As a therapist, I regularly meet with teens and adults. Most report insomnia to some degree. Insomnia is defined simply as habitual sleeplessness but for years, I resisted applying the term insomnia to my own sleep woes. I thought I was having just trouble sleeping. Somehow insomnia seemed like a bigger problem. Maybe something incurable. [...]
Anxiety affects everyone to some degree. Quite simply we live in an anxious world. Anxiety can range from occasional, mild unease in anticipation of an event to constant, overwhelming panic. It goes by many names including worry, nerves, freaking out, stressed, tense.
This topic is part I of a series on communication and relationships. These ideas apply to all relationships, parent and kids, partners, spouses, work colleagues, etc. Always and never are powerful words. For that reason people often choose them to get their point across whether in an argument or in general conversation. Certainly it can [...]
Want to cultivate a happier mindset? Turns out you have to practice. Dr. Martin Seligman studies happiness & how to get happier. Seligman is the Director of Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania. His “Three Blessings” exercise is wonderfully simple & can be a life changer. As humans we are predisposed to notice [...]
Adolescence and anger often seem to go together, especially in our youth-oriented culture. There are many reasons for this, such as hormone surges and the angst that comes with seeing the world in a new light. Anger is a normal emotion. Everyone feels angry sometimes. Anger lets you know something is out of sync in [...]
Telling it “like it is” and being nice are not mutually exclusive. I see honesty and kindness as two very important values and both essential to healthy relationships. I often see people chose between the two as in “It’s the truth” (and therefore okay that the comment is hurtful) or “I didn’t want to hurt [...]
Everyone likes to laugh and it can be a great stress reducer. Having a similar sense of humor is often what draws people together. If you think about your favorite people in your life they are often the ones that make you laugh or enjoy your sense of humor. Losing laughter or a light-heartedness in [...]
Time outs aren’t just for disobedient kids. They can be useful tools to stop arguments from becoming unproductive fights or worse, whether those arguments are between parents and children, partners, spouses or siblings. Timeouts aren’t meant to solve problems. However they can give each person a chance to think more clearly about their own perspective [...]
As a divorced, divorcing, or separating parent you have to deal with painful personal issues as well as help your child navigate his or her own emotional turmoil. With your child’s best interests as a guide you will succeed in making thoughtful decisions & maintaining or creating a positive relationship with your child. It won’t [...]
Anger can be a friend or a foe depending on how you deal with it. Anger can impact your health and your relationships. Aggressive anger can have negative effects on the way you think and act, as can suppressed anger. Frequent outbursts can damage or end relationships with significant others, friends, family members, co-workers and [...]
