Blog for Better Living

When You’re Off the Clock but Can’t Punch Out

By: Kamaljit "Sonya" Virdi, Ph.D. | March 20, 2020

Not that long ago, the ultimate status symbol was one of leisure and relaxation but busyness in the office and social media posts constitute today’s most important status updates. While overworking can give a sense of recognition from others and impart some sense of importance for self, it might lead to deteriorating health effects and […]

Anxiety, Career, Personal Improvement

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 […]

Managing Coronavirus Anxiety

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

“Fear about the coronavirus has gripped the world. While this new illness certainly is frightening and needs attention, it’s important to note that far more people die from an illness that is all too familiar: the seasonal flu. An estimated 10,000 people have died from flu this year in the U.S. according to the Centers […]

Anxiety, Education, Therapy

The Hidden Benefits of Owning Our Own Pain and Facing It Head On

By: Jen McWaters, Psy.D. | February 28, 2020

Coping with our own pain and suffering is something I talk about often in therapy. Coping skills help us own our own pain and suffering while offering powerful options for dealing with them head on. But that’s not all. Many skills exist for helping us cope with difficult emotions, such as accepting our experiences for […]

A Group Solution for Overcoming Substance Abuse

By: Other | February 21, 2020

Written by John Mark Krejci, Ph.D. Human beings are naturally social creatures. Being a member of a group is an essential part of the human experience. Our families of origin constitute the first significant social group to which we belong. Friends and peers in school offer the next opportunity for successful socialization. These early experiences […]

How Technology Affects ADHD

By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | February 7, 2020

Coauthored by Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. and Michael Campbell, Ed.D. Technology has transformed how we live, work, communicate, and entertain ourselves. At the click of a button, we can access almost any information, learn new skills, and socialize with others. Technological advances have not only changed the way we perceive the world, but also how our […]

Personal Improvement, Testing

The Positive Side of Addiction

By: Other | January 31, 2020

Written by John Mark Krejci, Ph.D. What could possibly be positive about addiction? You know the emotional pain, destructive behaviors, and chaos associated with this increasingly common and unfortunate phenomenon. This unhappy situation surely cannot have a “rosy” side, but it does. The positive part of addiction starts with realization and motivation When addiction makes […]

Got Scaredy Cat Kids?

By: Natalie Rice-Thorp, Ph.D. | January 24, 2020

When our kids feel anxious or scared, any parent would want to jump in and save them from emotional discomfort. In our busy lives, we tend to jump in too soon or brush concerns aside with a quick “there’s nothing to worry about.” Whether you tend to jump in as a swooper or dismiss as […]

Anxiety, Children, Parenting

LGBTQ+ Folk, Substance Use, and Self Esteem

By: Michael Toohey, Psy.D. | January 17, 2020

The holidays have come and gone having brought socializing and cheer in the form of anything from eggnog to champagne to cannabis to harder substances too. While the general population might increase alcohol and substance use as a means to celebrate the season, research shows that the LGBTQ+ community increases use of such substances not […]