Blog
Self-Compassion, the New Self-Esteem
The research is in! Those who score higher in self-compassion have less anxiety and depression and bounce back easier from setbacks. The self-esteem movement of the 90's has shown some cracks. Namely, we have taught people that in order to feel good about themselves,...
The Negativity Bias
My day started off great! I woke up on time (without my alarm), my mood was light, I had my favorite espresso, kids were off to their respective places, the first few client sessions were meaningful, and then one negative hiccup..... Sure enough, before I knew it, my...
Casualties Of Perfectionism
The almost casualty of my perfectionism today was delighting in my 2-year olds newfound coloring skills and the fact that I had finally found a “play” activity that I enjoyed as much as my child. The latter of which has been no small feat and believe me I have tried...
The Myth Of Multitasking
Me singing: "Mary had a little lamb, little lamb..." Internal thought process: "Geez, how many verses does this song have?" "I'm supposed to be working right now! You're supposed to be sleeping!" I feel myself getting frustrated and irritable. I had big plans for nap...
What’s Wrong with Restricting
Learn what you really lose when you starve yourself. How it can actually make you gain weight. In an attempt to lose weight, people often think that by severely restricting their caloric intake they will achieve their goal. Initially, there is some weight loss, but...
Self Esteem
Individuals commonly present in therapy for issues directly related to self-esteem or for symptoms that eventually are tied to and lead back to the exploration of one’s self-esteem. There is a wealth of information and research devoted to this topic and self-help...
Emotions and Feelings
(somePeople often use the terms "emotions" and "feelings" interchangeably, but it can be helpful to understand the difference between them, as this aids in learning how to regulate ourselves when experiencing an emotional tsunami. Antonio D’Amasio, a professor of...
How You Choose To Focus Your Attention Matters
One of the most empowering messages to come out of neuroscience is that our very thoughts and where we place attention changes the physical structure of the brain (Donald Altman, MA, LPC). More importantly, the significance of self-directed neuroplasticity (Jeffrey...
Lifespan Of An Emotion
"I recently read in the book My Stroke of Insight by brain scientist Jill Bolte Taylor that the natural life span of an emotion—the average time it takes for it to move through the nervous system and body—is only a minute and a half. After that we need thoughts to...
Alcoholism and Addiction
A significant percentage of my practice is comprised of individuals struggling with alcoholism and addiction. For most of these individuals, shame and guilt are pervasive, chronic, and destructive. Many individuals struggling with alcoholism and addiction are blamed...
Why Do We Need Fat In Our Diets
Fat, often erroneously, is mistaken as the “enemy” and many try to avoid eating it at all costs. We all need fat in our diets, however, it should comprise no more than 25-30% of our daily caloric intake. FAT IS NECESSARY FOR: Normal growth and development Energy (fat...
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates have become almost as evil, in some people’s minds, as fat, making it “in vogue” to eliminate them from one’s diet. This is unfortunate, as this macronutrient should comprise approximately 45-65% of our daily caloric intake. This percentage is...