Blog for Better Living

Sit Less, Move More

By: Other | April 24, 2020

Written by Lesley Ross, M.D. “Just how much exercise do I need for better mental health?” I get this question often. We don’t know for sure but we do know that the mind won’t heal without looking also at whole body health. Evidence consistently supports that even a small amount of physical activity can prove […]

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Anxiety, Depression, Personal Improvement

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 […]

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Personal Improvement, Substance Abuse, Therapy

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 […]

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Personal Improvement, Substance Abuse, Therapy

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 […]

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Anxiety, Mindfulness, Personal Improvement, Stress, Therapy

Putting It on Pause…

By: Other | October 25, 2019

Written by Haim Shemer, Psy.D. Like a CD that repeatedly plays the same recognizable tunes, our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors can habitually repeat within us, especially since such activities are interconnected and influence each other. We form our habits by gathering experience from the situations we encounter as we go through life. Our perceptions of […]

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Mindfulness, Personal Improvement, Sleep/Relaxation, Therapy

What is Integrated Therapy and How Might It Benefit You?

By: Other | September 6, 2019

Written by Kimberly Nenemay, Psy.D. An undeniable connection exists between the mind and body. That connection constituted an important lesson I came to understand from my work as a licensed psychologist for nearly 15 years. On my own reckoning with this concept, I quickly learned that I cannot do my best work as a psychologist […]

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Depression, Grief, Mindfulness, Stress, Therapy, Yoga

“Failing” to Succeed

By: Other | July 1, 2019

Written by John Mark Krejci, Ph.D. Experts say it takes about 10 years to master a skill. Given that, I have gained relative expertise in the field of psychology, but in the sport of kiteboarding, it took ten years for me to be a total beginner! If you don’t know this sport by name, you […]

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Anxiety, Grief, Personal Improvement, Relationships, Substance Abuse

The 10 Myths of Sleep

By: Other | May 3, 2019

Written by Haim Shemer, Psy.D. Are you sleepless in San Diego? Does the mystery of falling fast to sleep keep you up at night? That sleep plays a critical role in our daily functioning is an undisputed fact. Giving sleep the attention it deserves constitutes a major contribution to overall mental and physical health. Many […]

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Personal Improvement, Sleep/Relaxation, Therapy

Why is Self-Care So Important?

By: Other | April 19, 2019

Written by Paul Paris, Ph.D. Forgetting to take care of ourselves, be it physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually, is easy to do. In periods of preoccupation, our increased responsibility or stress often puts our healthy behaviors “on the back burner” while we focus on more pressing matters. Research, in fact, shows that lowering or neglecting […]

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Anger, Anxiety, Personal Improvement, Stress