I often have clients who are very interested in practicing mindfulness between therapy sessions, but may not know where to begin. This is a simple weekly practice that I recommend. Gratitude Write down three things each day that you feel gratitude for. You might even have a friend who does this too, and you can…
Generalstrategies for self-careBlog
The Case for Stubbornness
While calling someone a “mule” is usually considered to be a negative comment, psychological research shows that stubbornness is actually affiliated with a number of positive characteristics. -Stubborn people know what they want and what they don’t want. Just because a stubborn person isn’t easily swayed by opinions, or resists the path of pleasing others,…
GeneralBend Like a Willow as a Psychotherapy Strategy
There is an ancient wisdom by Lao Tzu that a strong wind may topple the sturdy oak, but the willow bends and lets the wind pass through. Life sends plenty of wind our way; a belligerent person, unexpected hardships, losses, grief, and difficult changes. In the face of that foul weather, we often glorify those…
Generalstrategies for self-careStress is Not All Awful
It was really amazing the number of hard hits from which a mind could recover. ― Stephen King, Full Dark, No Stars While we certainly cannot control many tragic events in life that will inevitably bring about painful distress (e.g., death of a loved one, breakup, betrayal by a friend), we have far more control…
Generalstrategies for self-careWays to give without spending
Ways to give without spending Tutor students This past fall, a number of college students responded to my request for volunteers to help families at my community mental health clinic who needed support setting up distance learning for their children. Often they had limited or no Wi-Fi, and had difficulty accessing the curriculum online. Many…
GeneralThe neuropsychology of dog love
For 30,000 years humans and dogs have lived together. Today, dogs are a fixture in almost 50% of American households. From the way dogs thump their tails, invade our laps, are delighted to see us whether it’s five minutes or five months away from them, take over our furniture, try to eat our food, and…
Generalstrategies for self-careGot sleep?
How did you sleep seems to be a question that people frequently ask each other. Did you rest? Some sleep patterns mean a person will sleep once per day while others mean they sleep at intervals. However, the pattern that is most common or traditional in a population may or may not be the healthiest…
Generalstrategies for self-carePersonal Praying may boost mental health
Praying for others may or may not help them that much, empirically, but several studies have found benefits for the person doing the prayer, whether they are praying for someone else or themselves. This may stem from the effect that the act of praying has on a person’s mental well-being. The compassion that people display…
strategies for self-careHow to be happier
In my work, I help people make transitions, cope with stress, and experience small moments of joy each day. I encourage people to volunteer, self-care, learn how to be solitary, learn how to be attached, and how to be bold. From the research and my clinical experiences, these are a few things that I have…
strategies for self-careThe Kindness of Strangers
There is no other species that is as dependent on cooperation as humans are, even on the basic level of trying to get enough calories to meet basic health needs. Humans evolved to be completely dependent on mothers and other caregivers for the first several years of life, unique to our species. And we continue…
Generalstrategies for self-care