Blog for Better Living
How To Support Survivors of Natural Disasters
By: Niyatee Sukumaran, Ph.D. | January 24, 2025
Natural disasters like earthquakes, wildfires, floods, hurricanes and tornados can profoundly affect the mental health of both individuals and entire communities. One such example is the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles. As I continue to watch the news, I realize the immense loss and destruction experienced by so many. If you have friends and family […]
Read MoreThe Hidden Truth Behind Where to Find Real Motivation
By: Natalie Rice-Thorp, Ph.D. | January 17, 2025
How many times have you thought, “If I could just get motivated…”? You might try making lists or searching online for inspiration. You may even tell loved ones about the things you want to accomplish and the changes you want to make. Despite your efforts, motivation often doesn’t appear. When that happens, it leaves you […]
Read MoreHow to Handle Stress and Anxiety After the Election Results
By: Kamaljit "Sonya" Virdi, Ph.D. | January 10, 2025
Emotions ran particularly high during this election season given the significance of the topics being debated, such as women’s reproductive rights, immigration and mass deportation, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and transgender rights, to name a few. Our country remains in a state of political divisiveness. As such, it is understandable that those on the losing side […]
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Thought Crimes: Why Your Thoughts Don’t Define You
By: Michael Toohey, Psy.D. | December 6, 2024
Have you even beaten yourself up, judged yourself, or felt ashamed for having a thought that might upset others if you shared it with them? Does thinking poorly about someone make you a bad person? Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung was among the first to grapple with these concepts, which are referred to as “thought crimes.” […]
Read MoreCultivating Calm in Crisis
By: Ashley Malooly, Ph.D. | November 22, 2024
As much as we hope to avoid them, at some point or another, we are all inevitably affected by crises in our lives. For example, an unexpected bill shows up, a pet or a child falls ill, your flight gets canceled, you need to have a high-stakes conversation with a loved one. All these situations […]
Read MoreBalancing Motherhood This Holiday Season
By: Niyatee Sukumaran, Ph.D. | November 15, 2024
The holidays are a time when traditions, family gatherings, and festivities take center stage, and for many mothers, this means taking on the responsibility of organizing the celebrations. The role of the mother as the “heart” of holiday traditions is deeply ingrained in many societies, particularly in cultures where familial ties and communal gatherings are […]
Read MoreHow to Say Goodbye
By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | November 8, 2024
How can we possibly say goodbye to someone we love when they approach the end of their life? It seems like an impossible task because we simply don’t want to say goodbye to the people we love – especially if we are saying goodbye forever. Facing this certainty feels unbearable. As hard as it may […]
Read MoreOvercoming Midlife Malaise: Simple Strategies for Renewal
By: Demet Çek, Ph.D. | November 1, 2024
What is my purpose? How can I make the most of the time I have left? Is this all there is to life? If you’ve been pondering these questions, you may be experiencing midlife malaise. While having a “midlife crisis” is often stereotyped by getting a divorce, splurging on an expensive sports car, and pursuing […]
Read MoreAnxiety, Depression, Personal Improvement, Relationships, Stress
Non-Psychological Factors Contributing to Anxiety: It’s Not All in Your Head
By: Jen McWaters, Psy.D. | October 25, 2024
Anxiety is commonly associated with psychological triggers like stress, trauma, or major life changes. However, many people experience anxiety that arises from underlying physical and environmental factors that frequently go unnoticed. The body and mind are closely interconnected, and disturbances in physical health can appear as emotional and cognitive symptoms. If you are struggling with […]
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