Take a moment and listen to yourself. Listen to the thoughts you are having. What are you often telling yourself? Are your thoughts supportive, critical, negative or positive? Based on Cognitive Therapy, we all have automatic thoughts throughout the day. When we are journaling or just talking to a friend, we are sharing these automatic […]

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 […]

As therapists, we are trained to self-disclose with a purpose. When we share a piece of personal information with our clients, it is done so that we are not simply talking about selves but our experience can be used as a tool to help the client process their own. So when I share with you […]

Let’s play a trivia game! Can you name the author whose first children’s book was rejected by 23 different publishers? What about a famous athlete who was cut from the varsity basketball team his sophomore year in high school? Who is a famous author who lived on welfare for years in an apartment infested with […]

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 […]

“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 […]

When things get stressful and sometimes overbearing, we find comfort in things around us. Sometimes it’s a song or a picture that reminds us of our strength. It can also be a transitional object that belonged to a loved one or from a period in the past that made us happy. For me, it has […]

In psychotherapy, often there are goals about emotions. In particular, finding ways to manage and reduce their destructiveness. Most avoid, repress or run away from their feelings. Learning how to manage our emotions and lead an emotionally friendly life lies in understanding and believing in the purpose of our emotions. Emotions exist for a reason. […]

We often hear “be grateful for what you have,” “count your blessings,” and “there is so much to be thankful for.” While we believe there to be a truth in these phrases, it seems easier said than done. What are the barriers that prevent one from practicing gratitude? There could multiple explanations: gratitude like any […]

When we think of Halloween we typically think of scary movies, lively costumes or haunted houses. It’s a time where it is OK, maybe even a little fun, to be scared. This seems to be such a stark contrast to how we spend rest of our time. Many people expend tons of effort avoiding and […]