Blog for Better Living

Finding Meaning in Times of Uncertainty

By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | March 31, 2020

We all know the Coronavirus is here. We are living through something that no one on the planet has ever lived through before. No protocols exist for a time like this, no wisdom upon which to rely or set a course to follow. In these strangely surreal times, we feel a myriad of emotions such […]

Anxiety, Grief, Stress, Therapy, Trauma

Managing Coronavirus Anxiety

By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | March 5, 2020

“Fear about the coronavirus has gripped the world. While this new illness certainly is frightening and needs attention, it’s important to note that far more people die from an illness that is all too familiar: the seasonal flu. An estimated 10,000 people have died from flu this year in the U.S. according to the Centers […]

Anxiety, Education, Therapy

How Technology Affects ADHD

By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | February 7, 2020

Coauthored by Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. and Michael Campbell, Ed.D. Technology has transformed how we live, work, communicate, and entertain ourselves. At the click of a button, we can access almost any information, learn new skills, and socialize with others. Technological advances have not only changed the way we perceive the world, but also how our […]

Personal Improvement, Testing

Anxiety, Explained

By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | January 10, 2020

What is anxiety? You know that feeling of fear on the first day at your new job? That’s anxiety. Do you recall that apprehension you felt before speaking in public? That’s anxiety. Remember that uncomfortable feeling when moving to a new town? That’s anxiety…and all forms of it represent normal and healthy responses to stress. […]

How to Deal with Your (difficult) Family this Holiday Season

By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | November 29, 2019

This article gained popularity when I wrote it several years ago, knowing that many of us feel alone during the holidays or can relate to the sentiment. Back by popular demand is an updated version about how to cope with difficult family members this holiday season. We typically view the holidays as a time of […]

Family, Holidays, Stress

In This Moment…

By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | November 22, 2019

There is bounty in every moment of our lives. But, how do we capture it? You may have heard of the “new age” practice of mindfulness or the mindfulness groups at Therapy Changes and think this new thing has no place in your busy, full life. This is simply not true. Let me dispel that […]

How I Practice What I Preach: A Therapist’s Journey

By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | October 11, 2019

A common misconception is that professional Psychologists “have it all figured out.” As a professional Psychologist, I can say as our little known secret is that we don’t have it all figured out. At least, not always. I may have the training and education, but I am also human. I learned partly from my professional […]

Better Living Through Chemistry?

By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | September 27, 2019

Exploring the Role of Medication for Mental Health Disorders The slogan, “Better Living Through Chemistry” was originally coined by DuPont, an American chemical company, in the 1930s. The slogan is also the title of a 2014 movie featuring Jane Fonda and Ray Liotta! For our purposes, the expression brings attention to the important role that […]

What’s Love Got To Do With It?

By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | August 16, 2019

“What’s Love Got to Do With It” by Tina Turner (1984) was, and still is, one of the most iconic female ballads. What’s surprising about the catchy, upbeat tune is that it’s actually an anti-love song about a woman who feels no emotional attachments to her lover. She wants him to know that love has […]