For many people, parties are a highlight of the holiday season. But for those who are socially anxious, holiday parties can be nothing short of torturous. Resolving social anxiety exceeds the scope of a blog post, but in the meantime, here are some quick tips for surviving all the festivities. … Read More
The Post Holiday Blues
For many parents, the Christmas holiday is a time that they can see their family again. They can have all their children under one roof and operate happily amidst all the noise that was so familiar when the kids were growing up. But then the holiday hustle and bustle stop, … Read More
The Promise of the Holiday Season
In a world consumed with commercialism, it can be easy to lose sight of what the holiday season is really about. We tend to focus on superficial aspects of life and then fall hard when those things crumble before our eyes. Delicious food, presents, and lots of laughs are part … Read More
The Pursuit of Happiness
During the holidays, I find that there is an emphasis on joy, cheerfulness, and merriness. However, what happens when you have tried to find happiness and failed? Sometimes, individuals think they are entitled to it. The fact of the matter is that life can be difficult and can crush the … Read More
In Defense of Journaling
The idea of journaling or keeping a diary seems to conjure up different images in different people. Some of us think of scientists in lab coats keeping a research journal of their latest findings. Others of us think about tiny pink notebooks and schoolyard crushes. Regardless of our preconceived notions, … Read More
Am I An Addict?
Am I an addict? Labels, diagnosis, and prognosis: we are obsessed with putting labels on people and putting them in neat little categories. Society likes to know what the diagnosis is and what the prognosis will be. Many times I hear, “I use and abuse drugs and alcohol, but I … Read More
Self-care is Not Selfish!
Self-care is not selfish or self-indulgent. We cannot nurture others from a dry well. We need to take care of our own needs first, then we can give from our surplus, our abundance. ~ Jennifer Louden I’ve found myself having the conversation about self-care with several clients lately. Many of … Read More
Making Stress Your Friend – Part 1
Recently, I was listening to Psychologist Kelly McGonigal talk about stress. We all know that stress can be detrimental, and there is significant research that indicates its negative impact on health. However, stress is something that most of us experience a moderate to high amount in life. There are many … Read More
How to “Parent Proof” Your Marriage
One of the most frequent issues that many spouses face is problems with intrusive parents. Do you experience parents who call daily, come over uninvited, tell you how to parent your children, judge the decisions you make or disrespect your spouse? These type of encounters are problematic to marriages because they violate … Read More