How I Reframed Letting Go So I Could Move on from My Painful Past
See more posts About Janice HollandJanice Holland is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor and Certified Trauma Model Therapist from the Ross After graduating from NYU in 2009, she has worked in schools, mental health hospitals and private practice helping…
IS THE FEAR OF URINATING IN PUBLIC (PARURESIS) A FORM OF SOCIAL ANXIETY DISORDER?
Paruresis is more common among men, and it is strongly associated with the presence of other psychopathologies comorbidity), such as social anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and major depressive disorder More interestingly, it has been proposed that paruresis…
Mindfulness and Chronic Pain, by Mary Ann Fornes, AMFT
On Sept 2008, The Journal of Pain published the findings of an 8-week clinical trial called the Mindfulness Meditation program where they reported immediate results that this approach is effective as a means of addressing and managing chronic (Natalia…
Empowering Yourself with Mindfulness: Attending Intentionally to What Matters in This Moment
We wake up each day to a new series of updates about coronavirus and its wide reaching effects: perpetually breaking news stories with new research, new statistics, new predictions, new guidelines, new Our attention is yanked like a yo-yo…
Defeating Anxiety/OCD by Surrendering
I’ve posted before on this topic, but it is an area that I keep getting questions about and it is fundamental to managing OCD so I thought it warranted another The Problem with AvoidanceAs a species we are programmed…
5 Surefire Signs You Grew Up with an Emotionally Immature Parent
Their feelings and needs were more important than Expressing your feelings or needs was not They did not take responsibility for their They have no idea how to regulate their You…
IS CHILDHOOD ANXIETY THE SAME IN THE COUNTRY COMPARED TO THE CITY?
That picture has since changed, and rural mental health was reported to have been declining, particularly since new socioeconomic factors have changed the face of rural Particularly, low income, reduced social interactions due to geographic isolation, and restricted range…
The Word “Should” and Your Emotions Don’t Mix, By Krista Cheuk, Associate MFT
The Word “Should” and Your Emotions Don’t Mix In my experience of working with anxiety, “shoulds” play a huge part of that which distresses We often find ourselves falling short of the standards set forth by the “shoulds” in…
Fostering Resilience during COVID-19 by Connecting with Our Values
As we enter Mental Health Awareness Month this year, we are collectively experiencing not only a global health crisis, but also a stressor which has potentially significant repercussions for our mental At the very least, we are likely to…
You Want Me to do What!!
Exposure TherapyIf you have been reading my blog posts up to this point you should be aware that doing exposure therapy is a crucial part of overcoming almost any anxiety disorder and especially overcoming Exposure therapy has many aspects…
Anxiety Sensitivity: 10 Factors that contribute to “Sticky Thoughts”
Feeling stuck? Sleep deprivation/insomnia Drinking alcohol [Some] OTC medications Steroids of any type, asthma meds Your genetic inheritance is a factor Any illness, a cold, for example Caffeine or sugar intake—notice what affects your body A natural cycle upon wakening…
Mindful Forgiveness: 4 Steps to Unlock the Healing Power of Your Mind
Pain is Often a Prompt to Grow Illness Is Created First in the Mind The 4 Levels of Forgiveness Forgive yourself for what you did to Forgive yourself for what you did to someone Forgive others for what…
ARE PEOPLE WITH SOCIAL ANXIETY ONLY CONCERNED WITH SIGNS OF SOCIAL EXCLUSION?
