Digital media, including social media, became a centerpiece of day to day life at a seemingly exponential rate. Before I graduated high school in 2006, I remember many evenings spent …
Couples Therapy Palo Alto: Relationships in the Tech World.
Being a Marriage and Family Therapist in the Bay Area specializing in Couples Therapy Palo Alto, means I have the privilege to meet clients from very diverse backgrounds. One of …
Family Stress Test
Family Stress Test Stress is a natural and normal “by-product” of every family’s life. In fact, family stress can bring out the best of us: as we stretch to meet …
Disorganized Attachment
Mary Ainsworth’s work on attachment identified three attachment categories (secure, insecure avoidant, and insecure ambivalent/resistant). The development of the disorganized/disoriented classification evolved as a part of Mary Main’s doctoral research …
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most widely used evidence-based treatment for depression and anxiety. In CBT, the focus is on thoughts, and how they directly affect emotions, and behaviors. …
How Well Are You Listening to Your Children and Others?
When our children come to us with a problem, we usually want to help them. So we console, interpret, advise, distract or praise. Other times, we feel we must teach …
Couples Therapy + Online Counseling
Your Reaction to “The New Normal”: Are My Thoughts And Feelings Normal? How Are You? No, Really, How are you? The answer to this question is often a resounding, “Eh.” …
Psychology Articles, Therapy News, and Mental Health Topics
A great resource for Psychology Articles, Therapy News, and Mental Health Topics. The Panelist is valuable place to find articles on health and mental health as well as current events. …
What is Anxiety?
(Wikipedia) Anxiety is an emotion characterized by an unpleasant state of inner turmoil, often accompanied by nervous behavior such as pacing back and forth, somatic complaints, and rumination. It is …
Understanding Anxiety
Anxiety and fear are a normal part of human experience. We all face feelings of fear and anxiety in situations like starting a new job or public speaking, or we …
Should You Try Couples Counseling?
Oftentimes people come to couples counseling when they are deep in crisis. In fact, it may be a last-ditch effort to save the marriage even though you’ve been talking about …
Is Listening to a Book the Same Thing as Reading It?
Each is best suited to different purposes, and neither is superior. A few years ago, when people heard I was a reading researcher, they might ask about their child’s dyslexia …
Coping With an Insecure Attachment Style
There is a substantial amount of research indicating that attachment patterns are set in early childhood and persist throughout our lives. An individual is either “secure” or has one of …
The Minds of Plants
At first glance, the Cornish mallow (Lavatera cretica) is little more than an unprepossessing weed. It has pinkish flowers and broad, flat leaves that track sunlight throughout the day. However, …
Harm Reduction for Substance Use
Have you seen those recent commercials about quitting smoking that suggest that if “cold turkey” is too hard then you might instead try “slow turkey?” That’s the basic idea behind …
What is sexual addiction?
Sexual addiction is a condition in which an individual cannot manage their sexual behavior. Persistent sexual thoughts affect their ability to work, maintain relationships, and fulfil their daily activities. Other …
What is Hypnosis?
HYPNOSIS APPLICATIONS, EFFECTS, AND MYTHS What exactly is hypnosis? While definitions can vary, the American Psychological Association describes hypnosis as a cooperative interaction in which the participant responds to the …
It Takes Just One Question to Identify Narcissism
Ohio State researchers believe they have developed and validated a new method to identify which people are narcissistic. And, the beauty is that the tool is only a single question. …
Sex Addiction Symptoms, Causes and Effects
Definition of Sex Addiction Sex addiction can refer to a range of behaviors that are done in excess and significantly impact one’s life in a negative way. The Diagnostic and …
Therapist Website Design & Brand Image
Brand Image and Therapist Website Design Marketing professionals view you and your business as a “brand.” That’s right; just like Starbucks, Netflix or Amazon. As a brand you have an image …
Genes Do Shape Behaviors But it’s Complicated
Many of our psychological traits are innate in origin. There is overwhelming evidence from twin, family and general population studies that all manner of personality traits, as well as things …
Why We Are Feeling Lonelier Than Ever
Why is Fyodor Dostoevsky considered one of the greatest novelist to live? In his memoir, Ernest Hemingway claimed that he couldn’t get through any of his books because of how …
Young People, Relationships and the Right Amount of (Hard) Work
In almost every aspect of life and living, the quality of your marriage will influence your happiness. Interestingly, divorce is the second most stressful life event anyone can ever experience, …
Medical Marijuana for Depression, Bipolar Disorder and Anxiety
The usefulness of medical marijuana for the treatment of mental illness and disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, and schizophrenia is an open question today. There have been only …
How Ketamine Saved Her Life
