Get Through the Holidays with Humor and Grace: Four Strategies for Couples and Families Posted by Pat LaDouceur, Ph.D. on Nov 19th 2009 "Are you looking forward to a relaxing holiday? Have you made plans that fit your unique values, needs, and energy level? Or do you feel pulled by the needs of friends and family, swept into the consumer rush, or tantalized by images of perfect holiday bliss and feeling like you can’t measure up? These strategies will help you balance needs of others with your own, and make the holiday season more enjoyable."  More...

Depression, ADHD, Psychotherapy and Medication Posted by Allan Schwartz, LCSW, Ph.D. on Nov 19th 2009 (1 comment) "I recently received an interesting question from a forty year old man from the UK who stated the he is suffering from depression. He wanted to know what types of medication would help him feel better. He asserted that he had neither the time nor the money to invest in psychotherapy. Besides, he stated, he has a chemical imbalance in his brain and knows that medication will solve his problem. He also happened to state that he has suffered from many stresses over the years. "  More...

What is the Key to Less Stress at Work and Life? Posted by Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D. on Nov 19th 2009 (1 comment) "As we start our workdays most of us have one thing in mind. No matter the task, whatever project is in front of us, the question is, how do we get from point A to point B as quickly and efficiently as possible so we can get onto the next thing? However, there is one key thing that is missing in this logic..."  More...

Adult AD/HD: Effects on Relationships and Self-Esteem Posted by Simone Hoermann, Ph.D. on Nov 19th 2009 "Adult Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder can take quite a toll on interpersonal relationships and a person’s self-esteem. "A person with AD/HD has a hard time paying attention." says Dr. David Gutman "They often have difficulty structuring their time and prioritizing tasks. That’s why they tend to show up late to appointments or dates. They can be quite forgetful, and they tend to not pay attention or to interrupt frequently when others are talking." You can see how this can get quite frustrating for the people in the environment, particularly romantic partners and spouses. People get disappointed and fed up, and they feel mistreated. It's hard to understand that someone with AD/HD is not behaving this way on purpose. "  More...

Creating a Peaceful Holiday for your Family Posted by Buck Black, LCSW on Nov 18th 2009 "Aren’t holidays great? There are presents, food, time off work (for those fortunate enough), and time with family. However, the time with family can quickly turn into disagreements, which then lead to out right fighting. Its all too often the times we all think should be enjoyed turn into episodes of family drama."  More...

The Brain, Nutrition and ADHD Posted by Allan Schwartz, LCSW, Ph.D. on Nov 18th 2009 "What is even more interesting about this finding is that it may explain why some people become addicted to such things as food or to certain drugs. What happens is that, with an inadequate supply of dopamine, people who are obese or addicted to drugs and alcohol, may be unwittingly attempting to increase the amount of dopamine in their system by experience rewarding feelings caused by over eating or drug addiction. This may also explain why such a high percentage of people with ADHD become caught in the web of addiction. "  More...

Is It Love or Codependency? Let's Have a Dialogue Posted by Allan Schwartz, LCSW, Ph.D. on Nov 18th 2009 (1 comment) "The term "codendency" is not in the DSM and is borrowed from the language of drug and alcohol addiction. In actuality, it is a rather vague and difficult to define term, which has resulted in many people having different definitions. I will define it as seeking love based on feelings of inadequacy that one hopes will be repaired by one's lover. In this scenario, the lover cannot be the individual they really are, but must fulfill a role their partner has for them. That role is to provide unbending love and security. The trouble is that there is never enough love. That is where the codependent come in. Because of low self esteem and deep seated insecurity, the codependent cannot be the person they really are. Instead, they work to please the other person in order to ensure they will be loved. Therefore, a codependent submerges their needs for those of the other person. "  More...

