Blog for Better Living

How to Practice Self-Compassion

By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | August 12, 2016

Sadly, for many of us, we are all too familiar with emotionally “beating ourselves up”. And, it’s not surprising. We live in a society where we’re taught that being hard on ourselves is the way to success. So, in an effort to get ahead, we criticize ourselves, push ourselves (often times too far) and certainly […]

Sleep Hygiene

By: Other | July 15, 2016

Written by Asal Azizi, Psy.D. A good night’s sleep serves many important functions for our overall health. Physically and psychologically our bodies need to rest and repair overnight, which is essential as one gets older. Specifically, the brain relies on sleep for many cognitive functions such as retaining information and consolidation of memory. Unfortunately, sleep […]

Anxiety, Depression, Sleep/Relaxation

How Does Psychotherapy Work?

By: Other | July 8, 2016

Written by Kelly Anderson, Ph.D. Not surprisingly, the first time I meet someone, I am often asked “how does therapy work?” Most people I meet with both professionally and personally have either gone to therapy themselves or know someone who has. Generally, when I ask a therapy novice what they know about the process, the […]

Anxiety, Depression, Therapy

Cognitive Behavior Therapy 101

By: Other | May 31, 2016

Written by Asal Azizi, Psy.D. As a therapist who provides Cognitive Behavior Therapy, I often meet with new clients who have heard a thing or two about CBT work, but have never experienced it. As a new client, you may be intimidated by the idea of undergoing CBT or believe it is the answer to […]

The Psychological Benefits of Spending Time in Nature

By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | April 1, 2016

I recently took a trip to Death Valley National Park to see the “Super Bloom” of wildflowers – a rare event that is worth seeing. Located in eastern California and Nevada, Death Valley is a unique and special place that has always inspired awe for me. Being in nature helps me with Finding Perspective, as […]

The Psychological Benefits of Bonding with a Pet

By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | February 20, 2016

For those of you who have visited our Point Loma office recently, you may have met our new furry friend, Rue. Rue was brought to us by our Billing Operations Manager, Monique. Rue is not just an office pet, but his presence is a wonderful adjunct to the therapy experience for some of our clients. […]

Am I Just Feeling Sad or is this Depression?

By: Other | February 5, 2016

Written by Kelly Anderson, Ph.D. Is what I am experiencing normal? This is a question that I am often asked when meeting with a new client for the first time. This is particularly true when a person is wondering if they are suffering from depression. Feeling sad, down, or blue is not only a normal […]

Depression

The Healthy Benefits of Helping Others

By: Other | November 2, 2015

Written by Jennifer Wendt, Ph.D. It is one of the most beautiful compensations in life… that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson Have you been feeling blue? Stuck in a rut? Feeling useless or without purpose? Some say the key to happiness is helping others. They […]

Why Do I Feel This Way?

By: Other | October 19, 2015

Written by Karin Thebus, Psy.D. A checklist to help identify your current state of mind Have you ever had that feeling that everything is just not ok? Your mood is low and motivation just won’t come. Sometimes all we need is to change our perspective a bit and everything starts to feel better. Before giving in to […]