Blog for Better Living

Should My Elder Parent and I Live Together?

By: Michael Toohey, Psy.D. | March 8, 2024

When it becomes clear that one or both of your elderly parents needs an increasing amount of assistance, many adult children find themselves weighing the pros and cons of living with their aging parents. Before you decide to move in with your elderly parents, or move your elderly parents into your home, there are several […]

Family, Relationships, Stress

Why Values Matter

By: Sheila Allameh, Psy.D. | December 15, 2023

What do you value? While it may appear to be a simple question, the answer is often met with a look of confusion followed by the reply, “I haven’t thought about that before.” If you have difficulty identifying your values, you’re not alone. This article will help you begin the journey of discovering your values […]

How to Cope with Gender Disappointment

By: Niyatee Sukumaran, Ph.D. | November 10, 2023

If you are an expectant parent, you’ve undoubtedly been asked: “Do you want a boy or a girl?” All expectant parents have their own ideas and expectations about the biological sex of their future child and create fantasies around what an ideal family looks like. The anticipation of a child’s gender can lead to a […]

Why You Should Have Hard Conversations

By: Ashley Malooly, Ph.D. | August 11, 2023

…And How To Start Them We hope for harmony in our relationships, yet disagreements are bound to arise. The closer the relationship, the more strongly we feel when disagreements emerge. When we learn how to work through conflict together, we can heal our relationships, deepen intimacy, and feel better connected. Working through conflict in […]

Nurturing YOU: Overcoming Burnout as a Working Mom

By: Kristen Lipari, Ph.D. | June 16, 2023

Balancing motherhood and working outside the home is a balancing act that can leave you feeling stretched thin. You may find yourself wrestling with guilt when you don’t meet the high expectations you set for yourself. As a psychologist who specializes in perinatal mental health, I not only work with moms with young children, I […]

Coming Out as Queer on Your Terms

By: Gregory E. Koch, Psy.D. | December 30, 2022

This article is inspired by friends and clients who recently shared with me about their coming out journey. In my article Relationship Tips for Gay Men…and anyone else smart enough to read this article, I suggest that gay men “celebrate their gay” by being themself in as many spaces as possible. This article will expand […]

Family, LGBTQ+, Relationships

Therapy Changes Welcomes Dr. Melissa Bernstein

By: Other | December 2, 2022

Written by Melissa Bernstein, Ph.D. I’m so excited to be welcomed into the Therapy Changes family. The journey to become a child psychologist has been a true privilege for me. I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to support kids and families in different professional capacities as a therapist, professor, and researcher for over a decade. I find […]

Why are holidays so hard? A Guide for Coping

By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | November 25, 2022

If the holidays don’t feel like the often quoted ‘most wonderful time of the year,’ you aren’t alone in that feeling. At an early age, we learn that the holidays are times for festivity, a time for the entire family to come together in perfect joy. Social media shows idyllic images of beautiful families together, […]

Family, Grief, Holidays, Stress, Trauma

Compassionate Self-Talk for the Stressed-Out Parent

By: Kristen Lipari, Ph.D. | November 18, 2022

The tasks of parenthood can feel overwhelming. Whether you are a stay-at-home parent or balancing a job with parenthood, these years are trying. You’re managing your own mental and physical well-being as well as that of tiny humans. There are dozens of seemingly invisible tasks that add up and it feels like there’s never enough […]

Children, Family, Parenting, Stress