Blog for Better Living

Freeing Yourself from Clutter: Material and Emotional

By: Other | January 6, 2017

Written by Jennifer Wendt, Ph.D. Happy New Year! The time has come when we turn the calendar and embrace the beginning of a new year. We breathe a deep breath and ponder the year ahead. This time often brings self-reflection, memories of the previous year and thoughts for the new year ahead. As we look […]

Anxiety, Personal Improvement, Stress

Living a Giving Life: The Psychological Benefits of Generosity

By: Other | December 23, 2016

Written by Marisa Padilla, Intern As the holiday season approaches, we are constantly surrounded by the message that we should be buying gifts to make others happy. Some of us may get carried away with this material aspect and lose site of the act of generosity. Generosity is a wonderful concept, but interestingly enough, many […]

Holidays, Personal Improvement, Stress

Introverts and Extroverts: The Brain Chemistry Behind Their Differences

By: Other | December 16, 2016

Written by Melissa Hansen, Psy.D. I’m standing in a crowd of people at a conference after the last session. My colleagues – all extroverts – are across the room engaging others in conversation and laughing loudly. I was engaged for a while, but now I’m ready to head home and call it a day. The […]

Personal Improvement, Relationships

Building Blocks for Emotional Resilience

By: Jen McWaters, Psy.D. | December 10, 2016

Changes, stress, and obstacles seem to be an inevitable part of life. Part of effectively coping with these challenges is learning how to be flexible and adapt to the pain that enters our lives. Pain can take the form of many things, including intense emotion, loss, health problems, or relationship difficulties. As it is often […]

Mindful Eating for a Successful Holiday Season

By: Other | December 2, 2016

Written by Kelly Anderson, Ph.D. Winter has finally made its way to San Diego! Along with the cooler weather and shorter nights, many Americans are finding themselves in the middle of the holiday season. Whether or not this time of year holds significance for celebrating holidays, winter is a time that begs for comfort food […]

Finding Center – Spirituality and Mental Health

By: Other | November 25, 2016

Written by Francine Martinez, Ph.D. Over the past 15 years the mental health community has begun exploring the therapeutic relationship between spirituality and mental health. The American Psychological Association, the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the National Institutes of Health are examples of organizations that have come to the conclusion that there can and does […]

Gratitude

By: Other | October 28, 2016

Written by Asal Azizi, Psy.D. As the month of October comes to a close, and we look ahead to November, tis the season for gratitude. The upcoming holiday season, and especially Thanksgiving, reminds us of the importance of expressing what we are most grateful for in our lives. Throughout the season, in the news, we […]

Therapy Changes Welcomes Dr. Jen McWaters

By: Jen McWaters, Psy.D. | October 14, 2016

I am excited to be joining the Therapy Changes family and look forward to contributing to an already thriving multi-specialty practice. I will be providing services at the Point Loma location for teens, children, families and adults. I received my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Azusa Pacific University and completed my pre-doctoral APA internship at […]

The Importance of Physical Health for Psychological Wellbeing

By: Other | October 7, 2016

Written by Kelly Anderson, Ph.D. Numerous research studies have found an association between physical health and mental health. When such studies have found a correlation, or link, between physical and mental health, several themes have emerged consistently: Those with mental health concerns are at a higher risk of developing chronic health issues Poor mental health […]