On the inside of her right wrist, Becca Belofsky Shuer wears a tattoo of a semicolon. It’s a symbol of solidarity with other people at risk for suicide. She chose …
It’s Time to Fight Smarter
Do you and your partner seem to always be in conflict? Do small disagreements turn into colossal blow-out fights? Or, do you both always seem to be on each other’s …
How to Survive Your Midlife Blues
Midlife malaise is common, but take heart: Happiness tends to rebound as we get older, and there are ways to cope in the meantime. I’m in my 50s—a bit past …
Look Up From Your Screen
Children learn best when their bodies are engaged in the living world. We must resist the ideology of screen-based learning A rooster crows and awakens my family at the farm …
The Psychology of Roller Coasters
Perhaps the draw of roller coasters is the enjoyment of the visceral sensation of fear itself, much like watching a horror movie. Roller coasters may seem like a very modern …
Psychology of Choice
Psychology of Choice How psychology explains the everyday decisions that we make, and how we are unaware of the influences that guide the choices we make. Each day, we make …
On Revisiting PTSD
In an extract from his new book, John Marzillier meets people who have returned to the scene of their trauma. On 27 August 1979, off the west coast of Ireland …
The Sandwich Generation
Rising Financial Burdens for Middle-Aged Americans With an aging population and a generation of young adults struggling to achieve financial independence, the burdens and responsibilities of middle-aged Americans are increasing. …
Under Too Much Stress? Some Tips On How to Cope
Stress affects us all from time to time, but how much stress is too much? If you’re suffering from the warning signs below, follows these steps to start reducing stress …
Hypnotherapists – What are they and what do they do?
The idea of hypnosis or hypnotherapy has changed quite a bit in recent decades. Gone is the iconic image of a magician in a top hat and tails waving a …
Alternative Medicine
Tips for finding a balance Do you want more from yourself? Ready to pay more attention to the interconnectedness of your body, mind, and emotions? Do you think that focusing …
9 Simple Ways to Deal With Stress at Work
According to research, the percentage of Americans who are stressed at work is high, and it’s only getting higher. According to the CDC’s National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, …
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
The Six Core Processes of ACT The Psychological Flexibility Model The general goal of ACT is to increase psychological flexibility – the ability to contact the present moment more fully …
Depression: the most common mental health issue
Adults with depression may have low self-esteem. They may display poor concentration, low motivation, and withdraw from social or recreational activities. They may respond intensely to criticism or feedback. Changes …
Counseling in Tribeca New York City
Loneliness. Anyone can feel lonely. It doesn’t matter if you’re in a relationship or not, a social butterfly or someone who isn’t into crowds. To understand what’s making you feel …
Fearing Death
How to cope with the inevitable end in a positive way. As people age, go through life changes, or experience illness (either themselves or the illness of loved ones) the …
Hypochondriasis Explained
Hypochondriasis is now more commonly known as Illness Anxiety Disorder (IAD). It is an official mental disorder that requires a diagnosis. When someone is diagnosed with hypochondriasis, it means they …
Ketamine Infusion Therapy Benefits
Depression and anxiety affect millions of people in the United States each year. Even after an official diagnosis and treatment plan, many people don’t find the relief they’re looking for …
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
Everyone on the planet has felt a little out of control at times. You get angry or stressed out, tired or overwhelmed. After all, we’re all human. However, one thing …
How to Get Along With Your Partner
There are a number of other skills for couples that help preserve a marriage, a friendship, and even a co-worker’s loyalty. These include: Knowing the right time and place for …
My Irrational Moral Superiority
It’s easy to judge someone for thinking they are ‘better’ than us in just about every aspect. But, looking in the mirror and saying the same thing can be a …
Recognizing Your Stress – Where it Comes from and How to Manage It
A little bit of stress in everyday life is normal. It’s nearly impossible to avoid. Sometimes, a little stress can even be a good thing! But, when you’re overly-stressed, your …
Anxiety Disorders
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the in the United States, affecting 40 million adults, or 18.1% of …
More On Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Your mind is an incredible thing. Every moment of your life is processed and analyzed almost instantaneously so you can react accordingly. Your brain is so reactive and sensitive to …
What Are the Causes of ADHD?
The symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often found in children lead many people to believe those particular kids aren’t disciplined, or that they are given too much control …
The Good Ways to Argue
For most people, arguments are a way of settling disputes without anyone getting injured. For some, however, arguing actually includes the getting hurt portion, and the winner is the one …