Blog for Better Living

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

Music for Mental Health

By: Jen McWaters, Psy.D. | July 5, 2019

Music is an integral part of our culture, history, and daily lives. It provides the backdrop to our favorite movies, our significant life events, and our most vivid memories. Hearing a song can nostalgically bring you back to the first time you heard it and who you were with. It can also evoke painful emotions […]

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Anxiety, Depression, Mindfulness, Stress

The Psychological Benefits of Tidying Up

By: Jen McWaters, Psy.D. | April 12, 2019

Is joy lurking in your closet? Is satisfaction hiding under your stuff? While browsing Netflix I found a new show entitled “Tidying up with Marie Kondo.” Intrigued, I watched an episode of Marie Kondo’s world of tidying and organizing. Known as her KonMari Method, it includes, for example, new ways to fold clothes efficiently and […]

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Anxiety, Personal Improvement, Therapy

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 […]

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Anxiety, Parenting, 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 […]

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Depression, Personal Improvement, Sleep/Relaxation, Therapy

Back to School, Back to Routine: The Cost of Tech Addiction

By: Jen McWaters, Psy.D. | August 31, 2018

The final weeks of summer are upon us. The sun is out, final vacations are being savored. We have the time and space to interact with the people around us. Weekend adventures and warm evenings prompt us to step outside to engage with the natural world. We noticeably “feel” better, healthier, and are consciously aware […]

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Children, Family, Parenting, Relationships, Teens

Thoughts on Interdependence at Commencement

By: Jen McWaters, Psy.D. | June 22, 2018

It’s graduation season! A graduation ceremony is also known as commencement wherein the completion of something arduous and challenging is recognized while celebrating the beginning of a new journey. I attended a graduation ceremony this weekend and had some nostalgia reflecting back on my own graduation experiences. The excitement, relief, and anticipation of what’s next […]

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Anxiety, Personal Improvement, Relationships

Spring: The Season for a Fresh Start

By: Jen McWaters, Psy.D. | April 20, 2018

Renewal, rebirth, and regrowth: these are words commonly associated with Spring. All begin with the prefix “re,” which means “again,” “is back,” or signals repetition. Spring, therefore, is a season of action, to redo or begin again. For me, Spring compels me to enjoy the outside and nature more and to feel reenergized. For many […]

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Mindfulness, Personal Improvement