Comparison Trap
Comparison trap is a dead-end street. It always ends with feeling bad about yourself. It leaves you feeling unaccomplished, not good enough and unworthy. It can lead to feeling resentful, angry or jealous. It never leads to positivity, self-confidence or motivation. Theodore Roosevelt is quoted to say; “Comparison is the thief of joy.” So why […]
Breaking Up With Perfectionism
Have you been in a long-term relationship with perfectionism? Has it been your partner in crime for a while? Would you like to end it but don’t know how? Whether it’s our personal or professional life, most of us have been a perfectionist in one area or another. Initially, perfectionism may seem innocent as a […]
What is EMDR by Janet Bayramyan
As a mental health therapist, I used to be the biggest skeptic when it came to EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy. EMDR involves the movement of the eyes back and forth in what’s called bilateral stimulation. Earlier in my career, I thought to myself ‘How can moving eyes back and forth help heal […]
Medication – To Take or Not To Take
When getting help for your mental health needs you may end up considering whether adding medication will be helpful or necessary. Let’s explore… There are two significant benefits of medication. The first would be symptom relief and the second would be to make therapy more effective. Some challenging experiences such as insomnia, sad mood and […]
Self-care is not Selfish!
The summer has ended, the schools have started and you start to see holiday decorations in the stores. You know another very busy season is ahead. A busy life can offer some sense of satisfaction and fulfillment as we can multitask and attend to different areas of our lives. However, one big fall out of […]
Isn’t Guilt and Shame the same emotion? How can I tell them apart?
As people, we make mistakes all the time, but we tend to vary in the way we respond to it emotionally. Some of us feel embarrassed, angry or disappointed. Many of us feel guilt and/or shame but only few might know the differences between these two emotions. In order to tolerate, accept and learn from […]
Why do we even talk about New Year’s resolutions?
“What’s your New Year’s resolution?” A common question asked in a family gathering, a work party or a social event. It’s a question that some have a very definite answer, where others refuse to come up with one. In their defense, the New Year’s resolution doesn’t have the best reputation. Often the number of people […]
How to cope with grief during Thanksgiving
Grief is a type of experience where no two people may respond the same way. This complicated and notably painful experience can be even more challenging during the holidays. As we come together to celebrate the Thanksgiving, it can be helpful to rely on some tools to protect and experience our grief while enjoying the […]
5 Important Steps to Building Resilience
In order to live a happy life, one of the main ingredients is building and maintaining resilience. To define it, resilience is the ability to bounce back from a crises or turmoil. Most importantly, it is something that can be learned. Here are five skills to get you started in building resilience: Changing Perspective When […]
