Last year, my client bawled at the Thanksgiving table. She reported being met with disapproval, and later being told that she had ‘upset the children’ (teens). Gratitude is not a…
Generalstrategies for self-care
Blog
On Thanks-Giving
For many, it is a time to reflect on heritage and family. Kashmir, part of my heritage, has been known as a place of conflict and war since the Partition…
General
Mindfulness in Fur
When you have furry members of your family who are ill or aging, you experience a pattern of variability. You have memories and you have the moment. You have good…
strategies for self-care
Is simplicity significant?
Whether or not you call it minimalism, neuropsychological research indicates there are certainly mental health benefits to this type of lifestyle. Primarily, following a minimalist lifestyle emphasizes saving time, energy,…
Generalstrategies for self-care
Some thoughts on witchcraft
Belief in witchcraft is still prevalent in many parts of India and South Asia. This phenomenon isn’t new. Accusations of performing witchcraft have historically been used to justify killing and…
General
Pumpkins and mental health: psychology for the season
Today, a friend who owns a Lebanese bakery in the Washington DC region sent me a pumpkin and goat cheese tart. The scent is unbelievable. According to neural science/perception researchers…
General
On Neuropsychology and Respect: the complicated history of sage
Burning sage, also known as smudging or cleansing, is an ancient indigenous North American spiritual ritual. Scientifically, it has been established that white sage (Salvia apiana) is rich in compounds…
General
Tales of Trust
A frequent question in therapy is how can I tell if I have trust issues? One sign is that trust issues can cause you to have chronic relationship anxiety. Building…
General
The PainShare: On helping friends and family with chronic pain conditions
Having a loved one who lives with chronic pain can be challenging. Often we yearn to somehow lessen the burden and on the bad days when they are in excruciating…
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