Blog for Better Living

Gender Identity Basics: Understanding Non-Binary, Transgender, and Gender Fluid People

By: Michael Toohey, Psy.D. | December 4, 2020

Chances are you will encounter someone in your life, if you haven’t already, who is non-binary, transgender, or gender fluid. Knowing what this means, and how to be respectful of people’s differences is important. Understanding these terms can be hard, especially if you are learning these concepts for the first time. This article will discuss […]

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Bullying, LGBTQ+, Relationships

The Impossible Dream: I Just Want to Make Everyone Happy!

By: Natalie Rice-Thorp, Ph.D. | November 20, 2020

It’s that time of year again wherein we finish off Halloween candy, we take out our sweaters, and we face the inevitable questions about where to celebrate Thanksgiving and the Holidays. These questions challenge us under normal circumstances, but during a pandemic they rise to a whole new level of nerve-wracking. If you find yourself […]

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Holidays, Mindfulness, Relationships, Stress

Therapy Changes Welcomes Dr. Kristen Lipari

By: Kristen Lipari, Ph.D. | September 18, 2020

I am thrilled to join the Therapy Changes family and look forward to serving our diverse and resilient clients. I understand that in your own family you might have received the message that therapy signals weakness, especially for those who really struggle. I received similar messages growing up as an Armenian American ethnic minority. However, […]

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Introduction, Parenting, Personal Improvement, Relationships, Stress, Therapy, Trauma

How to Achieve Interpersonal Effectiveness

By: Lisa Card Strong, Ph.D. | August 21, 2020

Do you feel like you’re getting what you need in relationships? Do you ever find yourself just going along with other people? not really standing up for yourself? participating in something you don’t want to? feeling dissatisfied or irritated? not even knowing the reasons why? Increasing your interpersonal effectiveness skills can help decrease these annoyed, […]

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Anxiety, Personal Improvement, Relationships

Self-Care for BIPOC: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color & Tips for Allies

By: Natalie Rice-Thorp, Ph.D. | June 26, 2020

Co-authored by Natalie Rice-Thorp, Ph.D. and Estefani Mejia, B.A. “I don’t know what to say” is a common theme in therapy rooms these days as people grapple with issues of injustice in Black communities. To say these times are difficult is an understatement. When asked what we think about recent events and racial issues, we […]

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Grief, Racial Justice, Relationships, Stress, Trauma

Finding a Silver Lining

By: Other | May 23, 2020

Written by Kimberly Nenemay, Psy.D. Stay-at-home orders affected most of us in the United States for about two months now. Life changed in dramatic ways; the COVID-19 crisis having put additional burdens on our daily existence. Those suffering the loss of loved ones tops the list, followed by the millions who suffer financially due to […]

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Depression, Mindfulness, Personal Improvement, Relationships, Stress

What Are Men’s Issues?

By: Demet Çek, Ph.D. | March 13, 2020

We all heard the myths about men: Men don’t need to talk about their emotions. Men showing their feelings is a sign of weakness. Men, as a group, hold power and privilege. Men also experience psychological and public health issues at disproportionately higher rates than women. They are 2.5 times more likely than women to […]

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Anger, Depression, Relationships, Substance Abuse, Therapy

Have the Courage to Say No

By: Kamaljit "Sonya" Virdi, Ph.D. | December 20, 2019

Courage is the bravery to not allow our fears to be in the driver’s seat. Said another way, having courage is having the bravery to say “no” to the fears that would otherwise act as the driving force in our lives. Sitting with my clients each day reminds me that people sense what they need […]

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Personal Improvement, Relationships

LOL!

By: Natalie Rice-Thorp, Ph.D. | November 1, 2019

Laughing out loud. When was the last time you did that….I mean really laughed out loud, not just responded with a smile to an emoji? And, did you know that humor is an all-purpose super power waiting to be unlocked every day? Psychologically speaking, I can announce that it is so! Embrace your humor superpower […]

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Personal Improvement, Relationships, Stress