Blog for Better Living

Ready for College! Are you ready?

By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | May 5, 2016

You’ve put so much intensity, energy, and focus into preparing for college by studying for the SAT’s, taking AP classes and visiting schools. Now comes the most important part of the preparation process…making the transition between high school and college. Taking time to create a plan for the Four Core Components of College Readiness will […]

Anxiety, Stress, Teens

The Psychological Benefits of Spending Time in Nature

By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | April 1, 2016

I recently took a trip to Death Valley National Park to see the “Super Bloom” of wildflowers – a rare event that is worth seeing. Located in eastern California and Nevada, Death Valley is a unique and special place that has always inspired awe for me. Being in nature helps me with Finding Perspective, as […]

A Parent’s Guide to Managing Sibling Rivalry

By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | March 18, 2016

When parents decide to have more than one child, it usually involves a fantasy about a perfect relationship between siblings. The reality is that sibling rivalry exists to some degree in virtually every family in which there is more than one child. It’s completely normal for siblings to have a natural rivalry. Siblings clash and […]

Children, Family, Parenting

The Psychological Benefits of Bonding with a Pet

By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | February 20, 2016

For those of you who have visited our Point Loma office recently, you may have met our new furry friend, Rue. Rue was brought to us by our Billing Operations Manager, Monique. Rue is not just an office pet, but his presence is a wonderful adjunct to the therapy experience for some of our clients. […]

Healthy Ways to Express Anger in a Relationship

By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | January 29, 2016

No matter how much we love our partner, or how happy we may be in our relationship, feelings of anger are inevitable. Bottling up your anger or expressing it in the wrong way can damage trust and result in a loss of intimacy in your relationship. However, expressing anger in a healthy way will help […]

Coping with Loss During the Holidays

By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | December 21, 2015

The holiday season is typically a time of great anticipation and excitement. But, for those of us who have experienced a loss, this time of year can be a very difficult. Memories of good times and togetherness around this time of year serve to remind us of our loss. Watching others who are feeling thankful […]

Family, Holidays, Personal Improvement

Lessons in Forgiveness

By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | November 23, 2015

People often ask me: “Do I have to forgive in order to heal?” This is a very powerful question. Whether we have been wronged by a spouse who is unfaithful, a parent who let us down as a child, or a friend who betrayed our confidence, the question of whether and how to forgive often […]

The Importance of Instilling Values

By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | November 9, 2015

Recently the team at Therapy Changes participated in a half-day workshop facilitated by Dr. Sherry Nooravi at Strategy Meets Performance. The topic of this workshop was developing “Company Values.” You may have heard of this trend in larger corporations like Whole Foods and Zappos. Successful and innovative companies like these are realizing the importance of […]

Relationships, Therapy

How to Not Take Things Personally

By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | October 12, 2015

Don’t take anything personally. This is the second agreement of Don Miguel Ruiz’s classic, The Four Agreements. As the author writes so eloquently in his book: “Whatever happens around you, don’t take it personally…nothing other people do is because of you. It is because of themselves. All people live in their own dream, in their […]