Blog for Better Living

Thoughts on Interdependence at Commencement

By: Jen McWaters, Psy.D. | June 22, 2018

It’s graduation season! A graduation ceremony is also known as commencement wherein the completion of something arduous and challenging is recognized while celebrating the beginning of a new journey. I attended a graduation ceremony this weekend and had some nostalgia reflecting back on my own graduation experiences. The excitement, relief, and anticipation of what’s next […]

Coping with Suicide Loss

By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | June 15, 2018

Co-authored by Dr. Rochelle Perper and Dr. Francine Martinez “So ask me if I am alright. ‘I’m fine; I’m always fine.’ You see this look in my eyes. ‘No, I’m fine. I am always fine.’ There is a corpse behind my smile. ‘Listen, I am fine. Always, always fine as fine can be.’ ‘Are you […]

~ Present and Pleasant ~

By: Other | May 18, 2018

Written by Jennifer Wendt, Ph.D. Do you find yourself multitasking to get through the day? Is your to-do list longer than you will ever accomplish? Do you frequent your phone to pick up messages, check your calendar, or read something interesting? If you answer yes to any of these, I’ll bet your family and friends […]

Self-Forgiveness: Letting Go of What We Cannot Change in the Past

By: Other | April 27, 2018

Written by Paul Paris, Ph.D. When we talk about forgiveness, we typically think in terms of forgiving others. When others have wronged us, we often struggle with the ability to forgive them. Maybe they haven’t yet acknowledged or apologized. Maybe they have passed away, and we can’t let go of what they did or how […]

Arguments in a Relationship – It Happens!

By: Other | April 13, 2018

Written by Francine Martinez, Ph.D. “If you want a relationship that looks and feels like the most amazing thing on earth, you need to treat it like it is the most amazing thing on earth.” -Author Unknown All couples argue. It is inevitable when two distinct individuals come together with their own personalities, temperaments, life […]

Anger, Relationships

A Funny Thing Happened at the Dinner Party . . .

By: Other | March 23, 2018

Written by Mike Campbell, Ed.D. The topic of self perception arose at a dinner party with friends. The host asked each guest how they believed others in the room perceived them. The question gave most of us pause. A few asked for a second glass of wine. When I thought more about the question, I […]

Personal Improvement, Relationships

How Does Positive Reinforcement Change Behavior?

By: Jen McWaters, Psy.D. | February 16, 2018

We recently welcomed a new canine into our family and are in the process of behavior training and housebreaking. By working with an experienced trainer, I learned that training is more about changing human behavior than it is about changing the animal’s behavior. What’s fascinating is how the most subtle behaviors impact my dog in […]

Personal Improvement, Relationships

Simply Living by Living Simply

By: Other | January 26, 2018

Written by Joy Francisco, Ph.D. Has life become a hectic struggle? Have we become overly busy chasing for more that our lives have become cluttered with unnecessary belongings, responsibilities and extra burdens? These things can cloud our lives so much that we cannot focus on the things that are really important and meaningful to us. We […]

The Power of Gratitude

By: Other | November 10, 2017

Written by Jennifer Wendt, Ph.D. “Gratitude opens the door to the power, the wisdom, the creativity of the universe. You open the door through gratitude.” — Deepak Chopra This is the time of year we discuss the concept of gratitude and being thankful. Some of us will take it to heart and practice gratitude at […]