The argument in favor of this explanation is however divided, as there is evidence for two types of explanations about the function of attentional bias in social On the one hand, the individuals is thought to pay attention to…
Finding the Meaning: Identify Your Values + Living with Intentions, by Claire Fox, Registered Associate MFT
To start off, let’s clarify what I mean by According to Steven Hayes, founder of Acceptance and Commitment (ACT) therapy, values are like a compass “giving direction and guidance [to an] ongoing The origin of our values can…
The Unexpected Benefits of Teletherapy
It’s been nearly 4 months since we started COVID-19 quarantine, physical distancing, and since we transitioned to offering therapy via telehealth at We knew from the outset of this shift that research indicates that, assuming that the therapist and…
You Need to do Exposures Willingly and Regularly
Hello Everyone, In my last blog post I shared Guidelines for Doing Exposure Therapy that I had created listing what I believe are some of the important aspects of doing exposure therapy to get the most out of the work…
From Childhood Trauma, The Single Most Difficult Thing To Believe
When I work with adult children who suffered from childhood trauma, the single most difficult thing to believe is also the most difficult to help them You can shift to There are so many different, and mixed, messages…
Important Breathwork For Anxiety And Panic Attacks
Breathwork for anxiety and panic is simply re-training ourselves back into a state of emotional When you can, breathe through your This increases resistance to stress (here’s a YouTube meditation) and helps to activate the parasympathetic nervous
6 Activities That Can Help Boost Serotonin
Ways to Boost Serotonin Get Some Sunlight Eat Healthy Foods Exercise Regularly Reduce Stress Levels Get Enough Sleep Connect With Others By: Chantal McCulligh Title: 6 Activities That Can Help Boost Serotonin Sourced From: Published Date: Wed, 16 Nov…
The Major Aha Moment That Helped Me Stop Fixating on Fixing Myself
See more posts About Shalagh HoganShalagh Hogan, pronounced Shay-La, dwells in Maryland with her husband, teen boy, nine-year-old girl, and three Her lifestyle and self-discovery blog at just turned Her hope and joy as a writer and…
WHAT IS ANXIETY NEUROSIS?
SPOILER ALERT!It is characterized by difficulty doing muscular effort and handling emotional symptoms similar to panic attacks and physical symptoms such as poor appetite and nervous urinary condition is hereditary and onset is between 18 and 35…
Be Your Own Valentine, by Gretchen J. Penner, ASW
Valentines Day is looming and for many it is a difficult day; a reminder of the love they are However, Valentines Day can be the perfect day to show yourself love and practice You don’t need an intimate…
How Do I Control My Anxious Thoughts?
The human mind is a meaning making machine; it searches for patterns (even where there are none) and does it’s best to make sense of the world around us so that it can help keep as safe and But…
Act As If Your Anxiety Is Irrelevant
I hope you are all doing well and that this post is helpful as you seek to manage your If you’re following the points on the Guidelines for Doing Exposure Therapy document this post is about items 4 and…
Connection Or Protection? How Are You Wired?
Connection or protection? How are you wired? Did you know that love wires us for connection but trauma wires us for protection? Sometimes Sometimes Here’s How are you wired? Trauma impacts your window of tolerance, or your…
3 Big Health Anxiety Tips You Must Understand Today
The best health anxiety tips are ones you can practically use right Standing guard keeps the anxious identity in tact, in fact strengthening it by the It’s in our abilities to question the subconscious program where we have…
4 Tips to Help You Inspire Your Partner to Join Couples Therapy with You
Why is Going to Couples Therapy an Issue? Plan and Establish the Discussion Build Emotional Connection Find the Gap Invite Them For a Couple’s Therapy Inspiring Your Partner in a Nutshell By: Chantal McCulligh Title: 4 Tips to Help You…
The 3 Ms That Help Me Cope with Seasonal Depression
Mindfulness Meaning Moments of Joy See more posts About Will AylwardWill helps people around the world to feel more confident, calm, and fulfilled, without them having to fake He is the author of Becoming Unstuck: Your…
CAN PANIC DISORDER CAUSE HEART PROBLEMS?
SPOILER ALERT!Panic disorder (PD) presents with recurrent panic attacks, persistent worry and avoidance attacks and hyperventilation in PD can cause chest painChest pain can be caused by noncardiac events: spasms in the intercostal muscles of the chest wall, difficulty…
What is the Secret to a 72 Year Long Marriage? by Jennifer Costanza, LMFT
Joseph then started to tell us about Jack Lalanne and his secret to staying “a great sex And again, Patricia put two thumbs up and I then asked the couple how long they have been “72…
Managing Uncertainty and Doing the Next “Right” Thing
There are many different reasons why you might decide to seek Maybe you are struggling with the stress of the pandemic, including but not limited to stressors like working from home and trying to be a full-time parent, teacher,…
OCD Treatment Tips
Hope everything is good in your part of the This is a revised and updated version of a previous blog Even though I’ve done this type of work for over 35 years, I am still learning and as…
How To Become More Focused And Fight The Attention Crisis
Why can’t I stay focused? The switch cost effect It takes you 23 minutes to regain your focus Our diets are causing us brain fog We’re controlled by algorithms Rise of the infinite scroll If you didn’t take a photo,…
Why So Guilty?
