mental health

A happy family at the dinner table, who have learned how to avoid arguments at Thanksgiving

5 Strategies to Avoid Fights at Thanksgiving

For many people, the holiday season isn’t much of a holiday. You might have to visit family you dislike, or be dreading arguments or uncomfortable questions. In fact, for some of my clients, Thanksgiving and Christmas bring up even more anxiety, bad memories and triggers than the rest of the year! So, let’s explore some ways you can avoid fights at Thanksgiving and make your holiday as relaxing as it should be!

Young woman looking at her phone, feeling stress from current events.

How to Manage Stress From Current Events and News

Many of my clients feel anxious, depressed or angry when they watch the news or hear about it on social media. Others feel guilty about not doing enough, or not knowing enough about what’s going on. With the outbreak of the war in Israel and Palestine, this has only gotten worse. So how can you handle the stress you feel from current events – and make more of a positive difference?

Woman smiling in field after overcoming depression.

My Top 5 Skills to Overcome Depression

Depression is one of my clients’ most common struggles, and I’ve had to climb out of that pit, too. There are many tools you can use to manage it, but when you’re feeling this low it’s hard to know where to start. Here’s what helped me overcome depression, simplified. Perhaps it will help you, too.

Woman looking out window, considering she might be depressed.

4 Signs You Might Be Depressed

Depression is one of the most common mental issues, and co-occurs with many other illnesses like anxiety, bipolar disorder and substance abuse. But despite its frequency, it can still be hard to tell if you’re dealing with “real” depression, or just having a bad day. So let’s explore some of the symptoms I most commonly see. If these sound real familiar, you might be depressed.

A woman seeing a female therapist for her first therapy session.

What to Expect From Your First Therapy Session

Have you been considering therapy, but aren’t sure about taking the plunge? Are you worried about what to do, or whether you’d screw it up? Here’s a play-by-play of what a first therapy session looks like, so you can decide what you’re ready for, and what kind of therapist is right for you.

Man holding trophy and smiling, symbolizing a narcissist.

Are You a Narcissist?

Narcissism has become a “trendy” word in pop culture lately. I’ve seen people use it to mean “selfish,” “egotistical,” “uncaring about others,” and more. But this has led many people to worry about whether they might be narcissists themselves. Let’s cut through the stereotypes and see what that actually means – and what it could mean for you.

Couple working on how to control their anger after an argument.

How to Control Your Anger: 4 Practical Skills

Last week I wrote about how to tell if your anger is becoming a problem. This time, we’re exploring how to make anger work for you instead of against you. “Cooling down” is easier said than done. Fortunately, you can learn how to control your anger with specific, concrete skills.

A couple with anger issues working through an argument.

How to Know If You Have Anger Issues

If you’ve been feeling angrier these last few years, you aren’t alone. From the spats on social media to the highest political offices, everyone has something that ticks them off, and it’s often for a good reason. But anger that burns too hot or too often can wear you out and rip up your relationships, so how do you know when it’s a problem? Read on to figure out if you have anger issues – and what you can do about them.

Man playing guitar with increased self-esteem.

5 Ways to Improve Self-Esteem

Self-esteem seems simple, but millions of people struggle with it. Low self-esteem increases your risk of anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and other mental illnesses. It also makes you more vulnerable to toxic relationships. But there are ways you can improve your self-esteem, and strengthen both your relationships and mental health.