Blog for Better Living

Creative Coping and Tools for the Blues

By: Kristen Lipari, Ph.D. | March 12, 2021

The past year imposed an incredibly challenging time in our lives, in the nation’s history and the world. We can wrestle with our struggles, or we can accept them. ⁠By accepting them, we can direct our attention away from the problem toward a way to cope. Of course, difficult times can stretch our normal coping […]

Vaccine Hesitancy: To Have or To Hold on the COVID-19 Shots

By: Michael Toohey, Psy.D. | March 5, 2021

After nearly a year of quarantine, COVID-19 vaccines are now available, representing hope for many while leaving lots of folks feeling hesitant and reluctant about receiving them. I was one of those folks. Over the past year, however, I followed the science and reviewed the data, which over time alleviated my doubts. By the time […]

Anxiety

Who Takes Care of Mama?

By: Kristen Lipari, Ph.D. | February 5, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic seems to have made every transition and challenge much harder. Becoming a new parent is no exception. Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) impacted 15-20% of moms before the pandemic. Now in its midst, experts estimate the rates of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders as much higher while bringing more social isolation […]

Anxiety, Depression, Family, Parenting

It’s Okay Not to Be Okay

By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | January 29, 2021

More than ten months have passed since the first stay-at-home orders in March 2020. I still have days when my anxiety feels overwhelming, when fear makes me irritable and easily upset, when fatigue overcomes me, and when I struggle to find beauty in the world. I sometimes wonder “What’s wrong with me that I can’t […]

Coping with COVID for the Long Haul

By: Lisa Card Strong, Ph.D. | November 13, 2020

2020 has been a challenging year. COVID-19 disrupted our work and relationships. We found it both challenging and breathtaking for our close relationships with significant others, with extended family, and with our children in coping with unexpected disruptions to life as we used to know it. Some of us experienced financial upheaval or illness. The […]

Surviving the 2020 Presidential Election

By: Kamaljit "Sonya" Virdi, Ph.D. | October 30, 2020

The year 2020 marks one of the most challenging years in our recent history. Our country remains in a state of political unrest. Racial tensions remain high while Black, Indigenous, People of Color, (BIPOC) and White allies advocate for more equitable systems. COVID-19 continues to endanger the health and safety of many while ongoing unemployment […]

Finding R.E.S.T.

By: Jen McWaters, Psy.D. | October 16, 2020

I and others I know seem to long for rest more than anything else these days. Between the news on natural disasters, the political climate, and COVID-19, I find that many of us experience too much stimulation from too much information input resulting in too little space for rest. For some, working from home provides […]

Get Comfortable with Being a Beginner

By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | August 28, 2020

I’m not ashamed to tell you that I recently had a breakdown. I cried, got angry, and in no uncertain terms threw a temper tantrum that rivals that of a three-year-old fighting bedtime. The surprising thing is that my tantrum occurred in response to my husband trying to teach me the right way to do […]

Anger, Anxiety, Personal Improvement

How to Achieve Interpersonal Effectiveness

By: Lisa Card Strong, Ph.D. | August 21, 2020

Do you feel like you’re getting what you need in relationships? Do you ever find yourself just going along with other people? not really standing up for yourself? participating in something you don’t want to? feeling dissatisfied or irritated? not even knowing the reasons why? Increasing your interpersonal effectiveness skills can help decrease these annoyed, […]