Generational Trauma Explained: How the Past Shapes the Present
Even if you have never directly experienced trauma yourself, you might be dealing with the impact of it. Do you tend to struggle with things like secure relationships, self-esteem issues, or even feelings of fear?
Boundaries in Relationships: Why They Matter and How to Set Them
Boundaries promote respect and understanding. They let both partners in a relationship know what is and is not acceptable behavior.
High-Functioning Depression: Signs, Symptoms, and Support
Most people have a basic idea of what depression is and what it might look like. However, feelings of extreme sadness and hopelessness can impact people differently.
6 Ways You Can Support Someone with Anxiety
Anxiety can easily become overwhelming. So many people struggle with the “what ifs” or the uncertainties of life and it creates intense fear.
The Many Shades of Gray: How to Not Categorize People
We all know how frustrating it is when someone else labels you, especially if it’s a label you never would have chosen for yourself. It can make you feel like you’ve been put in a box, like they can’t see beyond one or two prominent aspects of your personality.
The First Goal of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy : Symptom relief
Symptom Relief Symptoms are those specific problems that cause a disturbance in a person’s life. Examples include tearfulness, excessive sadness, numerous worries, difficulties controlling one’s worries, withdrawal, reduced concentration, inability to focus well, excessive restlessness, sleep problems, etc. The first objective of psychotherapy, as you can imagine, is to relieve these symptoms that initially bring the patient to treatment. In my experience, symptom relief for most conditions occurs about [...]
Goals of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy
In the initial assessment session, I usually ask my patients what their goals are for therapy? Some patients have a hard time articulating what they hope to get out of therapy.
My Approach To Diagnosis
My Approach To Diagnosis: For me, diagnosis is not just an intellectual exercise, based solely on described symptoms.
How do you break the cycle?
Our emotional history has created thought patterns and conditioned responses based on events in the past - and in times of high stress, this is the fastest and easiest way the mind knows how to “see” events.
The concierge program
In our hectic world, it is easy to lose sight of who you really are. You might feel unhappy, on-edge, directionless, and lonely without understanding what is keeping you so stuck and stalled.
How Does Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Differ From Other Therapy Modalities?
Often times patients and even colleagues ask me how psychodynamic psychotherapy differs from other therapy modalities, such as Cognitive Behavioral or supportive therapies.
Tone Matters! – How You Say It Can Be More Important Than What You Say
Which is more important: what you say or how you say it? If you’ve ever fought over a problem with a partner or friend, only to reconcile later by calmly re-stating your points, you probably know—tone matters!
Avoidance Behavior: How and Why It Worsens Your PTSD
There are typically many different reminders of a trauma left behind that can trigger thoughts, feelings, and memories associated with the event. Because these memories and feelings are painful, many people find it easier to simply avoid their personal triggers altogether.
Understanding Narcissistic Personality Disorder: Characteristics, Symptoms, and Causes
Today, I would like to spend some time exploring Narcissistic Personality Disorder, otherwise known as NPD. As with any related personality disorder, understanding narcissistic personality disorder can be difficult.
The Importance of Self-Care for Men: 5 Powerful Benefits
As our society grows more accepting of the importance of mental health and the role self-care plays in our well-being, more and more men are turning toward self-care practices
What Is Anxiety? And What Can You Do to Relieve Anxiety?
We all feel worried from time to time. Even the occasional episode of severe worry or nervousness can be healthy. That is because worry and apprehension can help keep us safe and away from dangerous situations.
Unhelpful Thoughts: What You Can Do About Them
Everyone feels stressed and has negative thoughts from time to time. Feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt happen periodically, and it is normal to feel unsure of yourself or discouraged on occasion.
Developing Empathy: 7 Essential Skills to Get Along With Anyone
If you find yourself feeling as though you are unable to form meaningful connections with others, you are not alone.
Building Resilience by Learning How to Respond to and Overcome Adversity
When we learn to deal with and overcome adversity, we build resilience. Meaning, every time we confront a difficulty, successfully surmount it, and find the courage to continue, we become stronger, more confident, and capable of overcoming even future obstacles.
