Blog for Better Living

You Might Be an Introvert

By: Other | September 9, 2014

Written by Missy Betts I was asked once in a job interview whether I identified myself as an introvert or an extrovert. I answered honestly by saying that I’ve always been more of an introvert. I immediately felt the weight of my answer as the entire focus of the interview veered off of my experience […]

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Personal Improvement, Therapy

The Personal Impact of the Death of a Public Figure

By: Other | August 15, 2014

Written by Francine Martinez, Ph.D. Like many of you I found myself shocked and dismayed with the recent death of Robin Williams. He was a public figure who made us laugh, showed us that humor and silliness is an acceptable way to understand the world, and he helped us reflect on critical social issues like […]

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Grief, Stress, Therapy

How to Use Both Sides of Your Brain

By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | August 13, 2014

Have you ever heard people say that they are more of a ‘right brain’ or ‘left brain’ thinker? You’ve probably heard the term before, whether it is on the radio, in a TV show, or sometime long ago in your bio class. But, what does the expression really mean? Do we really think with one […]

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Personal Improvement

Laughter is the Best Medicine

By: Other | August 6, 2014

Written by Missy Betts Why can’t you trust atoms? …Because they make up everything! Did you laugh? No? I’ll admit that maybe this isn’t the most hilarious joke of all time, but if you read this with someone else who did laugh, chances are, you would have too. According to an article in Real Simple […]

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Personal Improvement, Stress

Getting Married on Your Terms

By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | July 30, 2014

Recently I had the privilege of traveling to Alaska for my very first “Extra Tuff Wedding”. Extra Tuffs, for those of us in the lower 48, are the footwear of choice for South East Alaskan natives. The big brown boots are clunky, rubber and not very attractive at first glance – but to those who […]

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Family, Relationships

Stress Relief: Take a Mental Vacation

By: Other | July 24, 2014

Written by Francine Martinez, Ph.D. It is summertime and people all around you are planning their getaways, except you. You hear stories of snorkeling in the Caribbean, hiking in the Sierras, or cruising the Alaskan coastline and your thoughts are, “It must be nice….” Vacations, short or long, are great stress relievers; the literature on […]

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Personal Improvement, Sleep/Relaxation, Stress

Clutter Can Cause More Stress Than You May Think!

By: Other | July 15, 2014

Written by Missy Betts You can be stressed out by work, relationships and your daily commute but, is your home also stressing you out? A survey of over 1,000 adults conducted on behalf of the Huffington Post found that a staggering 70% of those who are stressed about home organization tend to be more stressed […]

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Personal Improvement

Best Tips on How To Deal With Difficult People

By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | July 9, 2014

We’ve all encountered them, and they exist almost everywhere: the difficult person. Difficult people do exist, and at some point or another you will probably be confronted with the need to deal with a high conflict, or difficult person. Most of us are proficient in our communication skills and feel more or less effective in […]

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Personal Improvement, Relationships

The Psychological Benefits of Risk Taking

By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | June 23, 2014

People tell me I’m a risk taker. The truth is, I do participate in “extreme” activities like dirt biking, surfing, and rock climbing. I’ve traveled to remote places, went sky diving, and recently went scuba diving to explore a wreck. I know that these activities carry risk. So, why do I do them? The ability […]

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Personal Improvement