psychobabble for normal people

When we're depressed, anxious, or otherwise feeling bad, it's often compounded by the belief that our mood is stable or permanent. ...

Recently I told one of my clients that his feeling of being manipulated by his partner didn’t mean that his partner was being manipulative....

One of my clients is going through a period of uncertainty in several areas of his life. He's trying to determine whether or not to sell...

Take a second to think of the last time you were stressed out and plagued by what ifs ? "What if I miss my flight?" "What if...

What if every time you had a generous impulse you followed it? For many of us, generous impulses come up relatively frequently (“They sa...

Unconditional positive regard is a term coined by influential American psychologist Carl Rogers . If you have unconditional positive regard ...

The other day I read a magazine article about the concept of discretionary burdens. We've all heard of discretionary spending, i.e., ele...

When I teach mindfulness-based stress reduction ( MBSR ) class, we spend a lot of time discussing ways that mindfulness  can help us behave ...

Mental health tip: Experiences can make you feel the same way without being related. When we go through a string of negative experiences (...

Lovingkindness is a Buddhist practice that involves wishing well to ourselves and others. It encompasses generosity, good will, friendliness...

Warning: Mindfulness isn't always fun. Often when I recommend mindfulness practice to a friend or client, we end up talking about th...

In a conflict, is it best to strike while the iron is hot and try to identify and resolve the problem as it's happening? Or is it better...

Two weeks ago, I attended a psychiatry conference on mindfulness in cultural context. Many of the talks were about contemplative practices ...

After years of working groups, expert task forces, and public opinion, the American Psychiatric Association has finally published the fifth ...

Mental health tip: Just cause it's positive doesn't mean it isn't stressful. One of my friends is planning her wedding. She ...

You know that creeping anxiety that develops on Sunday as the weekend draws to a close? It's not just you! So many friends, patients, ...

Mental health tip: Just call. When you miss a deadline or make a mistake at work, it is better to call or email? If you can't make you...

This week I saw an exceptional number of psychotherapy patients in five days, and I noticed a few things: a) It took a lot of energy and, ...

What's the best strategy for coping with anxiety generated by hypothetical scenarios and "what if" questions ( What if I hit ...

Last post , I wrote about the benefits of taking time out for relaxation, meditation, or other forms of non-productive downtime. But what if...

One of my mindfulness-based stress reduction ( MBSR ) students has three kids, a husband, and a demanding job. On occasion, she stops at a c...

Lately I've been feeling impressed by the courage of my patients and my friends. Once a month at the clinic where I work, two members ...