This is a question we get asked a lot. As any parent knows, it’s a complicated question with no simple answer. Here with some ideas on the subject is ADDitude, a go-to resource for parents of neurodivergent kids. The key takeaways here are that for neurodivergent and typical kids alike content and context matter. This article identifies warning signs and encourages engagement and dialogue to better understand how your teen is using the platforms and what is the impact.
News
In this Psychology Today piece, Dr. Alex Wills is making one of our favorite points that negative emotions get a bad rap. Instead of trying to fix or dismiss difficult feelings, naming them and learning to tolerate them can provide the validation that actually helps us to move on sooner.
We are excited to announce that due to our continued local growth and expansion, we will be welcoming clients at 400 King Street in Chappaqua on February 1st. The new location features more dedicated treatment space for children as well as adults and couples and allows us to expand our increasing array of psychological services. Located at the crossroads of Pleasantville and Chappaqua and with a private parking lot for easy access, you’ll have no trouble finding us. We can’t wait to see you there!
This article in Psychology Today called “’I’m Normal’ and Other Lies We Tell Ourselves” points out that, while we feel normal to ourselves, we often project what it’s like to be us onto other people. It’s an interesting read with relevance in today’s social backdrop, and we recommend you check it out.
Key takeaways include:
- Averages lie. Even when looking to data to see what is ‘normal’, psychologists often find themselves with flawed statistics that don’t really represent anyone’s experience.
- There is no “normal” in mental disorders either. For example, there are more than 1,000 different symptom patterns found in people with depression alone.
Normal is not the goal. Healthy is the goal and it’s customizable.
This Psychology Today article is called “How to Ease Back Into Social Contact” and we think it may be helpful for, well, all of us. Most of our interaction this past year has been over zoom, and aside from the occasional bubble, we’ve all had very little contact with other people.
Some key takeaways and tips include:
- “Addressing the awkwardness.” People respond well to the authenticity, and if you address the elephant in the room, chances are the people around you were feeling the same thing and will appreciate your candor.
- “Go at your own pace.” This is a good tidbit for any type of social anxiety, but it’s a also a good reminder that you don’t have to attend every work function or office get together.
- “Visualizing a positive interaction.” When it comes to socializing, what you bring to the table can have a big influence on how something turns out. Even something as simple as picturing yourself talking to someone with ease can yield good results.
This Psychology Today article is called “Getting Out of Your Own Way: Bias and Self Defeating Actions.” Research shows the self-criticism is rarely, if ever, an effective way to change behavior. What’s a good alternative then for when you fall short of your goals and standards? This article would argue self-compassion.
Key takeaways include:
- Understanding the difference between ‘self compassion’ and ‘self pity’.
- Strategies to make self-compassion a habit. It’s one thing to be nice to yourself in times of hardship. It can be a challenge to do it consistently but well worth the effort.
Foster self-compassion by checking out our individual therapy services
This Psychology Today article is called “Painfully Self-Critical? Try These 3 Self-Compassion Tips.” Self-compassion, or positive affirming self-talk to use we fall short of our goals, is an incredibly therapeutic tool to have in our repertory. Still, it’s one thing to want to be self-compassionate, it’s another to build it into practice. This article goes over some strategies for being self-compassionate in our day-to-day lives. It’s a good read and we recommend you check it out. Take a look at our individual therapy services to help get you started on the road to greater self-compassion.
We recommend this New Yorker article called “The Rise of Therapy-Speak.” As psychotherapy becomes less stigmatized, more people go to therapy, and more people incorporate the language of therapy into their day-to-day lives. We think that’s great! But there may be a downside to the rise of therapy-speak as well. When everyone is an expert, the very real problems people with mental health issues suffer may be trivialized. What do you think?
It’s not uncommon for people to experience several symptoms of depression, while not wanting to label themselves depressed. But as this Psychology Today article points out, sometimes depression doesn’t always look the way we think it should. Whatever kind of pain you are in, it deserves to be acknowledged and taken seriously. Our highly trained psychologists can help.
Tough decisions are, well, tough. What makes them especially tough is when the two choices seem to be even. This NPR article details what to do when faced with a tough decision, when and how to trust your gut, and how to implement a decision once you’ve decided what to do.