Psychotherapists are rarely portrayed with accuracy in films and on television. Typically, we are seen as deranged psychotic murderers, (i.e. Michael Caine in Dressed to Kill), bumbling fools who can barely function, (i.e. Hugh Grant in Nine Months), or genius detectives who solve great mysteries, (i.e. Richard Gere in Final Analysis and Primal Fear). None…
DetailsMany of us read before we go to bed. This activity is helpful in allowing our minds to relax and cue our bodies that it’s time to sleep. But, have you ever noticed that sometimes you forget what you have read just before falling sleep? When you pick up your book the next day, does…
DetailsFor many kids, adjusting to different social situations, whether it’s a playdate or a birthday party, can be difficult. Even if the child wants to attend the party or playdate, it may require significant patience and persistence from parents in order for the child to succeed. It also may be painful for parents to then…
DetailsHomework time. For many children and families, it is a dreaded part of the day, particularly for children who struggle. It’s just like the day before and the day before that, ever since the second week of school. You guide your child to the kitchen table or the desk in their room or some other…
DetailsEach year the National Institute for Mental Health reports that anxiety and depressive disorders make up the largest percentage of mental health disorders recorded in the United States among adults. This is no surprise to me since that’s pretty much all that I treat in my practice – adults with anxiety and depressive disorders. Common…
DetailsI have owned only two Samoyed dogs in my life and raised from pups, and I have to say it was one of the most rewarding decisions we made in bringing them into our family. In the same breath, dealing with the passing of those dogs, especially with children in our family, was one of…
DetailsI am a big fan of the New York Yankees and have been so for most of my life. In fact, I was just 4-years old when my father took me to my first game. I follow the team closely and I even have an extensive Yankees shrine in my home. I have enjoyed the…
DetailsPerhaps no emotion is more dysregulating and potentially damaging than anger, yet many of us receive very little education about how to understand and manage it effectively! Sure, we’ve all been told to take a breath, count to 10 and walk away, but these strategies don’t always work without a deeper personal understanding of our…
DetailsAs a clinical psychologist, who has been specializing in working with kids since I started my practice more than 35 years ago, I have given my share of advice to parents on how to raise children. When I became a parent, I learned a lot about child-rearing on the front lines in raising my own…
Details“Call me when you get there.” This instruction has been received in some form by adolescent and adult children for as long as most of us can remember. While innocently intended to ease the anxiety of parents, the need to check in on your children (or have them check in with you) often creates conflicts…
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