How to Establish Healthy Morning Habits to Start Off Your Day Right
In order to overcome anxiety, you have to stop staring at the enormity of the wall confronting you and rather focus on dismantling it brick-by-brick, so to speak.
10 Common Habits to Avoid That Can Drain Your Energy
Life’s challenges can either make you or break you… so goes the saying. The same can be said of choices, friends, failures, and even habits. Though, the thing is that challenges, choices, friends, and failures usually stare us right in the face. We are aware of them and generally have to confront them, one way or another.
Feeling Socially Isolated? – What You Can Do About It
Feeling socially isolated is a surprisingly common problem in today’s society. It seems counterintuitive, though. After all, we are constantly connected to one another.
Understanding Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder: Characteristics, Symptoms, and Causes
Understanding obsessive compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) takes education. It also requires some patience. This is a complex issue. It is not easy to understand.
Research Confirms Moderate Exercise Can Improve Sleep
One of the best tips is to exercise regularly. More specifically, people benefit when they get moderate exercise at the right time of day. In other words, not too much, not too little, and with attention to timing.
Learning to Process Emotions: How to Sit with Your Feelings of Sadness
Feelings of sadness can be very uncomfortable. Unfortunately, people tend to try to avoid them as a result. They watch TV, have a drink, or find another distraction to escape the sadness.
Feeling Sad or Depressed: What Exactly Is Clinical Depression?
Feeling sad is a very normal part of the human experience. On the other hand, clinical depression does not have to be a normal part of life.
Staying Grounded During the Humdrum of the Holidays – 5 Tips
Staying grounded during the holidays isn’t always easy. However, making the effort is one of the best gifts you can offer yourself during this stressful time of year.
Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder: Characteristics, Symptoms, and Causes
Understanding borderline personality disorder is a challenge. In fact, it is difficult to understand all of the ten personality disorders. Even professionals have a hard time really grasping their nuances.
Handling Holiday Conflict: 7 Practical Ways to Cope with Criticism
It is especially challenging when the criticism comes from our loved ones. After all, we expect the people that we are closest with to love us unconditionally. Therefore, when they have something negative to say, it cuts deep to the core.
Understanding Personality Disorders (PD): The Different Types of PD
Every individual has a personality. Personality is what we are, not what we have. Sometimes personality is so inflexible or marked by shortcomings that it causes ongoing problems in life. When that happens, we may call it a disorder.
5 Essential Tips for Getting Quality Sleep
Quality sleep can make all of the difference in our well-being. Poor sleep leads to a number of physical and mental health problems. Furthermore, it exacerbates existing issues. This is often a vicious cycle.
Introduction to PTSD – Part 2: Symptoms, Treatment, Ongoing Management
In this post, we will look more closely at the symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder. We will also share treatment strategies as well as options for long-term management of PTSD.
Introduction to PTSD – Part 1: Definition, Causes, Diagnosis
Many people have heard of PTSD, but few really understand what it is, what causes it, and how it affects people's lives.
Trouble Falling Asleep and Staying Asleep? 3 Tips that Work
The American Sleep Association reports that 3 in 10 adults struggle with insomnia. Furthermore, 10 percent of adults have a chronic problem with sleep
Practical ADHD Solutions: Engage Your 5 Senses!
One of the best ADHD solutions is something that you have right at your fingertips. It is the opportunity to engage all five of your senses.
When Anxiety Causes a Bad Mood – How You Can Find Balance Again
Having anxiety causes a bad mood in many people. We often think of anxiety in terms of the physical symptoms, including a racing heart and difficulty breathing. However, anxiety is also linked with frustration
Plastic Surgery Aftermath: How to Tactfully Suggest Therapy to Another Person
Learning how to tactfully suggest therapy can be one of the most valuable tools that we offer to our loved ones. Those of us who have benefitted from therapy ourselves know that it can help us through a variety of difficult experiences, ambiguous thoughts, and conflicting feelings.
