Blog for Better Living

A Mind Game

By: Other | July 21, 2017

Written by Joy Francisco, Ph.D. Mindfulness, meaning focused awareness, is a concept of increasing popularity among mental health professionals. Mindfulness training for clients focuses on internal and external experiences in the present moment without judgment. Mindfulness interventions can be beneficial in everyday life. Not only adults stand to benefit from focusing awareness on the present […]

Talking to Children About Divorce

By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | June 2, 2017

Introduction by Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. Guest article by Bill Eddy, LCSW, Esq., New Ways for Families One of the first questions asked by parents who are beginning the divorce process is, “What should we tell the children, and how should we tell them?” Most parents, understandably, have a tough time telling their children about their […]

How to Be Gentle with Yourself

By: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D. | May 12, 2017

Life is hard. Yet, many of us make it worse by being hard on ourselves. We waste precious time beating ourselves up, wallowing in guilt, or chastising ourselves for mistakes we feel we’ve made. We live in a “Get Over It and Move On” society where we are implicitly or explicitly encouraged to be a […]

Fear and Mental Health: Managing Reactions and Responses

By: Other | March 10, 2017

Written by Francine Martinez, Ph.D. Happiness, Sadness, Anger, Surprise, Disgust, and Fear: These are universal emotions that we all share, and they rank as the six most cited emotions in the literature. Images come to mind when we think about these emotions in our own lives — those recollections of the times, settings, or events […]

Anxiety, Personal Improvement, Stress

Eating to Feel Good

By: Jen McWaters, Psy.D. | February 3, 2017

Three times a day we get to choose what we want to eat to quiet our hunger. Science has progressed the ability to measure the impact of these choices on our bodies. Recently, research has uncovered fascinating links between diet and our moods. Integrative treatments for mental health have gained traction, particularly in the newer […]

Learning to Manage Impulses Effectively

By: Other | January 27, 2017

Written by Kelly Anderson, Ph.D. Many people have difficulty controlling their impulses. At one time or another, we may act on urges to stay home from work on a rainy day or raise an angry voice in disagreement. Such impulses arise daily. For some, they come throughout the day; for others, such feelings come out […]

Self-Confidence – What Is It and How Can We Strengthen It?

By: Other | January 13, 2017

Written by Francine Martinez, Ph.D. SELF–CONFIDENCE “Confidence in oneself and in one’s powers and abilities” -Merriam Webster Dictionary Merriam Webster defines self-confidence in simple terms. Many of us also define self-confidence in relation to what we want to do but feel too anxious, nervous or worried to act. So, for one person self-confidence might be […]

Anxiety, Personal Improvement, Stress

Freeing Yourself from Clutter: Material and Emotional

By: Other | January 6, 2017

Written by Jennifer Wendt, Ph.D. Happy New Year! The time has come when we turn the calendar and embrace the beginning of a new year. We breathe a deep breath and ponder the year ahead. This time often brings self-reflection, memories of the previous year and thoughts for the new year ahead. As we look […]

Anxiety, Personal Improvement, Stress

Living a Giving Life: The Psychological Benefits of Generosity

By: Other | December 23, 2016

Written by Marisa Padilla, Intern As the holiday season approaches, we are constantly surrounded by the message that we should be buying gifts to make others happy. Some of us may get carried away with this material aspect and lose site of the act of generosity. Generosity is a wonderful concept, but interestingly enough, many […]

Holidays, Personal Improvement, Stress