Blog for Better Living

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 […]

How to Not Take Things Personally

By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | October 12, 2015

Don’t take anything personally. This is the second agreement of Don Miguel Ruiz’s classic, The Four Agreements. As the author writes so eloquently in his book: “Whatever happens around you, don’t take it personally…nothing other people do is because of you. It is because of themselves. All people live in their own dream, in their […]

How Does Summer Affect Your Mental Health?

By: Other | June 26, 2015

Written by Francine Martinez, Ph.D. We are again in the throes of summer; warm weather, sunshine, and vacations; somehow life seems to be just a little bit better for most of us. So, what does that mean about our mental health? In 2013 the United States and Australia joined together with Google to track trends […]

The ‘Up’ Side of Feeling Down

By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | April 16, 2015

In today’s culture, everyone loves to be happy. Just look at posts on Facebook and other social media of people smiling and having a wonderful time. Bookstores are full of self-help books and you can’t go online without finding an article on “how to be happier.” We’re inundated with the craze to be happy – […]

Depression: A problem for many older adults

By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | March 19, 2015

Depression is a common problem in older adults. The symptoms of depression affect every aspect of life, including one’s energy, appetite, sleep, and interest in work, hobbies, and relationships. Unfortunately, senior depression is often overlooked, and many depressed seniors do not get the help that they need. Depression in older adults is often overlooked for […]

Depression, Family