Implicit or unconscious bias refers to attitudes we have but are unaware of about people and the stereotypes we associate with them. They constitute our preferences or aversions, often around — but not limited to —race or ethnicity, and are...

Most parents want to do what’s best for their children when it comes to their physical and emotional well-being. However, teaching them about boundaries related to sexuality often falls off the list of “important conversations” to have with young children...

According to the data available on the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence’s (NCADV) website, one in 15 children in the U.S. witnessed IPV in 2010. One in three children who were exposed to IPV were themselves victims of abuse....

Recent and some not-so-recent events have highlighted the many ways we have found to divide us. How do we navigate different beliefs, values and opinions with compassion and respect for our significant others, parents, siblings or close friends?...

COVID-19 and the associated stay-at-home orders have brought attention to the issue of intimate partner violence (IPV) as well as other forms of domestic violence such as child abuse. Increased isolation, as well as new stresses, have increased the incidents...

The holidays are always somewhat of a mixed bag. For many people, this is a challenging time without a pandemic. For others, the pandemic, along with the associated shutdowns and quarantines, is dampening their much-anticipated frivolity....

How we approach challenging situations, especially when they seem to pile up, can make all the difference in our health and wellbeing. One not-so-secret weapon, hope, just might be the key to greater happiness and less anxiety. But, how do...

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a modality developed in the late 1970s by Dr. Marsha M. Linehan, a psychology researcher at the University of Washington. DBT became the gold star treatment for borderline personality disorder, which had always been resistant...

Have you ever wondered why it is so difficult to choose just one emoji to express your reaction to a friend’s Facebook post? If yes, then you might find it interesting to learn about the multiplicity principle frequently mentioned in...

With all the uncertainty and upheaval most people are experiencing as a result of COVID-19, anxiety is a word that comes up a lot. But, what is anxiety, really?...

“Unprecedented” is the word most often used to describe the current crisis caused by the spread of COVID-19. This event has touched everyone and all areas of daily life look different as we continue to adjust to new routines and...

Along with all the physical changes of pregnancy and childbirth come a host of emotional changes, from euphoria to sadness. That sadness also has a spectrum, from a ...

Practicing gratitude is not a new concept, but it seems to be getting a lot of buzz lately. Messages abound about how counting one’s blessings rather than focusing on what is lacking can resolve a multitude of issues including both...

Whether planned or unplanned, through birth or adoption, the anticipation and ultimate arrival of a baby generates a wide range of emotions. Regardless of how much you’ve prepared, how many magazine articles you’ve read, how many nieces and nephews you’ve...

Mindfulness gets talked about a lot these days, but it is more than a passing fad. As an ancient practice with science to support its numerous benefits, mindfulness as a practice is a powerful tool for navigating the many challenges...

The holidays can be a wonderful time full of fun and magic. Lights and candy canes. Parties and presents. Family and friends. Sometimes, or for some people, however, this time of year brings unpleasant or difficult feelings. Stress, anxiety, fear,...

Autumn. Kids are back in school and family routines have gotten back to normal after summer break. However, for many parents with children who’ve gone away to college or have left home to pursue other opportunities, that may mean finding...

Issues with attachment are often associated with children, particularly children who have lost a significant caretaker or children in adoption situations who didn’t receive proper loving care as babies and, as a result, exhibit negative behaviors or emotional difficulties throughout...

Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression and addiction have all been getting a lot of media coverage in recent years. Now, an important tool for treating these serious but common mental health issues is also beginning to get more...

Celal Aydemir, MA, LPC The Turkish word “arkadaş” means a friend, the rock behind your back, as well as someone you are willing to be there for through thick and thin. We may strive to be that kind of friend to...

The public revelations about Harvey Weinstein last fall and the subsequent rise of the #MeToo movement brought the little-talked-about and rarely prosecuted systemic culture of sexual harassment, abuse and assault by powerful men fully into the open. Women and men...

[Scott Olsen/Getty Images]   The word “narcissist” has been bandied about quite a bit this past year. More than a politically divisive term, however, narcissistic personality disorder is a legitimate mental condition defined in The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of...

*Thank you to Laura Pentoney, MA, LPC, for her contributions to this blog post. To contact Laura directly, visit her profile here. Consistently, one of the top resolutions made on January 1 is to get healthy, and getting healthy typically...

*Thank you to Karin Bustamante, MA, LPC, for her contributions to this blog post. To contact Karin directly, visit her profile here. The New Year is traditionally a time for resolutions. The start of a new year can evoke a...

How to Stay When You Want to Flee Relationships are hard. Maintaining a happy coexistence with another human being – even someone you care deeply about – has its challenges. Like any living thing, relationships change over time and are...

“What’s for dinner?” can be the most depressing and difficult question for busy parents to answer. After all, dinner is relentless. Night after night, whether you’re hitting the fast food drive-thru on the way to your kid’s lacrosse practice or...

“Why are you drinking?” demanded the little prince. “So that I may forget,” replied the tippler. “Forget what?” inquired the little prince, who already was sorry for him. “Forget that I am ashamed,” the tippler confessed, hanging his head. “Ashamed...

Moving Out of a Fixed Perspective through Compassionate Discourse You made it through the holidays and those challenging, awkward, possibly heated dinner table discussions about the election. Some of those people you may not see again for another year, yet...

The New Year is a natural time for reflection, for taking stock of where we’ve been and looking ahead to where we’d like to be. More often than not, we are critical of the past and overwhelmed by the prospect...

The holidays are a time for celebration and happy gatherings with family and friends. Some people, however, find that celebrating the holidays in the traditional sense brings anything but peace and joy. Rather than looking forward to it, this time...