Fighting Insomnia with Reverse Psychology
Do you have trouble falling asleep? Does bedtime create significant stress for you? You might be struggling with insomnia. According to the American Psychiatric Association, more than 50 million adults experience chronic insomnia, while even more have periodic bouts of...Continue reading→
The Link Between Exercise and Eating What You Want (Hint: It’s Not What You Think)
I remember spotting a woman at the grocery store not too long ago, wearing a shirt that read, “Will Work Out for Fries.” The problem with this sentiment, along with similar ones, is that it posits physical activity as compensation,...Continue reading→
Rejection Therapy and Social Anxiety Disorder
Meet Jia Jang. He’s an entrepeneur, author, and TED Talker. He’s also the owner of Rejection Therapy, a game designed to help people overcome their fears of rejection. A couple of years back, Jia sought to conquer these same fears...Continue reading→
Avoiding Reality via Alcohol/Drug Misuse
One of the frequent goals of alcohol or drug misuse – which can eventually lead to addiction – is the avoidance of reality. Let’s face it – reality is tough. Whether it’s difficult emotions or circumstances, family members or situations,...Continue reading→
Panic 101
One of the most frightening things that many of my patients experience is a panic attack – or worse, a series of them.  According to the DSM-5 (American Psychiatric Association, 2013), a panic attack is: “An abrupt surge of intense fear...Continue reading→
Building an Emotional Muscle
One of my favorite definitions of mental health is the ability to experience and express emotions in an effective way. It’s simple, but so on point. Recently, I came across this blog post on how parents can help their children...Continue reading→
Why Group?
Why would you want to sit in a room with complete strangers learning about their struggles and being encouraged to reveal your own? It might be daunting to consider group therapy when even the notion of individual therapy might be overwhelming...Continue reading→
4 Life Lessons from the Improv Stage
While living in Los Angeles, I tried out my hand at improv at the famed Second City. Each Sunday afternoon, our Improv 1 class gathered to play games, act out skits, and laugh together. As I was taking the class,...Continue reading→
The Power of Child’s Play: Fostering Empathy and Connection
by Dr. Amy Sosa Children play. That is a fact of life. Have you ever waited in a line while your little ones find something to occupy their minds? They may play peekaboo with a neighbor, smile at a stranger,...Continue reading→
Exposure Therapy (Spider Version)
That’s me, holding a tarantula at a wildlife rescue center. I wasn’t always such a spider lover. In fact, I was afraid of them as a child and did my best to avoid them as an adult. But my current...Continue reading→
Shattering the Political Blank Screen
As a therapist-in-training, I was taught to keep my cards close to my chest. Many of my mentors advocated for minimal personal disclosure, suggesting that revealing this type of information could dilute the therapeutic relationship. They instead recommended a neutral...Continue reading→
New Year, New Insurance Plan? Gatewell’s Primer on Finding the Health Insurance That’s Right for You
It’s that time of year again – time for open enrollment in the health insurance world. Are you confused by all the terms and choices? Gatewell finds all of the options overwhelming, and we’re in the business!  So, we’ve compiled this...Continue reading→