Blog for Better Living

Unplugging the Social Anxiety Spotlight

By: Other | September 23, 2022

Written by Stephanie Salo, Psy.D. If you dread social situations because you worry about being perceived as “weird,” or if you feel awkward around new people or in groups, you are likely experiencing the immobilizing effect of social anxiety. Although it is common to feel some nervousness in social settings (especially during re-entry in the […]

How to Cultivate Self-Compassion

By: Natalie Rice-Thorp, Ph.D. | September 16, 2022

Experiences such as loss, pain, and disappointment are unavoidable parts of being human. If we want to feel the good stuff in life such as love, connection, and proud moments, then we must also accept the risk of the flip side of these experiences. For example, if you love someone, you are vulnerable to feeling […]

Navigating Infertility

By: Jen McWaters, Psy.D. | August 26, 2022

What to Say to a Loved One Struggling and How to Cope Yourself Driving to work recently, I was surprised to hear an advertisement on the radio for an In vitro fertilisation (IVF) clinic. This made me reflect on how much more normative the topic of fertility or infertility has become. Given the increased […]

Learning to be Happy Again After a Loss

By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | August 12, 2022

Coping with the loss of someone you love is one of life’s biggest challenges. In fact, few things compare to the devastation and pain that follow the death of a loved one. Life doesn’t feel the same anymore. You feel empty, crushed, and lonely. You may doubt your ability to survive, let alone be happy, […]

Depression, Grief, Relationships

Why You Should Embrace Your Anger

By: Demet Çek, Ph.D. | August 5, 2022

Anger is a fascinating emotion because it can be good for our mental health, but it can also cause problems in our relationships. Anger provides us with energy, passion, and vitality required to fight for the causes we believe in and stand up for ourselves. We all experience anger and anger does not go away […]

Relationship Tips for Gay Men

By: Gregory E. Koch, Psy.D. | July 1, 2022

…and anyone smart enough to read this article In 2014, I attempted my first 5-day backpacking trip. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Sir Edmund Hillary, the first mountaineer to summit Mt. Everest without supplemental oxygen, once said, “It is not the mountains we conquer but ourselves.” I remember feeling […]

LGBTQ+, Relationships

Looking Inside “The Man Box”

By: Demet Çek, Ph.D. | May 6, 2022

Coauthored by Demet Çek, Ph.D. and Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. “Speaking for my gender, there are two qualities that define most men: we seldom like to ask for help, and we do not like to talk about our feelings. Combining the two – asking for help about our feelings – is the ultimate affront to many […]

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? […]

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 […]