Blog for Better Living

What it Means to be a Highly Sensitive Person

By: Jen McWaters, Psy.D. | January 29, 2019

You probably know what it means to be an introvert versus an extrovert. Such psychological terms are now mainstream. They help us understand and empathize with one another’s differences. Few people, however, know what it means to be a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) versus a non-HSP. Psychologist, Dr. Elaine Aron, wanted to better understand herself […]

Why I Don’t Like New Year’s Resolutions

By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | January 4, 2019

If you’re anything like me, you don’t like New Year’s resolutions. It’s natural at this time of year to reflect on the last twelve months and what we might do differently in the year to come. I do believe that this is a helpful practice, but I do not like the tradition of setting New […]

Holidays, Personal Improvement

Therapy Changes Welcomes Dr. Kimberly Nenemay

By: Other | December 14, 2018

Written by Kimberly Nenemay, Psy.D. My interest in psychology and people in general is a meandering story that began when I was very young, and continues to this day. At college, I quickly became aware of my interest in studying a wide range of subjects. A liberal arts education was important to me once I […]

Avoiding Avoidance to Manage Anxiety

By: Other | December 7, 2018

Written by Haim Shemer, Psy.D. What is anxiety? It’s one of the most distressing emotions that people can experience! If you have ever felt anxious, you may be among the estimated 40 million adults affected by anxiety disorder in the U.S. It is the most common of mental illnesses. People who suffer from anxiety disorders […]

Anxiety, Personal Improvement, Therapy

Unplugging: Managing “Toxicity Overload”

By: Other | November 26, 2018

Written by Paul Paris, Ph.D. Is your psyche disturbed by world events? Are you overwhelmed by what’s happening in our country? It seems easy these days for such external environments to adversely affect our personal lives. In my own personal life, I have to be mindful of ways to shift and balance my attention so […]

Mindfulness, Relationships, Stress

Are You Coping with SAD?

By: Jen McWaters, Psy.D. | November 9, 2018

I always feel better when I’ve had some time outside in the sun. The sensation of sun on my skin makes me feel more relaxed and rejuvenated. What about you? People by the millions travel every year to sunny beaches for vacations so they can soak up some sunshine. Even in sunny places such as […]

Integrating Yoga Practices into Therapy

By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | November 2, 2018

“Come with me to a yoga class!” said my friend Caroline to me sometime last year. “Why on earth would I want to go to a stretch class with strangers I don’t know?” I thought to myself. If you relate to this sentiment, you are not alone. I harbored great skepticism about the practice of […]

How to Raise Awareness of our Emotions

By: Other | October 5, 2018

Written by Haim Shemer, Psy.D. Are you aware of your emotions? Can you identify the emotions that give rise to your feelings of anxiety, disturbance, bad behavior, or other uneasy states of mind? To help us with meanings, Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the word emotions as: the affective aspect of consciousness a state of feeling a […]

Fall, a Time to Reflect and Prepare to Grow

By: Other | September 28, 2018

Written by Paul Paris, Ph.D. With autumn on the way, we shift from the hot, longer, leisure days of summer to the cooler, shorter, and sunset quickening days of fall. Leaves turn color and shed, making room for the winter and the renewal of spring. Autumn is the time to attune our attention and energies […]

Personal Improvement