Monthly Newsletter

In the previous newsletter, we discussed how trauma cannot be defined objectively: it is an eye-of-the-beholder experience.  We also discussed the major symptoms of PTSD, such as re-experiencing (symptom #1), hyperarousal (symptom #2), avoidance (symptom #3), and...

Problems like depression, substance abuse, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are common among those who have been traumatized – especially if those traumas happened to the person early and repetitively in his or her life. But first, it’s important to know what...

In the last newsletter, we discussed how to set limits or say "no" effectively.  In this newsletter, we will discuss effective ways to communicate what you need using a technique from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).  DBT uses the DEAR acronym, which stands...

Saying “yes” to everything (and everyone) has a cost. Before we talk about the fine art of saying “no”, let’s count the costs of saying “yes” indiscriminately…(1) A person with an inability to say “no” will soon find herself psychologically depleted. Saying yes...

The last newsletter focused on self-forgiveness; the internal process involved with owning our mistakes. But what about the external process? In other words, what is a good way to go about making amends or apologizing to? Not all apologies are created equal. You've...

To err is human,” we’re told, but we sometimes aren’t told how to move on after we’ve messed up – other than to feel lousy about it. Acts of commission or omission can haunt us and/or hold us back emotionally. First, if you struggle with this issue, it’s important for...

The ability to delay gratification (or the ability to wisely wait) is a skill worth developing. Psychological research suggests self- control is correlated with a person’s long-term success and happiness to a greater extent than other significant factors, like high...

I am watching my 4-year-old daughter sleep during one of her recent naps. Suddenly, an unbidden thought comes to my mind: she may die of cancer someday. My daughter is not sick, but I used to work with such kids, and my mind is flooded with images of what losing her...

Unlike their peers, scientific research suggests persons with a history of depression and/or trauma tend to interpret the negative events of their lives according to 3 “P” words:•Permanent: The negative thing (or something like it) will keep happening in the...