Stress in the Time of Pandemic
If you’re feeling stressed these days, join the party. The reasons behind that stressed-out feeling differ for each person. Some talk about it, others don’t. But there’s one thing people have in common: When you’re stressed, you’ll feel it in your body. That’s because your mental and physical response to stress go hand in hand, […]
Treating Self-Injury
Treating Self-Injury with CARESS: A New Way to Address the “Demons and Secrets Inside” CARESS—Communicate Alternatively. Release Endorphins. Self-Soothe CARESS teaches new behaviors so that self-injury clients feel less likely to follow through with destructive impulses. As a result, they can retain a sense of power and control—expanding their range of positive coping skills. […]
The Sky Is Not Falling
Noah didn’t expect the rain, but the heavens opened and water surged from below, obliterating every living thing on the planet. However, the rainbow came afterward, proving that God would never destroy the earth again with a flood. More than a reminder for Noah’s time, the rainbow is also sign for us today that […]
Ecstasy for PTSD?
Imagine using a hallucinogenic drug—an ecstasy-like compound known as MDMA—to treat individuals suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It sounds a little far-fetched to many psychiatrists, psychologists, and psychotherapists. But others in the profession are willing to suspend judgment to see what the future holds for MDMA, which promotes the release of oxytocin and prolactin—hormones […]
Bullies Are Everywhere These Days—Here’s How to Respond to Them
Elizabeth Bernstein, a writer for the Wall Street Journal and author of this article about bullying, had something to say recently to the guy who pulled up behind her VW Beetle in a jacked-up pickup truck, honked furiously while she waited for a pause in oncoming traffic to make a left turn, then followed her […]
The Best Way to Support Elderly Caregivers
Five Ways to Help Elder Caregivers with an Alzheimer’s Spouse Be sensitive to how the Traditionalist Generation thinks. Help elderly caregivers let go of the person they knew. With the therapist’s help, identify the kinds of support elderly caregivers need. Forge a circle of support for caregivers, with friends, family, and groups. Remind elderly caregivers […]
Aging Brings Us Closer to Death. Why Do We Get Happier as We Age?
Editor’s note: The following article is by Alex Zhavoronkov, PhD, an expert in artificial intelligence for drug discovery and aging research. He is also the author of The Ageless Generation: How Advances in Biotechnology Will Impact the Global Economy. The premise of the following essay is that feelings of intense grief, intense joy, or the […]
You Can Choose Your Family
Jane was blessed enough to have a mother and father who provided a strong emotional center of love and support. From an early age, she could count on them for hugs and kisses, for care and compassion, and when she needed to be disciplined, they administered it in an appropriate way. But not everyone has […]
How to Find and Keep Friends: A Guide for Middle Age
Karla Olson, a 51-year-old mother of three in Park City, Utah, is working on creating what she’s calling the Empty Nester Club. She plans to develop an online community on the video-communication app Marco Polo, and hopes local branches will form around the country for in-person meetups. For Olson, it’s all about creating a community […]
Should a Christian Therapist Treat a Muslim Client?
Building rapport with patients is a given in psychotherapy. But what happens when two faiths collide in session? Suddenly, theory can go out the window, and therapy can become a battle of the wills, as the tenets of psychotherapist’s and the patient’s own religious traditions “butt heads,” creating barriers to healing. In this article, Michael […]