When I was pregnant with my first child, a friend offered me a pearl of wisdom that has not only stayed with me as a parent, but that I have used many times in my work as a psychologist. “Don’t get too comfortable with anything,” she said. “Just when you think you’ve got it all…
The brilliant and talented Robin Williams died in 2014. His death shocked the world, and it wasn’t until later that his family shared the results of his autopsy. Robin Williams’ brain was covered by the hallmark pathology of Lewy Body Dementia (LBD). This disease causes visual hallucinations, parkinsonian features (e.g. tremor and rigidity), and a…
The month of September is difficult for many children- the fear of a new classroom, new classmates, and a routine of long school days and homework after the summer make many dread the month. In September, many students are shy with their new teachers. But what happens when this initial shyness does not dissipate at…
Parents can have a powerful influence on the development of an athlete. As a clinical and sport psychologist, I have seen both positive and negative effects that parents can have on their child’s athletic career. Youth and High School sports have the potential to be a tremendous experience for both children and their parents. …
Jon Kabat-Zinn, the founder and former director of the stress reduction clinic at University of Massachusetts, helped bring mindfulness mediation into mainstream medicine and has skillfully demonstrated the improvements and positive outcome that people adopt when they practice mindfulness. For quite a while, I have made a commitment to take the time to put daily…
“It is inaccurate to say that I hate everything. I am strongly in favour of common sense, common honesty, and common decency. This makes me forever ineligible for public office.” H. L. Mencken As someone who is interested in the psychology of leadership, I find politics fascinating. More accurately, I find politicians fascinating and as…
If you’re not satisfied with your body image, you’re not alone. Research indicates that 90% of females (girls and women) and 75% of males (boys and men) are dissatisfied with their weight. With Memorial Day and bathing suit season approaching, many people get increasingly anxious about losing weight. Often, they resort to drastic diets promising…
Your kids and teens are safely tucked in bed or in their rooms, but are they really home? Many of our children and teens often are still contacting their friends and unknown sites on the internet. Do you really know what they are doing, who are they talking to, and what they are viewing in…
Your parents may never have been into meditation, unless of course they went through a “hippie phase” or traveled to an ashram in some far away country to “find themselves,” at some point in their lives. Well, there is no longer any need to wander a continent away to find every day peace. Many people…
Anger is a naturally occurring emotion that ranges from mild annoyance to furious rage. There is great potential upside to anger. Anger can enable perseverance in the face of obstacles, mobilize resources to take corrective action, fuel resilience, be a guardian of self-esteem, and can potentiate the ability to redress grievances. However, the benefits of…