Stress & Heart Disease

stress

Stress can be poisonous. We’ve known that for a long time, but a recent study linked emotional stress to heart disease in a new and interesting way – via the amygdala. A team of researchers from Harvard Medical School scanned the brain, bone marrow, spleen and arteries of 300 people … Read More

Experiencing Positive Change in Your Relationships

Relationships

As a marriage and family therapist, the biggest hurdle that I see individuals and couples face in realizing the goals for their relationships is that they keep doing what they have been doing, in spite of having learned a better way. So, as the Nike ad says, “Just do it.” … Read More

Tips for setting GOALS!

goals

The start of a new year brings a lot of hope to people and many are inspired to set goals or resolutions. It is a symbol of new beginnings and having a clean slate. We feel determined to make this year better than the last. We want to get organized, … Read More

Have I Experienced Trauma?

trauma

Any experience that is less than nurturing and causes you to change your perception of yourself, others and the world can be defined as trauma. The truth is we all have experiences in life that affect us negatively and cause us to suffer.  The second truth is we are often … Read More

Eat more attentively

eat

Resolutions like “eat healthier” seem to be pretty common. But what if we tried to eat more attentively instead? We live in a pretty fast-paced culture. Leisurely lunch breaks are great. But sometimes “lunch” is a turkey sandwich in one hand and an iPhone in the other as we run … Read More

Do Something Hard

hard

It turns out, doing something hard might be good for your brain. This is the time of year when people tend to try and make and keep resolutions. Are you still looking for one? Try this one out: Do something hard. A group of researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital recently … Read More

Mental Health In Our Schools and How We Can Help Students

mentalhealth

About one in five children in the United States show signs of a mental health disorder – anything from ADHD to eating disorders and suicide. And yet, as NPR has been reporting in their series on the mental health crisis in U.S. schools, many schools aren’t prepared to work with … Read More

Out of the Shadows: Understanding Sexual Addiction

Patrick Carnes is the author of Out of the Shadows: Understanding Sexual Addiction. As a therapist, we often utilize his materials to enhance the content of sessions with our clients. Out of the Shadows: Understanding Sexual Addiction is an easy read and a great resource to help explain the addiction cycle for … 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

Athletes: Listening To Your Body

athletes

Beep, Beep, Beep. I sleepily rolled over and looked at my alarm. The clock showed 6:15a.m. on Saturday morning. I lay in bed for a moment and had an internal debate. Should I put on my running shoes and get my 8 miles in? Deep down, my body ached; it … Read More