The Internet: A Game Changer for Mental Health

Is Google the new gateway to mental health? Study after study is showing that the vast majority of Internet users are turning to the World Wide Web for answers to their health related questions. Although fewer studies have been done in the field of mental health, we are learning that the Internet is quickly becoming…

 

Are You Sacrificing a Perfect Relationship for a Perfect Wedding?

The peak season for “I do’s” is upon us, and if you’re among the excited couples about to walk down the aisle, you’re probably getting advice from all directions. Everyone from grandparents to groomsmen, coworkers to caterers are lining up to offer up suggestions for every detail of your big day. While planning your wedding…

 

The Dangers of Narcissistic Parents

For me, one of the best examples of narcissistic parents is illustrated in the movie “The Joy Luck Club,” based on the novel by Amy Tan. In the film, a woman flashes back and, through voiceover, tells her story of becoming a child protégée as a chess champion.  While the film plays one of her…

 

Advantages of Dating After 40

On Dec. 31, 2009, one day before the baby boomer generation turned 65, a New York Times article reported, “79 million baby boomers, about 26 percent of this country’s population, will be redefining what it means to be older.” Today, in 2013, this statement may be proving to be true. The healthier, harder working and…

 

Benefits of Mindfulness

If asked to explain the value of mindfulness, you may want to consider the following question, can you sit for one minute and completely quiet your mind?  Can you do this without feeling like you’re coming out of your skin?  When Dr. Donna Rockwell first became interested in mindfulness, she discovered that this exercise proved…

 

Leaving Your Childhood Behind to Become a Better Parent

One mistake we make as parents is assuming that there is one way to parent that is better than all others. The reality is, there are countless methods of raising children, and many of them are perfectly healthy. Yet, no matter how many books we read, rules we make, or goals we set, there is…

 

What is a Mentally Healthy Person? An Interview with Robert Firestone, Ph.D.

A few weeks ago at Esalen, a retreat center in Big Sur, CA, I co-taught a two-day workshop called “Conquer Your Critical Inner Voice.” As part of the weekend, I showed the participants a video clip of an interview I did with my father Dr. Robert Firestone. The participants found it inspirational, so I thought…

 

4 Steps to Conquer Your Inner Critic

Most of us are familiar with those nagging thoughts that tell us we are not good enough, that cast doubt on our goals and undermine our accomplishments. These thoughts might be there to greet us when we first glimpse at ourselves in the mirror in the morning. “You’re so unattractive. You’re fat. What a slob….

 

Why Domestic Violence Occurs and How to Stop It

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and with domestic violence on the rise, it is an important time to face this difficult issue. This year, the nationwide Mary Kay Truth About Abuse Survey showed that “8 out of 10 domestic violence shelters nationwide reported an increase in women seeking help.” The economy has had an…

 

Why Women Get ‘Catty’

No woman likes to be called “catty.” But most of us can’t deny the times when our competitive feelings have slipped out by way of a sarcastic phpaide.com dig or a cutting comment. Just think of all those little statements we unleash, only to instantly (at least somewhat) regret it. That whisper to a friend…