5 Ways to Stop Overthinking Overthinking is thinking too much, endlessly, repetitively, and unnecessarily considering words we have said, pondering implications for our actions, and analyzing the causes of our feelings. Some folks believe that when we are down, they should try to focus inwardly to figure out the causes and solutions to their problems. However, […]

Everyday Mindfulness Mindfulness is the practice of cultivating nonjudgmental awareness in day-to-day life. Have you ever noticed when driving your car on a very familiar route that once you arrive, you don’t remember anything about your trip? That is referred to as being on “automatic pilot.” Mindfulness is the opposite experience. It is about experiencing […]

Managing Parenting Stress No one said being a parent is easy! Having children makes life exciting, fun and challenging, but can cause significant stress as well. Being a parent can make it difficult to maintain regular self-help routines, particularly if your child has special needs like ADHD or autism. Whether you work outside the home […]

Building Your Child’s Optimism “I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can always adjust my sails to reach my destination.” – Jimmy Dean Optimism can be an important tool in combating depression. Studies have shown that happy people are more optimistic, and optimistic people are less vulnerable to depression. When bad things […]

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 […]