Psychologists have identified five major personality traits (ocean). How would you describe your personality? Are you open to new ideas and activities or do you tend to avoid new experiences? Are you conscientious, self-disciplined, and achievement-oriented or are you rather spontaneous and freewheeling? Are you extraverted, assertive, and sociable or do you prefer individual or...Read More

One of the things that affects our mood is how we think. There are some types of thinking that can contribute to feelings of depression and other types that are more helpful to us in feeling happy, peaceful, calm, and content. Cognitive-Behavioral psychologists have identified many cognitive distortions, that is, inaccurate ways of thinking that...Read More

At one time or another, many of us have an undesired behavior we would like to change. It may be smoking, overeating, excessive drinking, drug use, video games, compulsive shopping, gambling, or some other behavior. Well, first, in deciding to change a behavior, it is helpful to consider clearly the negative consequences associated with the...Read More

We all need to experience a sense of belonging, acceptance, and affiliation with others. We need to experience care and affection through words and touch. And we need to be considered, understood, and supported when we are struggling. But in our relations with one another, some people tend to doubt themselves and depend heavily on...Read More

There is an increasing interest in mindfulness, a practice with origins in Buddhism which has been westernized and is being used to help reduce stress. In mindfulness, the focus is on increasing awareness.  It includes dedicated practice periods during which one sits still and pays attention only to their breathing. But it is also a...Read More

Is that what you’re thinking when you walk into a room with a group of people? Well, that is the experience for many of us when we struggle with social anxiety. For some of us, the concern with approval from others has its roots in our childhood. Children who were able to internalize consistently delivered...Read More

For many of us, our experience in the workplace can include much worry and stress. The stress we experience at work can lead to anxiety, problems sleeping, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, withdrawal, and even depression. There may be several reasons why we experience stress at work. Some individuals may feel overwhelmed: “I’ve been assigned too...Read More

Sometimes people feel especially lonely over the holidays. Yes, sometimes people feel lonely because they are alone, but sometimes people feel lonely even when they are not alone. We associate the holidays with good cheer, fun, and camaraderie. But when our expectations are high and our emotions are heightened, we are also vulnerable for feeling...Read More

If you’re asking your child that question, then you already know that he’s not planning on doing whatever homework he may have without hassling over it with you first. So, why do some children resist doing their homework? Well, first, we may observe that resistance to doing homework can be associated with reduced school performance...Read More