Blog for Better Living

When an Attitude of Gratitude Hurts

By: Natalie Rice-Thorp, Ph.D. | December 16, 2022

The holiday season is upon us, and images of seemingly blissful couples and families dressed in cozy winter sweaters are splashed across our media. These happy, “shiny” people are shown enjoying a Thanksgiving feast together, frolicking in leaves, and cuddling by the fireplace. We are encouraged to ‘count our blessings!’ and ‘be grateful’ for what […]

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Depression, Holidays, Personal Improvement

How to Cultivate Self-Compassion

By: Natalie Rice-Thorp, Ph.D. | September 16, 2022

Experiences such as loss, pain, and disappointment are unavoidable parts of being human. If we want to feel the good stuff in life such as love, connection, and proud moments, then we must also accept the risk of the flip side of these experiences. For example, if you love someone, you are vulnerable to feeling […]

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Anxiety, Depression, Mindfulness, Personal Improvement, Relationships

A Mom’s Perspective on Summer Vacation: Dream vs. Reality

By: Natalie Rice-Thorp, Ph.D. | July 15, 2022

Every year as summer approaches, I count down the days until school ends, awaiting the time when I have less on my plate. Exhausted from trying to balance my kids’ school demands, keeping the household functional, and keeping up with my own job, I look forward to not tracking almost daily COVID at-home tests, packing […]

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Children, Family, Parenting, Stress

Mirror, Mirror: Breaking Free of the Comparison Trap

By: Natalie Rice-Thorp, Ph.D. | April 22, 2022

Have you ever left a class or staff meeting feeling like an imposter because you think that everyone is smarter than you? Have you ever looked at your social media feed and felt envy for someone else’s seemingly beautiful life? If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. It’s human nature to compare ourselves to […]

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Anxiety, Depression, Personal Improvement

How to Outsmart Procrastination

By: Natalie Rice-Thorp, Ph.D. | February 18, 2022

We’ve all been there; we have found ourselves facing tasks that we “should do,” maybe even “have to do,” and yet, we struggle to move ourselves toward actually doing these things. Maybe you need to study for a test, complete a work project, or start on your taxes. The scenario plays out the same, you […]

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Personal Improvement, Stress

Nothing to Fear, But Fear Itself

By: Natalie Rice-Thorp, Ph.D. | December 31, 2021

Understanding and Treating Panic Attacks Have you ever experienced anxiety come on so quickly and with such intensity that you feared you were having a heart attack or that you were going crazy? Maybe your heart was pounding, or you were sweating or shaking. You might have visited the hospital or called your doctor only […]

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Anxiety, Therapy, Trauma

The Art of Letting Go: Tips for Newly Empty Nesters

By: Natalie Rice-Thorp, Ph.D. | September 24, 2021

Do you find yourself looking longingly at your child’s baby pictures? Do the ads for “dorm room décor” bring you to the brink of tears? Have you recently helped your high school graduate pack up their belongings? If the answer is ‘yes,’ then you might be a new empty nester. If you are finding it […]

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Family, Parenting, Relationships

Flex Your Brain on Vacation

By: Natalie Rice-Thorp, Ph.D. | July 16, 2021

When you think of summer, do you think of swimming, hiking, road trips, and beach days? Do you think of doing brain exercises to increase your cognitive flexibility? No? Just me? Consider this: Just as physical activity helps our bodies to maintain flexibility and move more efficiently, brain exercises help maintain flexibility in our thinking. […]

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Personal Improvement, Relationships, Stress

Dispelling the Myths around PTSD

By: Natalie Rice-Thorp, Ph.D. | April 30, 2021

As a psychologist, I’ve worked with clients having a wide range of traumatic life experiences including PTSD, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, particularly the myths about it coming up again and again. Last year brought a host of unique challenges, significant loss, and intensely stressful experiences, not the least of which included a pandemic. You […]

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Therapy, Trauma