Why so guilty? Or maybe I should ask ‘Why are you so afraid of being yourself?’ Why so guilty? Often I help people explore the difference between disappointing others and being a disappointment to If you default to pleasing…
The Health Anxiety Affirmations You Must Hear Today
The health anxiety affirmations you listen to today will give us the clarity we need to reach the next chapter in our The emotional refractory period, a system within us dedicated to sorting for and distorting information within our…
Guided Meditations to Help You Find Calm
Why Guided Meditations are Perfect For Meditation Beginners Where to Find Guided Meditations Headspace App Calm App Insight Timer App Smiling Mind Youtube How to Create Your Own Guided Meditation Choose a quiet space where…
20 Powerful Quotes to Help You Deal with Difficult Relationships
See more posts About Lori DescheneLori Deschene is the founder of Tiny She’s also the author of Tiny Buddha’s Gratitude Journal, Tiny Buddha’s Worry Journal, and Tiny Buddha’s Inner Strength Journal and co-founder of Recreate Your Life Story, an online course that…
IS SPENDING TOO MUCH SCREEN TIME BAD FOR THE PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS?
Indeed, there is documented evidence of the negative impact of high screen time on physical By contrast, its impact on mental health is less clear, as there are mixed reports on that A solution to this conundrum involves…
My Dying Friend’s Woke Wake and Why We Need to Talk About Death
See more posts About Priscilla Dann-CourtneyPriscilla Dann-Courtney is a writer and clinical psychologist in Boulder, where she and her husband raised their three She has been in private practice for thirty years treating both adults and Her…
Has Your Path in Life Meandered? Why It’s Okay to Take the Nonlinear Route
See more posts About Eleni StephanidesA freelance writer and Spanish interpreter, Eleni was raised and currently resides in the California Bay Her work has been published in Them, LGBTQ Nation Tiny Buddha, The Mighty, Elephant Journal, The Gay and…
3 Key Benefits to Forgiving and Why I Thanked My Imperfect Parents
Good closure Personal growth and transformation Soul freedom See more posts About Liv (Liv) Wu is a writer, meditation teacher and forever student of the body, mind, spirit She is the creator of Soulove — a mindfulness community focusing on…
All the Wrong Reasons I Slept with Men Before and Why I’m Changing Now
The first thing I became clear about was how, on a subconscious level, I was having sex with men before I was ready because I lacked the confidence to say I had a fear that if I did not…
How I Learned the True Meaning of Strength After My Son’s Death
See more posts About Linda BroderLinda Broder is a meditative musician who believes that joy and wonder can be found in the midst of unimaginable After losing her teenage son, she discovered creative expression as a pathway to hope…
7 False Beliefs That Will Keep You Trapped in Your Head Forever
It’s bad or wrong to feel It shouldn’t be There’s something wrong with me (for being My mind should be I can’t experience peace until my anxiety is Getting to…
Coping with Loss on Father’s Day, by Paula Pisani, AMFT
Grief is not one-size-fits-all, and the Five Stages of Grief — denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance — often happen out of order or repeat themselves just as we thought we were in the A crucial thing to remember is…
Lessons from Traveling in Time
Have you ever wished you could have a do over? Go back in time and alter an embarrassing moment, or seize a missed opportunity, or simply get more time to do the things that matter most to you? What might…
How to Use Cognitive Behavior Therapy to Treat Anxiety
In this post I thought I would return to expanding on the suggestions in the recent PDF I shared on Guidelines for Doing Exposure Item 6 is: An exposure hierarchy may be a good place to How…
The Best Calm App Alternatives
Calm app key features Multiple original daily offeringsHours of guided meditations covering sleep, anxiety, stress, gratitude, and much moreThe entire library of more than 200 Sleep Stories, with new stories, added every weekExclusive music tracks for Focus, Relaxation, and SleepMasterclasses…
