Is That Anger Just Anxiety in Disguise by Dr. Francine Rosenberg
My patient’s parent recently complained about her adolescent daughter’s angry outbursts. These episodes occurred particularly during discussions about taking showers and completing assignments for school. Early adolescence is a time when children often desire more independence. As it turns out, defiance was not the problem. Fear was the culprit. Let’s call my patient, Pearl. Some inquiries […]
Helping Children Through This Pandemic, By Richard B. Dauber, Ph.D.
As I enjoyed Thanksgiving with my family, it struck me how much has changed over this past year. Rather than having everyone together in our home, laughing, eating, and celebrating such a joyous holiday, we set up in our garage. My wife and I ate at one table, and across the garage were my grandchildren […]
Should You Avoid The Seduction Of Narcissism? By Larisa R. Wainer, Psy.D.
Before becoming a psychologist, I always thought narcissism was a disorder of excessive self-love. This premise was likely based on hazy recollections of high school readings of Greek mythology, where Narcissus, known for his youthful beauty, spurns nymph Echo’s love and instead becomes so enamored with his reflection that he perishes from the unrequited romance. […]
STELLA! STELLA!! Can Dreams Hold the Key To Your Anxiety? By Dr. Daniel Watter
STELLA! STELLA!! For most of us, the repeated scream of STELLA! brings to mind Marlon Brando’s iconic portrayal of Stanley Kowalski in the marvelous film adaptation of Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire. For me, Stella was my first guitar with whom I parted over 50 years ago. Yet, a few nights ago, my Stella […]
How Long Can Your Child Pay Attention? By Dr. Lisa G. Hahn, Ph.D., ABBP
The pandemic has challenged children to face many different learning options. In New Jersey, some districts offer only virtual, some hybrid (a combination of virtual and in-person), and a small percentage of schools full in-person instruction. Many parents have expressed concern about their child’s ability to concentrate given the current restrictions placed on traditional educational […]
Not Stressed Enough? Add Some More! A Paradoxical Approach to dealing with 2020, By Dr. Nathan McClelland
That’s not a misprint or a joke. I’m not sadistic (as far as I know), so please bear with me. To briefly set the stage: it is October of 2020, and the dizzying array of stressors associated with 2020 continues unabated. COVID-19, political unrest, racial tensions, economic insecurity, and their downstream consequences have resulted in […]
Dealing With This Depressive Dystopia: Ecclesiastes, COVID, and the Paradoxical Commandments, by Dr. Jeffrey Singer
Before you think there is a new diagnosis being hoisted on the public, please be rest assured that “depressive dystopia” is my term for how I view our current collective condition. COVID life has helped create a societal malaise that has pushed our emotional tolerances to a state of constantly uncomfortable surrealism. Sometimes it feels […]
Why Can’t We All Just Get Along? Tips on Judging Less and Understanding More By Dr. Ashley Gorman, Ph.D., ABPP
Passing judgment on those around us is human nature. We are continually making our own choices and observing the choices of others. We like to think we’re making the right decisions, and we often use ourselves as a benchmark for others. How can we feel good and “right” in our choices without passing judgment on […]
Technology and Kids: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly By Dr. Corrinne M. Kalafut
It is often said that parenting is not for the faint of heart. Parents face many difficult decisions and dilemmas when raising their children, only made more challenging by the instant gratification that technology brings to their world. As a parent of three girls, I often struggle with the role that technology plays in their […]
What Does Music Do To Your Brain? By Dr. Daniel DaSilva
One of my favorite times of day is the ride home from work. Not just because work is over, but because I get to do one of my favorite things, listen to music. Like many of us, I enjoy different types of music. What I choose is often linked to my mood or my activity […]