25Nov

Speaking Different Languages

A good friend recently asked me why her daughter was “acting out (being short, non-compliant, angry).” She explained, “I’ve done everything to make her happy. I buy her whatever she wants. No matter what I do for her she is still defiant, and seems unhappy. I’ve tried sitting her down and asking what’s going on, […]

26Oct

Thinking Makes It So

As a therapist I am constantly seeking to help my clients envision a multitude of possibilities when processing troubling life events. As humans we often tend to explain situations in rigid terms of right and wrong, good or bad, or black and white. When something happens to us, we immediately begin to create a story […]

19Sep

Battling Binges

We all overeat from time to time. This can include indulging in a decadent dessert when you’re already full, or taking that extra helping at a family gathering. For binge eaters, however, this is a regular event that generally happens in secret and is accompanied with a feeling of disgust and a complete loss of […]

14Sep

Come Play with Me

One of the most important ways for parents to connect with their children is through play.  According to a recent report by the American Academy of Pediatrics, “free and unstructured play” is both “healthy” and “essential” for the cognitive, emotional, and social development of children. Play has been found to reduce stress and anxiety in […]

07Jul

Anger Management — The Personal Side

Anger can be a symptom of depression, grief, acute stress disorder, bipolar disorder, substance abuse and/or addiction, personality disorders, eating disorders, schizophrenia and many, many other disorders. Thus, anger should never be ignored. And, even if you seek treatment and find that you do not have a diagnosable mental health disorder, feelings of anger should […]

01Jul

Anger Management — The Practical Side

“Anger management” is a term that is used loosely nowadays and even used jokingly in movies and conversations to refer to treatment that might help emotionally explosive individuals. But, anger is a real and powerful emotion and can be dangerous both for the person with deep feelings of anger and for those around him/her.