An Interview with Jon Frederickson, MSW, on Experiential Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Posted by David Van Nuys, Ph.D. on Nov 17th 2009 (2 comments) "Frederickson talks about Experiential Psychodyanmic Psychotherapy, which is based on Freud's original conceptions of repression and transference, but presented in a shortened, and far more active and experiential format than that characteristic of traditional Psychoanalysis. The emphasis on experience is really an emphasis on actually feeling avoided emotions. The experiential dynamic therapist seeks to understand the client's responses as falling into three categories: a feeling (avoided or not), anxiety in response to a feeling, and defensive behaviors undertaken to escape from the anxiety, and further seeks to help the client become more aware of how their particular version of this chain of emotion and avoidance functions."  More...

4 Steps to Losing the Electronic Leash Posted by Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D. on Nov 16th 2009 (1 comment) "It happens to almost all of us, it's close to unavoidable. Electronic gadgets like Blackberries, IPhones, and regular computing devices are everywhere sending us texts, special messages from facebook and twitter, emails, voicemails, soon-to-be ESP (extrasensory perception) messages, and giving us access to an overwhelming amount of information anywhere anytime. I was at a 2 year old birthday party the other day and the amount of parents fiddling with their phones sealed the notion in my mind that we need reminders in life to lose the electronic leash. "  More...

Taking a Mindful Path Through Shyness Posted by Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D. on Nov 14th 2009 "In our culture, shyness seems to be perceived as something of a deficit in character. Steve Flowers, author of The Mindful Path Through Shyness, explains that shyness can also be seen as a human temperament that can be regarded as positive, being modest, quiet, and demure. However, he goes further to say: "  More...

The Need for Changes in U.S Health Insurance Posted by Allan Schwartz, LCSW, Ph.D. on Nov 13th 2009 (3 comments) "Kaiser Health News, (unaffiliated with Kaiser Permanente health insurance company), publishes a monthly newsletter named, KHN. This month, in conjunction with the LA Times, they discussed the serious issue of health care in the United States. What they had to say was sobering indeed. What they pointed out was that there is not much difference between those who are uninsured and those who are. How is this possible? "  More...

Dealing with Grief and Loss Posted by Kathryn Patricelli, MA on Nov 13th 2009 "When a national tragedy like what happened at Fort Hood occurs, there are a large number of people who have grief and loss feelings that they must deal with going forward. This can include those directly involved, as well as those who have had other losses in the past, particularly from a similarly violent situation, where there can be a re-emergence of grief feelings. People affected can also feel grief over the loss of feeling secure and safe in their workplace and homes on the base."  More...

Are You an Oscar the Grouch Sometimes? Posted by Allan Schwartz, LCSW, Ph.D. on Nov 12th 2009 (2 comments) "Remember Oscar from Sesame Street? He was that lovable and irritable Muppet that Jim Henson created, who always complained and said things in negative ways. In fact, he always lived in a garbage can, by choice, just to let remind everyone about his complaining self. "  More...

"I Can't," Living with ADHD Posted by Allan Schwartz, LCSW, Ph.D. on Nov 10th 2009 (2 comments) "There is one common denominator that all of the subjects in these scenarios share. All of them have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), primarily of the "inattentive type." Although these subjects are diverse as to age, gender and job description, they each react to their assignments in the same way. They immediately tell themselves, "I can't do that." Each then feels a deep sense of dread and a wish to run away. "  More...

Coping with Emotions: Treating Borderline Personality Disorder and Substance Use Posted by Simone Hoermann, Ph.D. on Nov 10th 2009 "Frequently, people with Borderline Personality Disorder feel overwhelmed with intense emotions and use substances in order to avoid feeling these painful or tense internal states. Sometimes, the opposite is the case: Some people with Borderline Personality Disorder are very detached from their feelings and feel empty inside. Using a substance, for instance, using alcohol, can serve as a means to feel things more intensely. “We call this the self-medication hypothesis”, says Dr. Karen Frieder, “If you’re feeling up, you use the substance to come down, and if you’re down, you use the substance to come back up. The idea is that there is an underlying cause for the substance use. The person engages in these behaviors in an attempt to find short-term solutions, but they are not very effective.”"  More...