5 Myths of Self-Compassion While most of us have positive responses to the idea of having compassion for others, we often balk at self-compassion, believing that it is narcissistic, harmful or indulgent. Researcher Kristen Neff has devoted her professional life to proving that in addition to improving one’s well-being, self-compassion actually leads to more caring […]

The Pursuit of Happiness Most of us make life choices hoping to increase our happiness. It seems like a simple goal, one that shouldn’t be too difficult to achieve, assuming that our basic needs are being met. Ironically, however, the pursuit of happiness has been found to negatively impact our well-being.  For example, a study […]

Improving Marriage: a 5 to 1 investment ideal AUGUST 9, 2010 BY BILL FREDERICK “Remember working briefly on your marriage everyday will do more for your health and longevity than working out in a health Club.” – John Gottman “No deposit, no return” words on a coke bottle The preeminent marital therapist of our time, John Gottman, reports […]

Tips for Parents:  Tell, Don’t Ask “We find what we expect to find, and we receive what we ask for.” Elbert Hubbard, editor, publicist and writer Does this scenario sound familiar? Parent:  “Johnny (six years old), would you clean your bedroom?” (2 minutes later) “Johnny, would you pleeeeease pick up your bedroom?” (2 hours later, after many […]

5 Myths about Marriage The Gottman Institute has been researching what makes marriages work for 40 years.  In a recent article in the Washington Post, John Gottman and Christopher Dollard addressed five common myths on what makes marriages work. Myth #1: Common interests keep you together. Some popular dating sites use evaluation of common interests […]

Exercise Is a Powerful Treatment for Depression Finding motivation to exercise when you are depressed can be difficult.  However, exercise can be one of the best things you can do for your mental health. Consider these facts: Regular exercise can be as effective as antidepressant medication for mild to moderate depression. Exercise boosts the neurotransmitter […]

Helping your child manage nightmares Nearly all children have bad dreams at some point. They tend to peak in the preschool years when fears of the dark are common. It is helpful for parents to know how to promote restful sleep and to help your child cope with bad dreams when they occur. Dreams and […]