When we think about the term “acceptance”, many people believe that this means either condoning a situation or behavior. Not so. Acceptance is not an excuse to be passive, to give up our rights in a matter, or resign ourselves to continued abuse. Quite the opposite. Acceptance is actually a proactive stance. Radical Acceptance, one […]

Years before COVID-19 emerged and quickly took over our society, I was conducting phone sessions as well as in-person office visits with clients. Mid-March of 2020, when it became clear that I could not in good conscience continue to see clients in person, possibly endangering their health and my own, I moved exclusively to phone […]

With the widespread COVID-19 regulations requiring us to shelter at home and to practice social distancing from all but those who share our household, how do people in recovery from alcoholism or other addictive processes maintain their sobriety? A crucial component of recovery involves regular contact with others on a similar path. Isolation, and the […]

We don’t like uncertainty. We never do. And in times such as these, so much is up in the air. We don’t know what additional restrictions our local government will mandate in terms of sheltering at home and business closures, nor how long they will continue. And what about access to testing and treatment for […]

Studies have demonstrated again and again that maintaining a formal, daily meditation practice benefits our bodies, minds, and souls in many ways. Reduced anxiety, depression, and compulsiveness, greater serenity, deeper sleep, and enhanced immunity to disease are some of the perks of consistent meditation. However, if you don’t feel you have the time, desire, or […]

“How dare she do such a thing?” “I’ll never get over this!”  “I want him to pay for his actions!” “I’ll never be able to trust him/her/anyone again.” When we’ve been hurt by someone, any or all of these thoughts can plague us. We’re filled with (and tormented by) anger, resentment, tension, anguish, anxiety, and […]

Granted – it can feel reassuring to come determine a reason why we or other people behave in certain ways. However, just having insight and knowing (or thinking that we know) the reason underlying people’s motivations does not always lead to taking effective action regarding the situation. While, to quote Socrates, “The unexamined life is […]

Very few of us are strangers to depression or anxiety in some form, whether it be a mild but unpleasant funk for a few days or a more serious mood disorder lasting months or even years. After all, just being alive usually means that we’ve ridden the emotional rollercoaster, be it due to a personal […]

Having a panic attack can be one of the most frightening and almost unbearable experiences you may ever suffer. Panic attacks, which can hit you at any time and any place, and which generally last ten minutes or less – can truly be traumatic. Common physical symptoms of a panic attack include: Heart palpitations Shortness […]

Whether or not you set resolutions for the New Year, you probably would like to maintain or increase your happiness quotient. If so, the following tips may prove to be helpful: Write down three positive things that happened to you each day and think about how and why they occurred. Maybe they seemed to happen […]