Most people seeking therapy are struggling with a problem (or multiple problems) that they want to overcome. They rarely come to therapy stating, “I want to change my personality.” They want to keep the essence of who they are, but make the tweaks needed to achieve something they haven’t been able to achieve on their […]
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Most people don’t like being told what they’ve done wrong. Even if we try to keep an open mind, negative feedback can lead to counter-criticism and argument that ruins relationship communication. In fact, often, poor communication between couples leads to blaming, fights, and damage to the relationship. It’s difficult to tell your partner that you’re […]
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Small gestures make people feel loved. In fact, they can do more to make your relationship last than over-the-top romantic gestures. Researchers at the College of Health and Human Development at Penn State asked 495 American adults about whether they would feel loved in 60 different scenarios. Results showed that loving actions are the best […]
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Children’s lives center on their families. That’s where they learn how to be individuals and how to fit into society. To succeed, kids need a positive family environment. How is it possible to build that environment in the rush of modern life? Parents have careers, kids have school, and the technology we depend on changes […]
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Social anxiety disorder is not as unusual as you may think. About 12% of Americans have social anxiety at some point in their lives. Extreme fear of social interaction can lead people to avoid social situations, even if it means losing a job or contact with family and friends. And, like many mental disorders, it’s […]
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Because we’re human, we are familiar with being members of a group—family, school, work, and social groups. It follows that groups are realistic settings for solving real-life problems. And that includes groups in the therapy setting. In group therapy, one or two professional therapists help several people with similar problems—such as anxiety, addiction or illness—work […]
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Overcoming perfectionism requires balance. Striving for excellence, seeking to improve—your skill at public speaking, your stamina in sports competition, your knowledge of a foreign language—is healthy when you are happy with yourself and want to be even better. Perfectionism, however, comes from feeling that you’re never good enough. A perfectionist’s striving is unrealistic. It’s an […]
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It isn’t always easy for parents to recognize OCD in children. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a type of anxiety disorder. With this condition, a child will experience obsessions manifesting as fears or preoccupations. Additionally, some children will engage in compulsions, which are repetitive behaviors. In some cases, the fears and behaviors may be very obvious. […]
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You have a child with OCD. It feels like you have tried everything. Nevertheless, your child needs more support. Have you thought about trying group therapy? Some children may be hesitant about trying group therapy. However, research shows that there are immeasurable benefits. Of course, you can’t encourage your child to try group OCD therapy […]
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Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the treatment for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) that has the most international research supporting its effectiveness. It is a specific type of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT). CBT teaches people to recognize unhealthy patterns of thinking. That’s the “cognitive” part. The second part is the “behavior” part. CBT works to […]
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