Book Review: The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor
July 13, 2018 An integral part of psychotherapeutic treatment can often be supplemented by reading material relevant to your particular struggles and challenges. In this blog post, I would like to give an overview of one book in the field of positive psychology which has proven helpful for a wide range of mental health issues: The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor.
Summer Transitions
June 14, 2018 Another summer is here, and that can mean many different things, depending on what particular chapter you find yourself in life. High school seniors might find themselves on top of the world, having just conquered twelve years of grade school and excited to enter a new, untapped world of adulthood and independence. College graduates may experience a mixed bag of accomplishment and confusion, depending on job prospects, career paths, and sizable student debt...
Record Heat - Are You Prepared?
May 21, 2018 As we brace for a third day in a row of record-smashing heat here in New Orleans, I find myself questioning whether I'm prepared: how are my air-conditioning units working? Do they need to be serviced? Where can I find a nice, shady parking spot for my car? Do we have enough water? Etc., etc. I would like to think that I am adequately prepared for the extreme conditions. But there is always that chance that the one thing I didn't think about may happen. How will I react? Will I be able to calmly assess the situation, corral my resources, and get the problem solved?
T'is the Season to Be Jolly?
December 18, 2017 For many, the holiday season of December is generally thought of as a happy and joyful time. There is cheerful, uplifting music on the radio; sentimental, syrupy movies with happy, sometimes magical, endings are on the television all day long; and everyone is generously buying gifts for one another. We generally think especially of children around this time of year, who are highly anticipating Christmas morning when they can race from their beds and giddily open up all their presents from Santa Claus!
The Effects of Social Media on Mental Health
December 4, 2017 "While social media offers benefits to our lives, such as staying connected with friends and loved ones, it can also negatively affect our mental health in many ways. Unfortunately, it is often difficult to tell when it might be time to stop and consult an expert, as the various social media platforms have become so ingrained in our everyday lives. Social media use has become prolific throughout the world, and those of us living in the New Orleans area are no exception...
Ditch the Chaos!
May 7, 2017 "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." Have you heard that expression before? Perhaps some similar and less cryptic expressions saying the same thing might be "Talk is cheap," "Actions speak louder than words," or "Put your money where your mouth is."
Many of us have a way of dreaming up ideas of what we want our lives to look like, sometimes preceded by "if I only had [blank]..." Getting frustrated by the lack of progress toward our bigger dreams has an insidious way of foiling even the smaller attempts to better ourselves...
Expectations vs. Standards
April 6, 2017 In day to day life, it seems to be a common theme for most of us to strive to control and minimize the frustrating, annoying parts of life, while trying to maximize the rewarding ones. Inevitably, despite our best efforts, we often have to face that dreaded "d-word": disappointment.
Spring Cleaning
March 25, 2017 Where does the time go? It's Springtime again; and for many, it's a time to take inventory of both our physical surroundings and our internal experiences. It must be something about the seasonal transition (although in New Orleans, you'd hardly notice) that causes us to take pause and examine our lives a bit closer: What is working? What's not? What do I need? What can I throw out? What gains have I experienced this past year? What keeps annoying me and refuses to leave me alone?
