All Videos (17)

Holidays Beckon: What’s an Overshopper To Do?

Consciousness is the watchword for problem shoppers, particularly as the holiday season approaches, and most particularly amidst all the over-optimistic talk of economic recovery.  Consciousness means not allowing yourself to shop as a way of trying to satisfy emotional needs. It means becoming aware of what triggers your shopping urges and genuinely acknowledging their consequences: [...]

Why the Holidays can Bring More Conflict than Joy

Help with the emotions around the holidays typically focuses on the “Holiday Blues”, but there is very little press regarding the tension and conflicts that erupt during this time of year.  Relationships are like the proverbial canary in the mine shafts, in that they are the first to be affected by stress and tension.  When [...]

Managing Holiday Depression

The holiday season is a time full of joy, cheer, parties, and family gatherings. However, for many people, it is a time of self-evaluation, loneliness, reflection o­n past failures, and anxiety about an uncertain future. What Causes Holiday Blues? Many factors can cause the “holiday blues”: stress, fatigue, unrealistic expectations, over-commercialization, financial constraints, and the inability to [...]

Anxiety: Friend or Foe?

We have all known the experience of being anxious, worried, and even panicked. While these symptoms can become overwhelming and debilitating, the good news is, generally speaking, anxiety is not difficult to treat. Let me explain. No one likes to be anxious. I am here to help you appreciate your anxiety as a very good [...]

The ABC’s of Psychotherapy

Deciding to pursue therapy, finding a therapist, making that first call and keeping that appointment are, from my perspective, huge and courageous steps. Moreover, these initial steps are usually taken partially in the dark, so to speak. You do not know this person, you have no clue as to whether they can help you, and [...]

Home for the Holidays

Thousands of people travel to see their families during the holidays. These family gatherings often include meeting new arrivals to the family and spending time with people we only see rarely. However, interactions between family members can range from affectionate to strained. How is that, when we go home for the holidays, [...]

Understanding Female Sexuality

Our sexuality is something that we, as women, have a right to enjoy! Our sexuality is an important part of who we are. Sexual feelings and responses are a central expression of our emotional, physical and spiritual selves. To quote Our Bodies, Ourselves, “Sexuality is so much more than intercourse. Our sexuality belongs first and foremost [...]

Depression Doesn’t Lie

One of the things I continue to be impressed with despite my 30 years of practice is how harsh we are toward ourselves when we are struggling in some way emotionally. It is really striking when you stop to think about it. Our response to our struggles is much kinder and wiser when we encounter [...]

Women’s Issues

Some struggles that women experience are common to many women, and can therefore be attributed or understood in this larger context of what it means, biologically and socially to be female. A psychologist informed about these issues is in a better position to understand women’s experiences and know how to help them. Psychotherapy can help [...]

Growing Through Divorce

Divorce ranks just above death in severity of stress and is often combined with other stressors, such as marital discord, serious financial problems, a move, single parenting, multiple losses and litigation, all at once.  It’s a life cycle crisis that presents a crucial period of increased vulnerability and heightened potential. With consciousness, the process can [...]