Blog for Better Living

Navigating Infertility

By: Jen McWaters, Psy.D. | August 26, 2022

What to Say to a Loved One Struggling and How to Cope Yourself   Driving to work recently, I was surprised to hear an advertisement on the radio for an In vitro fertilisation (IVF) clinic. This made me reflect on how much more normative the topic of fertility or infertility has become. Given the increased […]

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Anxiety, Depression, Family, Grief, Relationships, Stress, Therapy

Negative Media Overload

By: Jen McWaters, Psy.D. | May 20, 2022

How to Stay Grounded Amongst the Waves   If you’re finding yourself becoming more and more anxious in the face of a constant barrage of bad news, you’re not alone. It can be hard to feel grounded and present with the news overload we experience on a regular basis. It doesn’t help that the news […]

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Anxiety, Depression, Trauma

Springing into New Experiences: Values-Based Dating

By: Jen McWaters, Psy.D. | March 11, 2022

Spring is around the corner, a season representing growth, change, and renewal. As the weather warms up, it’s common to experience an increase in energy, creativity, and motivation. Spring cleaning anyone? You may find that you are more motivated to try new things, be in new environments, and for some, even date. If you’re curiously […]

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Personal Improvement, Relationships

The Season of Gratitude

By: Jen McWaters, Psy.D. | December 24, 2021

Thank goodness for online shopping. Seriously, how did parents, or really anyone for that matter, get all their holiday shopping done before the internet? Or do life without it? As a new parent, I am so grateful for the conveniences afforded to us through modern technology. Grocery delivery on days I’m too tired to drive […]

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Family, Holidays, Personal Improvement

Finding R.E.S.T.

By: Jen McWaters, Psy.D. | October 16, 2020

I and others I know seem to long for rest more than anything else these days. Between the news on natural disasters, the political climate, and COVID-19, I find that many of us experience too much stimulation from too much information input resulting in too little space for rest. For some, working from home provides […]

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Anxiety, Mindfulness, Personal Improvement, Sleep/Relaxation

Letting Go of F.E.A.R.

By: Jen McWaters, Psy.D. | July 31, 2020

Let’s be real: Right now most of us endure some level of anxiety, fear, and uncertainty in this ever-changing pandemic reality. Now more than ever must we find ways to manage our stress and worry as we continue living our lives in these uncertain times. Coping can take extra creativity, given the limited or non-existent […]

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Anxiety, Mindfulness, Stress, 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 […]

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Mindfulness, Personal Improvement, Trauma

Open the Gift of Gratitude this Holiday Season

By: Jen McWaters, Psy.D. | December 13, 2019

What do the holidays mean to you? For many, they symbolize a time for family, connection, and rest. And yet we easily let the holidays drive our culture of consumption, of giving and getting gifts, or try to achieve the perfect holiday experience. No wonder the holidays make for significant stress and conflict for so […]

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Holidays, Mindfulness, Stress

What Color Do You Feel Like Today?

By: Jen McWaters, Psy.D. | September 19, 2019

Our English language often uses the psychology of color to depict emotions. We “see red” when we are angry. We “feel blue” when we are feeling down. Yellow is often associated with happiness (think smiley face!), and we are “green with envy” when we feel jealous of someone. These associations are so embedded in our […]

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Anxiety, Depression