Most new mothers are handed their swaddled baby along with a brochure about postpartum depression (PPD) when they are discharged from the hospital. And while it’s great that awareness of PPD is growing, each woman’s experience of it can vary greatly and include everything from obsessive anxiety, OCD, to a sense of disconnect to unremitting […]
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How to Create an Authentic Life
If creating an authentic life were easy, everyone would be doing it. Sadly, life has a way of pushing us off track, having us focus on extrinsic motivations as opposed to our intrinsic desires and dreams. Why does this happen? When we’re young, no one really tells us the importance of living authentically. We’re told […]
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What No One Tells You About Therapy (But Should!)
It is said we fear the unknown, which is why many people shy away from receiving therapy. It can be intimidating walking into your therapist’s office for the very first time, not knowing what to expect. On the flip side, some people assume they know everything about therapy and are then quite surprised when receiving treatment. The […]
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Sleep as a New Mom: 4 Strategies to Restful, Restorative Sleep
Life before the baby came was so different. You were cleaner. You ate out more often. And the hours and hours of sleep you used to take for granted! If you’ve recently had a baby and are having a hard time getting enough rest each night, you’re not alone. According to a study by PLOSone, new […]
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How to Tell if Therapy is Right for You
When it comes to your physical health, it’s pretty easy to know whether or not you need to see a doctor. If you catch a cold, there’s really no need to make an appointment; however, if you break your ankle, you need to immediately get to an emergency room. But when it comes to your […]
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How to Help Children Understand a Parent’s Depression
Many parents experience clinical depression each year. As if the disease weren’t enough, recognizing its effects on your children can be quite painful. Studies have shown that children of depressed parents are at greater risk of not only developing depression themselves, but also of poor physical health, problems bonding, anxiety, poor self-esteem and aggressive behavior. Of […]
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3 Ingredients to a Happy Marriage
Have you ever wondered why some marriages last decades while others barely go two years? Why do some couples thrive and grow together while others crash and burn? The secret? There are three secrets, actually; three ingredients to a happy and successful marriage. Without all three of these, many couples will struggle to remain connected […]
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Top 5 Ways to Reduce Anxiety
It’s rare that any of us will get through life without experiencing anxiety at some point. But some people have the burden of dealing with anxiety on a daily basis. Whether it’s over something big or insignificant, anxiety stops us from living a normal life full of joy and potential. Here are 5 ways you […]
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Afraid of Failure? Here’s Advice on Coping with Failure
Fear of failure causes us to put the brakes on our life. When we’re so afraid of failing at something, we either don’t try at all, or we subconsciously undermine or own efforts to avoid an even bigger failure. Without question, fear of failure is immobilizing and, when we allow it to dictate our choices and sit […]
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4 Ways to Improve Self Esteem When You Have Depression
Depression and low self-esteem are two sides of the same coin. While low self-esteem leaves people vulnerable to depression, depression can absolutely destroy self-esteem. But, though low self-esteem may be deeply rooted, there are things you can do to improve it, even if you are suffering from depression. 1. Start Your Day with Positivity It’s […]
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Post-Baby Disconnect? 3 Ways to Stay More Connected After Having a Baby
No matter how many times they were warned, few new parents are prepared for the life-changing event of the birth of their first child. No more sleeping in on Saturday, then heading to your favorite restaurant for brunch with friends. These leisurely activities are replaced with sleepless nights and endless diaper changes. It’s no surprise […]
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4 Signs You Might be Struggling with Depression
It’s natural to feel down or anxious from time to time. What’s not natural, however, is prolonged feelings of hopelessness and despair. When these emotions grab hold, and won’t let go, it is likely you may have depression. Depression makes every day a constant challenge. You no longer enjoy life as you once did. Just […]
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3 Ways Therapy Helps You Address Anxiety
Millions of people deal with stress and anxiety on a daily basis. Whether it’s a result of phobias, depressions, or post-traumatic stress, anxiety can take a toll on our mind and health. If you deal with anxiety you most likely have looked into ways you can help calm your emotional rollercoaster. Perhaps you’ve even tried […]
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What Addiction Experts Wish Every Parent Knew
Parenting is one of the toughest jobs in the world – if not the toughest. After all, children do not come with manuals or operating instructions. Looking for guidance, many parents turn to their own childhoods to pick up clues on how to raise children the right way, or at the very least, how not to raise them […]
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4 Things You Need to Know About Adolescent Anxiety
Anxiety is like fire: It can keep us safe and warm, or completely devastate our property and our lives. It’s good to be a little anxious at times. When walking down a deserted street at night, anxiety keeps us on alert and ready to fight or take flight should a dangerous situation arise. But for […]
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5 Free Relaxation Apps Worth Downloading Right Now
Not all nervous system tools have to be mainstream to be powerful. I often recommend five more free relaxation apps to clients who are overwhelmed, overstimulated, or just trying to get through Tuesday without unraveling. 1. Calm (Free + Premium Versions) Link → Calm Calm is consistently ranked among the top apps for mindfulness and for good […]
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Belly Breathing
Clients get the funniest look on their faces when I tell them that I’m going to teach them to breathe. After all, breathing is something our bodies know how do automatically and naturally, right? Well, yes and no. Most of us tend to breathe from the chest. This definitely gets some oxygen to the body, […]
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4 Steps to Taming That Difficult Emotion
My clients know this exercise as “Name It To Tame It”. I’ve changed it to SNAP to acknowledge some of the challenges with the previous acronym, however, the basic idea is the same. This exercise uses both mindfulness and reframing skills to calm anxiety, anger, and sadness, but it can be used in a lot […]
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PACE Yourself
No matter how much we love and adore our children, completely relating to them can be challenging at times. Yet, that ‘relating’ is essential to the life-long connection we have to our kids. . .and their life-long connections to us and to the world. The following is an adaptation of a strategy from Daniel A. […]
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