Blog for Better Living

Surviving the 2020 Presidential Election

By: Kamaljit "Sonya" Virdi, Ph.D. | October 30, 2020

The year 2020 marks one of the most challenging years in our recent history. Our country remains in a state of political unrest. Racial tensions remain high while Black, Indigenous, People of Color, (BIPOC) and White allies advocate for more equitable systems. COVID-19 continues to endanger the health and safety of many while ongoing unemployment […]

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Anger, Anxiety, Depression, Racial Justice, 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

Get Comfortable with Being a Beginner

By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | August 28, 2020

I’m not ashamed to tell you that I recently had a breakdown. I cried, got angry, and in no uncertain terms threw a temper tantrum that rivals that of a three-year-old fighting bedtime. The surprising thing is that my tantrum occurred in response to my husband trying to teach me the right way to do […]

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Anger, Anxiety, Personal Improvement

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

Letting Go of F.E.A.R.

By: Jen McWaters, Psy.D. | July 31, 2020

Let’s be real: Right now most of us endure some level of anxiety, fear, and uncertainty in this ever-changing pandemic reality. Now more than ever must we find ways to manage our stress and worry as we continue living our lives in these uncertain times. Coping can take extra creativity, given the limited or non-existent […]

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Anxiety, Mindfulness, Stress, Therapy

Maintaining Motivation Amidst Uncertainty

By: Demet Çek, Ph.D. | July 17, 2020

We all need motivation not only for important things we must do but also for those we like to do. Motivation is dynamic as with many other psychological constructs. External and internal factors influence motivation, changing it frequently. External circumstances created by the pandemic cause uncertainty all around us. We do not know what the […]

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Anxiety, Personal Improvement, Therapy

Allyship

By: Michael Toohey, Psy.D. | June 19, 2020

Our country is in a state of unrest, as protesters take to the streets in support of racial equality. As we watch events unfolding on the news, we feel anxious, stressed, afraid, and for some…determined: determined to make things better for people of color. Many of us, however, are unsure what to do or where […]

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Anger, Anxiety, Grief, Racial Justice, Therapy, Trauma

Why You Should Get Help Now

By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | June 5, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has altered every aspect of our lives. From access to health care, our work, education, how we socialize, and how we take care of ourselves, we feel that the world has changed. It has, and it changed quickly. We know it’s temporary, but recovery feels like forever. Those experiencing losses by death, […]

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Anxiety, Depression, Grief, Stress, Therapy, Trauma

Caps Off to the Class of 2020!

By: Kamaljit "Sonya" Virdi, Ph.D. | May 29, 2020

A round of congratulations goes to the graduating college class of 2020! Besides achievement, a typical senior year is characterized by mixed feelings of anxiety and excitement as you approach life’s next chapter. However, the coronavirus pandemic created its own unique set of challenges for 2020 graduates. I can imagine distance learning and staying indoors […]

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Anxiety, Career, Education, Personal Improvement