Blog for Better Living

Food and Your Mood: How Food Affects Mental Health

By: Jen McWaters, Psy.D. | January 19, 2024

The prevalence of mental health conditions is on the rise, and as a society it is crucial that we seriously examine and address the factors that contribute to these issues, both for ourselves and for younger generations. One area that deserves attention is our typical Western modern diet, specifically the over-consumption of ultra-processed food. In […]

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Anxiety, Depression, Personal Improvement, Sleep/Relaxation

Understanding Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Therapy That Works!

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

“Change your thoughts, and you change your world.” – Norman Vincent Peale What is Cognitive Behavior Therapy? Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is recognized as one of the most effective and popular forms of psychotherapy. More than 2,000 studies have examined the efficacy of CBT to treat a range of conditions including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress […]

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Anxiety, Depression, Personal Improvement, Relationships, Sleep/Relaxation, Substance Abuse, Therapy, Trauma

Tips for a Good Night’s Sleep

By: Kristen Lipari, Ph.D. | April 28, 2023

Sleep is essential to every process in the body. Sleep affects our physical, mental, and emotional functioning, immunity, and metabolism. Lack of sleep, or poor quality of sleep can leave us vulnerable to increased anxiety and mood symptoms. When we don’t sleep well, we feel fatigued the next day, which makes it difficult to attend […]

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Anxiety, Personal Improvement, Relationships, Sleep/Relaxation

When It’s More Than the “Baby Blues”

By: Kristen Lipari, Ph.D. | July 22, 2022

Depression and Anxiety During and After Pregnancy   Bringing a child into the world can be one of the biggest and happiest events in your life, but it can also be extremely stressful. Many physical and emotional changes happen during, and after pregnancy, bringing on unique mental health challenges. It is very common for pregnant […]

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Anxiety, Children, Depression, Parenting, Sleep/Relaxation

Looking Inside “The Man Box”

By: Demet Çek, Ph.D. | May 6, 2022

Coauthored by Demet Çek, Ph.D. and Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. “Speaking for my gender, there are two qualities that define most men: we seldom like to ask for help, and we do not like to talk about our feelings. Combining the two – asking for help about our feelings – is the ultimate affront to many […]

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Anxiety, Depression, Relationships, Sleep/Relaxation, Stress, Substance Abuse, Therapy

Beware of Doomscrolling

By: Michael Toohey, Psy.D. | April 29, 2022

Staying current in the ever-changing world we live in is important, but how do we know how much information is too much? We can access information about world events from the palm of our hands, easily scrolling from one news source to the next. How do you know when you’ve consumed enough for one day? […]

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Anger, Anxiety, Depression, Relationships, Sleep/Relaxation, Stress, Trauma

Therapy Changes Welcomes Dr. Stephanie Salo

By: Other | April 16, 2021

Written by Stephanie Salo, Psy.D. Are you one of those folks who “fake it ‘til you make it” as if gritting your teeth and forcing a smile is the formula to get through the toughest times? While faking anything might work temporarily, increasing awareness of your emotions and learning to use them along with your […]

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Anxiety, Grief, Introduction, Relationships, Sleep/Relaxation, Therapy

A Better Approach to This Year’s Resolutions

By: Other | January 15, 2021

Written by guest author Caroline Huarte, Ph.D., BCBA, FNTP Let’s make this year different than any before! I’m suggesting we skip the lofty New Year’s resolution that often leaves us deprived and unhappy and trade it in for living an intentional and mindful year that prioritizes self-care. While self-care has become quite the trendy term, […]

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Personal Improvement, Sleep/Relaxation, Stress

Finding R.E.S.T.

By: Jen McWaters, Psy.D. | October 16, 2020

I and others I know seem to long for rest more than anything else these days. Between the news on natural disasters, the political climate, and COVID-19, I find that many of us experience too much stimulation from too much information input resulting in too little space for rest. For some, working from home provides […]

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Anxiety, Mindfulness, Personal Improvement, Sleep/Relaxation