do you have a grudge, past hurt or an ax to grind?
For many people, ‘I am sorry” are the most difficult three words in the English language. Why?
Many of you have recently experienced the second college rite of passage with your teen—their first visit home. And you may be looking forward to spring break now. How can you make this a positive experience for everyone?
One of the many things I stress in my introductory psychology class is the diversity of normal human experience.
When our daughter was young we had a bedtime ritual—a series of events that slowed down the day and helped her know the time for sleep was approaching. Is there value in considering similar rituals for the rest of us?
I am very fortunate to have been asked recently to join the board of directors of Cascadia Behavioral Health. As I sat in on my first meeting yesterday evening, I was struck by a number of things.
Nobody has seen a saber-toothed tiger in eons, yet we still behave as though they are out there. Why so negative?
There are many reasons why therapy is helpful. A fresh perspective, particular skills, expertise in the various things that ail people…all of these change agents make sense.
A good laugh is hard to beat, and turns out to be contagious, and good for us. But why?
Goal setting can feel like keeping a list of chores, but done right, it can help us feel successful, and assure we have time to relax.
Mindfulness-meditation is getting serious attention from scientists and consumers alike. Businesses are including it in their benefit packages, elementary schools are recognizing its power to improve classroom atmosphere, and psychologists are incorporating it into many treatments for conditions such as stress, anxiety and depression, pain management and insomnia.
The college search is over. Now what? Some things to consider about the coming months as everyone waits for college admissions letters.
We all know sleep is important, and here’s another reason why: When you sleep, your brain takes fragile new memory traces from the day and consolidates them into memory.
Are you having problems with insomnia, your sleep disrupted by difficulty falling or staying asleep? The screens you use in the hours before sleep or take to bed with you at night could be part of the problem.
If you struggle with insomnia, chances are good people have talked with you about sleep hygiene. While sleep hygiene principles are important, many people find it necessary to pursue sleep therapy, a treatment focused on clarifying thoughts and feelings related to troubled sleep patterns and insomnia, with accompanying exercises designed to put insomnia to rest.
That flash of creative insight comes from somewhere. There are many ways you can cultivate your creativity to help combat burnout.
The importance of insight, narrative review and developing a coherent sense of self.
It is difficult enough as adults to know how to approach a depressed friend. Teenagers are often on the front lines with their peers, aware of a friend's depressed mood and wanting skills to help them through a difficult time, but unsure how to have such a challenging conversation. What do you do when you are a teen and your friend is depressed?
We all strive to raise resilient children who understand the importance of hard work and have grit in the face of challenges that come their way. The growth mindset can promote resilience, grit and motivation.
We all procrastinate, but working through procrastination by setting clear goals and understanding our underlying worries can help us focus, improve motivation and get important work done.
What happens when we raise kids who are not afraid to make mistakes or fail? Can we let our kids fail when we ourselves fear the stakes are too high?