The term executive function has made a popular resurgence in every day vernacular. EF relates to the prefrontal cortex of the brain. Generally speaking, the prefrontal cortex regulates our reasoning abilities, problem solving, comprehension, impulse control, creativity and perseverance. Some people have more difficulty with their executive functioning abilities due to ADD/ADHD, brain damage, or neurodegenerative brain diseases such as...[ read more ]
Have you ever felt this way? She wasn’t always this way. In fact, she remembers being somewhat extroverted in college. She would jump at the chance to go out at night, see her friends, go to parties. Her anxiety crept up on her slowly, like honey in a jar. It didn’t help moving from the city to the suburbs where...[ read more ]
When journaling is prescribed in therapy it is often met with resistance. “I’ve tried that….I don’t know what to write…I can’t write that much….I never can find the time…” All valid feelings on the topic. It might be helpful to break down the different ways and different kinds of journaling that are available to you. Please note, if there is...[ read more ]
What do boundaries look like? What do they feel like? Why are they important? Why do so many of us struggle with implementing boundaries? These are all important questions to ask as we go through therapy together. Some boundaries are air tight, while others are permeable. In other words, we get to choose what we let pass through. Boundaries can...[ read more ]
A wise therapist once said to me: “If a relationship is meant to be, nothing so fragile will make it break.” Years later, I now pass that wisdom on to my patients. It resonates with many of them. It is almost as if we think significant relationships can be severed by a wrong look, a missed call, or expressing too...[ read more ]
At some point in our lives, we have all experienced the feeling of loneliness. Loneliness can take shape in many ways. You can feel alone in your apartment and at the same time feel alone in a crowd of people. What is the common thread? To feel lonely is to feel socially disconnected, separated, rejected, or abandoned in some way....[ read more ]
As the first leaves hit the ground, we can notice a slight chill in the air. There is a change happening. For some, saying goodbye to summer and hello to fall is an exciting and welcoming time. For others, the mention of sweaters and jackets creates a sense of defiance and the longing to hold on to any shred of...[ read more ]
When you think of emotions, what do you think of? For many it’s usually either the “high high’s” or the “low low’s” on the spectrum of how one feels. To start, let’s label some basic emotions: Happiness Sadness Anger Fear Loneliness Jealousy Disgust For most people, we can experience these emotions without them affecting our daily functioning. Some of us...[ read more ]
I am not fond of resolutions because they never seem to stick. Is January 1st the only time a person can refresh and reboot? Hopefully not! Rather, I’d like to think of them as micro resolutions or even better, self-care practices. Self-care is a word that has been thrown around a lot these days. What are you doing for self-care...[ read more ]
Getting one’s Vitamin D from the sun is always best, however, mother nature doesn’t always like to play nice. As the days continue to get shorter and it is darker for longer periods of time during the day, one can feel somewhat gloomy, sad, and depressed. A “happy light” will bring the sun indoors on those cold, dark, rainy days....[ read more ]