The Dangers of Perfectionism: How Feeling “Not Good Enough” Affects Your Relationships
We often ignore the dangers of perfectionism. But perfectionism can have a terrible impact on our sense of self-worth. It can also put a strain on our relationships.
Thinking of Using Insurance for Mental Health Treatment? – Why That May Not Be a Good Idea
Clearly, there are a lot of things to weigh before making a decision if you should use insurance to pay for mental health treatment or not.
Coping with Emotional Trauma: How to Sit with Painful Feelings
Emotional trauma doesn’t have to define us. Many of us have experienced or been witness to terrible things. Those things stick with us as memories. Then, they create patterns that carry into our present-day lives.
Depression and Cognitive Decline: How Depression Expedites Brain Aging
The effects of depression are wide-reaching and devastating in an individual’s life and their family dynamic. Every day feels like a test of will—the various symptoms associated with depression creeping into every aspect of a person's daily interactions and mood.
Plastic Surgery and Mental Health: How Is Physical Appearance Linked to Your Personality?
Walking down the street, you pass a woman with shoulders down-turned, frown lines visibly present, and prominent brow bones that make her seem to naturally scowl. Later, you pass another woman whose chest is held high, eyes lit up, and soft facial features are welcoming.
Past Trauma: 5 Tips for Coping with Nightmares and Sleep Problems
We want to wash our past trauma out like mud from between our toes. We want to start each day without the trauma from yesterday lurking behind every corner.
Anxiety and Restlessness: Why You Exhaust Yourself with Constantly Keeping Busy
It is a busy, hectic world out there. Many people find their days swamped under piles of paperwork, childcare, and chores. However, for some, this busy life spurs from feeling restlessness and general anxiety.
“Am I Depressed?” – How to Know If You’re Just Sad or If You Have a Depressive Disorder
Remember that sadness, grief, and disappointment are all things that everyone experiences. However, when the blue days seem too blue, too consuming, and without an end in sight, it might be time to ask, “Am I depressed?
Concierge Mental Healthcare: The Compassionate and Dependable Help You’ve Been Looking For
Choosing a concierge mental healthcare provider results in better care and a more trusting relationship between patient and therapist. Explore concierge mental healthcare in your area and discover a new way to support your mental health and success.
“I Hate Feeling Lonely!” – How to Make Changes and Feel Genuinely Connected to Others Again
Feeling lonely is something that we all go through in life. For those of us who have this feeling often or feel isolated from others, learning how to make genuine connections is a crucial step. Implementing some basic self-reflecting skills into our daily interactions can be the solution to resolving loneliness and filling a longing heart.
Understanding Trauma: How Do Traumatic Experiences Impact the Brain?
Traumatic experiences can have wide-reaching, long-lasting effects on our lives. Whether it be a childhood trauma, accident, assault, or abuse, our reactions to traumatic experiences often cause us to pay both an emotional and physical toll.
Anger Is Not Sexy! – The Connection Between Anger, Anxiety, and Depression
Breaking the cycle of anger, anxiety, and depression takes time and patience. One common treatment for tackling such a complex relationship is anger management. In anger management, a patient receives tools for coping with each individual component of the cycle while understanding how their anger is contributing to other areas of their life.
What Is Emotional Intelligence? And What Is the Difference Between EQ and IQ?
We often hear about people with a high IQ, or Intelligence Quotients, such as Neil deGrasse Tyson and Stephen Hawking. More so, we hear about how those with high IQs fair better in their lives and careers.
Concierge Mental Health Services – The Key to Soaring Toward the Most Successful and Happy You!
Mental health is a vital part of our overall success and happiness. For those with hectic lifestyles or privacy needs, caring for your mental well-being can be a challenge.
Understanding Mental Health Evaluation and Therapy for Plastic Surgery
Plastic surgery has, in recent years, become a popular choice among men and women who are seeking change in their physical appearance.