The days are shorter, it gets dark SO EARLY, and there’s a chill in the air. I love fall, and I love the winter holidays, but winter is rough. It’s common to feel a little down when winter rolls around and many people report that their mood declines in the winter months. But how do […]
Playtime
When was the last time you played? We know sleep and food are essential for our wellbeing, but do we understand just how important play is to our wellbeing, even as adults? My husband and I have been busier than normal as we have been moving apartments and preparing for our first baby on the […]
Back to School
My dad has the same nightmare every fall: he is in a classroom preparing to take a final exam, when he realizes he never attended the class or completed any of the assignments! He is certain he is going to fail. School is in full swing, and it brings some excitement, along with some stressors. […]
You Don’t Want Therapy
You Don’t Want Therapy I get it. You want relief. Peace. Closeness. Love. You want to stop feeling alone, angry, sad, worthless, misunderstood, and afraid. I understand. I may not know you (yet), but… I know you. I know you’re in pain – perhaps more than you’ve ever experienced before now. You’re scared you’ll feel […]
Top 10 Ways to Cope with Job Transition
Job transitions can be stressful—whether they’re due to layoff, a new job or working extra hours because others workers were laid off. If you’re facing one, consider the following. Take an honest look at yourself. What are your strengths, weaknesses, skills? How did those influence—positively or negatively—your transition? Step up your self-care. Major changes are […]
Accessing the Power of Gratitude
The practice of gratitude as a tool for happiness has been in the mainstream for years. Long-term studies support gratitude’s effectiveness, suggesting that a positive, appreciative attitude contributes to greater success in work, greater health, peak performance in sports and business, a higher sense of well-being, and a faster rate of recovery from surgery. But […]
The Ghost Man
If you follow my blog at all, you know I tend to write about whatever crosses my path – especially if I’m seeing a lot of it. It’s almost life’s way of saying, “Hey! This is a thing. Maybe you should mention it?” So, I’m mentioning this latest relationship dynamic that is jumping out at […]
Regrets
Despite what people may tell you, everyone has at least one relationship regret. In my almost 20 years of being a therapist, I have never met a client who didn’t wish they had done something different in a past relationship – it’s totally normal. The problem arises when you can’t let the regret go; when […]
The Dark Days, by Kate Alcamo, M.S., LCMFT
I am writing this post 5 months to the day after the birth of my beautiful baby girl, Riley. It has been a bit more challenging to write than I had thought it would be. The idea behind writing this blog came during the first two months post partum. In fact, during that time I had […]
How My Dog Showed Me It’s Better to Speak Up Than To Stay Silent About Pain
Post written by Jennifer Fang-Pan, M.S., LGMFT In a culture of limitless instant sharing apps and formats, it can be hard to strike equilibrium between giving stalkers instant success or going to the opposite extreme of boycotting everyone in your inner circle of friends and family. I’m advocating for a little more sharing, just […]