Blog for Better Living

When You’re Off the Clock but Can’t Punch Out

By: Kamaljit "Sonya" Virdi, Ph.D. | March 20, 2020

Not that long ago, the ultimate status symbol was one of leisure and relaxation but busyness in the office and social media posts constitute today’s most important status updates. While overworking can give a sense of recognition from others and impart some sense of importance for self, it might lead to deteriorating health effects and […]

Anxiety, Career, Personal Improvement

The Hidden Benefits of Owning Our Own Pain and Facing It Head On

By: Jen McWaters, Psy.D. | February 28, 2020

Coping with our own pain and suffering is something I talk about often in therapy. Coping skills help us own our own pain and suffering while offering powerful options for dealing with them head on. But that’s not all. Many skills exist for helping us cope with difficult emotions, such as accepting our experiences for […]

A Group Solution for Overcoming Substance Abuse

By: Other | February 21, 2020

Written by John Mark Krejci, Ph.D. Human beings are naturally social creatures. Being a member of a group is an essential part of the human experience. Our families of origin constitute the first significant social group to which we belong. Friends and peers in school offer the next opportunity for successful socialization. These early experiences […]

How Technology Affects ADHD

By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | February 7, 2020

Coauthored by Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. and Michael Campbell, Ed.D. Technology has transformed how we live, work, communicate, and entertain ourselves. At the click of a button, we can access almost any information, learn new skills, and socialize with others. Technological advances have not only changed the way we perceive the world, but also how our […]

Personal Improvement, Testing

The Positive Side of Addiction

By: Other | January 31, 2020

Written by John Mark Krejci, Ph.D. What could possibly be positive about addiction? You know the emotional pain, destructive behaviors, and chaos associated with this increasingly common and unfortunate phenomenon. This unhappy situation surely cannot have a “rosy” side, but it does. The positive part of addiction starts with realization and motivation When addiction makes […]

Anxiety, Explained

By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | January 10, 2020

What is anxiety? You know that feeling of fear on the first day at your new job? That’s anxiety. Do you recall that apprehension you felt before speaking in public? That’s anxiety. Remember that uncomfortable feeling when moving to a new town? That’s anxiety…and all forms of it represent normal and healthy responses to stress. […]

Starting 2020 with Mindful Self-reflection Practices

By: Other | January 2, 2020

Written by Kimberly Nenemay, Psy.D. The end of the year and the decade presents a natural pause to take time for self-reflection. One can reflect by asking questions such as “did this go as planned?” or “did this go right?” We may find ourselves thinking in black and white terms such as “did I have […]

Have the Courage to Say No

By: Kamaljit "Sonya" Virdi, Ph.D. | December 20, 2019

Courage is the bravery to not allow our fears to be in the driver’s seat. Said another way, having courage is having the bravery to say “no” to the fears that would otherwise act as the driving force in our lives. Sitting with my clients each day reminds me that people sense what they need […]

Personal Improvement, Relationships

In This Moment…

By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | November 22, 2019

There is bounty in every moment of our lives. But, how do we capture it? You may have heard of the “new age” practice of mindfulness or the mindfulness groups at Therapy Changes and think this new thing has no place in your busy, full life. This is simply not true. Let me dispel that […]