Blog for Better Living

Unplugging: Managing “Toxicity Overload”

By: Other | November 26, 2018

Written by Paul Paris, Ph.D. Is your psyche disturbed by world events? Are you overwhelmed by what’s happening in our country? It seems easy these days for such external environments to adversely affect our personal lives. In my own personal life, I have to be mindful of ways to shift and balance my attention so […]

Mindfulness, Relationships, Stress

The ‘Nature’ Effect

By: Other | September 21, 2018

Written by Anke Reineke, Ph.D. Is it not natural for humans to spend time in nature? Is it not a vital component of our well-being? I’ve been enjoying the outdoors my whole life. During my childhood, being outdoors was the only place I wanted to be. I spent many hours every day on playgrounds or […]

Talking to Your Child About Violence

By: Other | March 9, 2018

Written by Anke Reineke, Ph.D. In the past weeks we have seen and heard a lot about violence in school. Such violence has an impact beyond the place where it happened. Violence in our world today is all around our kids, in the media, in our communities, and even in our schools. Our kids are […]

Are You Avoiding Your Grief?

By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | March 2, 2018

Understanding the difference between healthy distraction and avoidance Grief feels overwhelming and unbearable at times. It leads to physical changes such as muscle tension and fatigue. Grief can make clear thinking difficult. Making decisions and problem solving may seem impossible. In the throes of grief, even the simplest tasks feel like monumental undertakings. Grieving requires […]

Grief, Stress

Changing Light of a Room

By: Other | January 5, 2018

Written by Anke Reineke, Ph.D. “I always forget how important the empty days are, how important it may be sometimes not to expect to produce anything, even a few lines in a journal. A day when one has not pushed oneself to the limit seems a damaged damaging day, a sinful day. Not so! The […]

Take Care of Yourself During the Holidays

By: Other | December 22, 2017

Written by Paul Paris, Ph.D. The winter holidays are supposed to be a time of joy. For some of us, that expectation may not match our experience. Typically in our society, for those of us who celebrate the holiday season, the winter holidays are spent with friends and family, engaging in traditional activities, sharing certain […]

Family, Holidays, Stress

Giving Really is Better than Receiving

By: Jen McWaters, Psy.D. | December 15, 2017

You may hear the phrase “it’s better to give than to receive” more often around the holidays, that time of year associated with giving and receiving gifts. In our consumerist culture, we can lose sight of what we already have to focus exclusively on our needs and wants. Money cannot buy happiness despite what advertisements […]

Remaining Positive about Ourselves and Our Lives

By: Other | December 8, 2017

Written by Francine Martinez, Ph.D. “The Good Life is a Process…Not a State of Being.” –Carl Rogers Are the demands of seasonal social gatherings and family getting you down? Are financial pressures or employment piquing your positive perspective? Does it feel like chaos and worry are taking over your life? The practice of Positive Psychology […]

The Power of Gratitude

By: Other | November 10, 2017

Written by Jennifer Wendt, Ph.D. “Gratitude opens the door to the power, the wisdom, the creativity of the universe. You open the door through gratitude.” — Deepak Chopra This is the time of year we discuss the concept of gratitude and being thankful. Some of us will take it to heart and practice gratitude at […]