Blog for Better Living

Finding Hope

By: Michael Toohey, Psy.D. | July 8, 2022

How do we find hope when everything around us feels overwhelming and impossible? How do we get through the day when there has been so much loss for so many? How do we find the strength to raise our heads when we feel beaten down? I’ve often thought of hope as having a future orientation: […]

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Anxiety, Depression, Personal Improvement, Racial Justice, Stress, Trauma

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

Beware of Doomscrolling

By: Michael Toohey, Psy.D. | April 29, 2022

Staying current in the ever-changing world we live in is important, but how do we know how much information is too much? We can access information about world events from the palm of our hands, easily scrolling from one news source to the next. How do you know when you’ve consumed enough for one day? […]

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Anger, Anxiety, Depression, Relationships, Sleep/Relaxation, Stress, Trauma

Trauma and Its Aftermath

By: Lisa Card Strong, Ph.D. | April 8, 2022

It’s easy to wish that unwanted, intrusive, and repetitive thoughts about a traumatic event could just disappear and go “poof.” Unfortunately, for those who have experienced trauma, the aftermath is simply not that simple. This article explains what trauma is, how it affects your mental health, and how you can help yourself. Understanding Trauma When […]

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Relationships, Substance Abuse, Therapy, Trauma

Drinking During the Pandemic

By: Demet Çek, Ph.D. | April 1, 2022

Coauthored by Demet Çek, Ph.D. and Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. We’ve all been there: it’s been a long, hard day at work, and you open a bottle of wine or crack open a beer to unwind. One glass, or one beer can easily turn into two, or three, and become a daily habit – especially during […]

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Depression, Stress, Trauma

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

How Can I Tell if My Therapy is Working?

By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | September 10, 2021

When I meet with clients for the first time, I ask whether they have had therapy before. If they answer ‘yes,’ I ask what was helpful or not helpful in that experience. I often hear people say they felt like they just vented to their therapist and didn’t get anywhere during their sessions. Surprisingly, many […]

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Anxiety, Depression, Grief, Relationships, Therapy, Trauma

The Effects of Childhood Trauma

By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | August 27, 2021

When we think of childhood, we typically associate feelings of security, love, optimism, and joy. Feeling protected and cared for during our childhood not only allows us to develop a secure sense of self but also healthy relationships later in life. Unfortunately, not everyone grows up feeling this way. Even if you had a generally […]

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Anxiety, Depression, Personal Improvement, Relationships, Substance Abuse, Trauma

“Dear Client, you can tell me anything.”

By: Other | July 23, 2021

Written by Stephanie Salo, Psy.D. “I don’t know if I can talk about this here…” As a psychologist, one of my favorite novels is “Lying On The Couch” by Irvin Yalom, MD. Not only does it have a clever title, it made me aware of how often clients choose NOT to disclose to their therapists. […]

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Personal Improvement, Substance Abuse, Therapy, Trauma