Self-Compassion: A New Approach to New Year’s Resolutions

Self-Compassion: A New Approach to New Year’s Resolutions As we reach the new year, it is time again to discuss the tradition of New Year’s resolutions. This is the time of year when gym memberships are purchased (or during these pandemic times, home gym equipment and workout subscriptions are purchased), diets are started, budgets are … Read more

Tips for Maintaining Mental Health During the Holiday Season

Tips for Maintaining Mental Health During the Holiday Season Although the holidays are often a fun and relaxing time of year, they can be stressful and challenging as well. Research indicates that this is especially the case for individuals who already struggle to maintain their mental health; a recent study conducted by NAMI (the National … Read more

Love the Skin You’re In

Love the Skin You’re In The holidays are often a time replete with social gatherings and parties where people tend to congregate around the kitchen and indulge in favorite holiday treats.  Pumpkin pie, eggnog, peppermint bark –things we wait all year to enjoy!  So naturally, this time of year is also often overrun by news … Read more

Celebrating Small Victories

Celebrating Small Victories As we cross the finish line for the first leg of this school year, last year’s unprecedented and stressful combination of school closures, virtual learning, and constant COVID-19 anxieties can sometimes seem far away. However, it was not very long ago that all of us, and our kids, were constantly adjusting to … Read more

Preparing Your Child for an Intelligence Test

Preparing Your Child for an Intelligence (IQ) Test This post was originally published on 11/17/2010 and updated on 11/01/2021   Many private schools and advanced academic programs require children to take an intelligence test as part of the admissions process.  Often, when parents hear that their child needs to take an intelligence test that will … Read more

Things that Go Bump in the Night: Understanding Worries and Fears

Things that Go Bump in the Night: Understanding Worries and Fears Tis the season for all things spooky, creepy, crawly and fierce!  While this can be good fun during festive fall events, some fears and phobias bring no such giggles or good feelings.  It can be worrisome as a parent, and/or bothersome as a human, … Read more

Adjusting to an Empty Nest

Adjusting to an Empty Nest Most college freshman have been at school for about a month now.  For parents, that means it has been at least 4 weeks without your child at home.  You have been learning what it is like to go through daily life without your child at dinner, in his room, talking … Read more

The Importance of Sleep

The Importance of Sleep As school starts up again and schedules get busier, sleep is an important consideration for people of all ages.  Sleep problems and disagreements about sleep can have negative impacts on individuals and families.  Family fights about going to bed, following evening routines and rules, and waking up and leaving the house … Read more

Are You Burned Out? Signs of Burnout and How to Help

Are You Burned Out? Signs of Burnout and How to Help With the academic school year starting back up in classrooms and some adults making the transition back to their jobs in-person, it would be prudent for everyone to do a mindful check-in and ask ourselves, ‘How are we doing?  Are we doing okay?  Or … Read more

Practicing Kindness and Finding Delight

Practicing Kindness and Finding Delight As I opened my laptop to write today, I passed by headlines about wildfires and floods related to climate change, increasing COVID-19 numbers, economic instability, political scandals, and the fear and anger experienced and expressed by leaders and followers in our almost unthinkably polarized society. And in my clinical practice, … Read more