As the holidays approach, so do some of the busiest travel days of the year. Many of us will be flying to visit friends and relatives and some just to get away for a break during a busy time of year. Booking a trip is exciting, but what if the mere thought of flying causes…
DetailsIt is virtually impossible today to turn on the news without encountering a story of a man who has behaved badly sexually. Understandably, the initial response of many of us is to be offended, angry, repulsed, and/or demanding he be punished. However, it concerns me that our reactions can be so swift, punitive and judgmental.…
DetailsLast year I wrote about leadership and I lamented that leadership traits seemed to be lacking among too many of our political leaders. I also noted that the presidential election featured two candidates with high unfavorability ratings and I questioned why a country that produced innovative companies such as Apple, Google and Facebook, could not…
DetailsParents today too often find themselves speaking to their children about the violence that seems to permeate the news. The recent massacre in Las Vegas raises questions for kids of all ages and has triggered many parents to ask us how to talk to them about it. First take a moment to consider your own…
DetailsCan you teach empathy? I get this question a lot from friends, parents, and parents of patients. The answer is not that simple. Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. Some kids just seem to be born more empathetic than others. These kids are the ones who cry because someone…
DetailsIf you are a parent of a 6th grader or older teen in Middle or High school, then you should probably know about the Netflix TV series, “13 Reasons Why.” If you are a parent and don’t know about this Netflix show, this will be an eye-opener! “13 Reasons Why” premiered on March 31, 2017 and…
DetailsOver the years I have encountered many people suffering and struggling with grief and grieving in my work and in the greater community. Historically, there has been conflicting information available about how “best” to do this, from cultural and scientific perspectives alike. For example, those in mourning may have heard, “cry, men shouldn’t cry, go…
DetailsAmong psychotherapists, it is a widely held belief that women are more inclined to pursue psychotherapy than are men. While likely true, that is not always the case. When a man’s penis is no longer functioning as he would like, or as he thinks it should, he is highly likely to seek professional assistance. At…
DetailsSchool projects, soccer practice, music lessons, doctor appointments, two careers, childcare arrangements, carpools, meal preparation, chores, battles over screen-time…family life can be quite stressful. Finding time to connect has become increasingly challenging and instituting a weekly family meeting can help provide a remedy to this seeming chaos. There are numerous potential benefits of holding family…
DetailsThere’s no debate that we live in an age where more and more options for after-school activities and areas for specialization exist. Budding rock climber? Sure – http://brooklynboulders.com/brooklyn/; the next Steve Jobs? Try this – https://coderdojo.com/. Possibilities are endless, but also potentially overwhelming, and it’s impossible to try it all. So what do we tell…
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