Blog for Better Living

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Mirror, Mirror: Breaking Free of the Comparison Trap

By: Natalie Rice-Thorp, Ph.D. | April 22, 2022

Have you ever left a class or staff meeting feeling like an imposter because you think that everyone is smarter than you? Have you ever looked at your social media feed and felt envy for someone else’s seemingly beautiful life? If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. It’s human nature to compare ourselves to […]

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Anxiety, Depression, Personal Improvement

Trauma and Its Aftermath

By: Lisa Card Strong, Ph.D. | April 8, 2022

It’s easy to wish that unwanted, intrusive, and repetitive thoughts about a traumatic event could just disappear and go “poof.” Unfortunately, for those who have experienced trauma, the aftermath is simply not that simple. This article explains what trauma is, how it affects your mental health, and how you can help yourself. Understanding Trauma When […]

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Relationships, Substance Abuse, Therapy, Trauma

Drinking During the Pandemic

By: Demet Çek, Ph.D. | April 1, 2022

Coauthored by Demet Çek, Ph.D. and Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. We’ve all been there: it’s been a long, hard day at work, and you open a bottle of wine or crack open a beer to unwind. One glass, or one beer can easily turn into two, or three, and become a daily habit – especially during […]

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Depression, Stress, Trauma

Finding Belonging in the Workplace for Women of Color

By: Kamaljit "Sonya" Virdi, Ph.D. | March 25, 2022

Recognizing the experience and contribution of women of color in our society is important. This is especially true in honor of Women’s History Month. Many women of color, especially those from historically marginalized groups, don’t see professionals from their backgrounds represented in their respective career fields. This lack of representation leads to feeling inadequate, a […]

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Career, Racial Justice

7 Strategies for Overcoming Obstacles

By: Other | March 18, 2022

Written by Stephanie Salo, Psy.D. There are often many challenges encountered when trying to solve a problem and reach a goal. The process can be discouraging, and as more obstacles are encountered, frustration and exhaustion magnify. For example, I recently inherited a broken koi pond. I have been determined to either fix it or keep […]

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Anxiety, Depression, Mindfulness, Personal Improvement

Springing into New Experiences: Values-Based Dating

By: Jen McWaters, Psy.D. | March 11, 2022

Spring is around the corner, a season representing growth, change, and renewal. As the weather warms up, it’s common to experience an increase in energy, creativity, and motivation. Spring cleaning anyone? You may find that you are more motivated to try new things, be in new environments, and for some, even date. If you’re curiously […]

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Personal Improvement, Relationships

How to Avoid Common Thinking Traps in Parenthood

By: Kristen Lipari, Ph.D. | March 4, 2022

Parenthood is full of traps, some of which come in the form of inexplicably painful Legos that hide on the floor just waiting for you to stumble at the end of a long day. Some of these traps occur in our minds. They’re thinking traps, and just because they live in our heads does not […]

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Children, Family, Parenting

Get Out of Your Comfort Zone! Join a Men’s Group

By: Demet Çek, Ph.D. | February 25, 2022

The idea of joining a therapy group can be intimidating at first. You may find yourself contemplating questions such as: What is a men’s group? What am I going to get out of this that I may not get elsewhere? Will I be understood or accepted? As facilitator of the Modern Men’s Group at Therapy […]

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Personal Improvement, Relationships, Therapy

How to Outsmart Procrastination

By: Natalie Rice-Thorp, Ph.D. | February 18, 2022

We’ve all been there; we have found ourselves facing tasks that we “should do,” maybe even “have to do,” and yet, we struggle to move ourselves toward actually doing these things. Maybe you need to study for a test, complete a work project, or start on your taxes. The scenario plays out the same, you […]

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Personal Improvement, Stress

How to Help Your Teen Become Their Own Person

By: Michael Toohey, Psy.D. | February 7, 2022

Individuation is a crucial developmental phase that starts in early adolescence. During this time teens and young adults begin to assert their own independent identity and establish a cohesive sense of self. Physician and psychiatrist Margaret Mahler describes this period of development as follows: “The child’s life begins in a symbiotic relationship with their primary caregiver before […]

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Parenting, Relationships, Teens