Sleep, nutrition, and exercise are the three lifestyle factors that are most associated with mental health. Teens need between eight and ten hours of sleep per night, with most teens needing about nine hours of sleep. Unfortunately, studies have shown that most teens are not getting the sleep they need. In fact, the average teen … Read more
Most animal lovers know how incredibly fun it is to own a pet. But did you know that pet ownership can have impressive long-term physical and mental health benefits? Studies exploring the health benefits of the human-animal bond have found that: Pet ownership, especially dog ownership, is associated with better circulation, reduced risk of heart … Read more
Quite often, thoughts may go through our heads that are disturbing. These thoughts sometimes make us angry, sometimes sad, and sometimes worried or scared. While these feelings are perfectly okay, there are times when we all would prefer to “change the channel” on our thoughts, and to shift our focus to something more pleasant and … Read more
With spring now upon us, what better way to greet the new season than with a twist on a yearly ritual: psychological spring cleaning. Just as we need to remove the dust from our tabletops, clear out the stale food from the refrigerator, and clean the cobwebs out of the attic, our brains – our … Read more
As the end of summer nears and the school year fast approaches it would be helpful to review ways to maximize our brain power. Learning requires optimal focus, concentration, planning, memory, and problem-solving, or what is called executive functioning. Executive functions also include control of our impulses, flexible thinking, judgment, and organization. The front part … Read more
As many of my colleagues and clients know, I love movies! I often reference them in session as a way to connect, provide a reference point, and illustrate a concept. After the release of Pixar’s touching, animated movie “Inside Out,” many conversations have unfolded about the impact of the film on both children and parents. … Read more
Eye-blinking, throat-clearing, sniffing – your child’s odd tic is often just a passing phase. But many parents wonder how to distinguish whether their child’s habit is a sign of something more serious. The majority of tics involve the head and shoulder areas and in some way relate to the five senses: the eyes blink or … Read more
Smartphones have become an integral part of our daily lives. While there is no doubt that smartphones have many benefits, they also have the potential to disrupt our relationships and even our mental health! Recent research indicates that smartphone use is a rising cause of relationship problems. It has become very common to use smartphones … Read more
Let’s admit it – we all love holiday food! Thanksgiving turkey, Christmas ham, Hanukkah latkes, pumpkin pie, cookie exchanges, cocktail parties… the list goes on and on. Add to that the time pressures and stress brought on by preparations, shopping, and family gatherings, and healthy habits can fall by the wayside. All too often, indulging … Read more
Yoga is a wonderful tool, not only for teaching us motor balance, but also for helping us with ‘emotional balance’. When we think of yoga, we may think of being in a room full of people on our yoga mats putting ourselves into pretzel formations. Yoga is much more than that, however, and not only … Read more
