Anxiety. Everyone is feeling it during the pandemic. Anxiety about the virus, anxiety about going places and not knowing how safe it is due to the virus, anxiety about the economy, anxiety about paying rent or medical bills when finances have been impacted by the virus, anxiety about sending kids back to school, anxiety about dating during the pandemic, anxiety ...READ MORE »
A friend of mine posted an article about the newest challenge we are facing as businesses start reopening this summer. The author referred to “decision fatigue,” and as someone who always has had a tough time making decisions to begin with, this really resonated with me. I reflected on my weekend in light of this article; tensions were high in ...READ MORE »
Recently, I shared a video on growing positive emotions and focusing on experiences of joy and gratitude during this difficult time. A friend of mine thanked me for posting, then asked, “but what do I do with all of the negative feelings I’m having?” While we all have to use distractions, compartmentalizing, and a positive attitude to maintain stability right ...READ MORE »
Many of my clients are asking me some version of the same question: Why can’t I get anything done right now? In spite of having more free time at home, they are totally lacking motivation to do work. Others want to get work done, or spend time on hobbies or reading, but are finding they can’t focus at all because ...READ MORE »
Finding motivation, planning steps to complete an assignment, organizing your work, initiating work, sustaining focus, metacognition (awareness of your thoughts), managing your time, shifting between activities, controlling impulses – these are all examples of “Executive Functioning Skills.” These skills are essential skills for anyone to get through school, work, and activities of daily life – personal hygiene, maintaining relationships, regulating ...READ MORE »
The past month has been a particularly stressful time for everyone. We are all managing the stress of the pandemic in its many forms:: grief and loss, uncertainty, fear, financial stress, dread, anxiety, anger, sadness, frustration… While some of us are spared the health or financial impact of this crisis, none of us can escape the stress of living through ...READ MORE »
I wrote this post this past week while traveling abroad (thankfully not to a high-risk country). I received word from home regularly about the fear that is spreading regarding COVID-19. As a therapist specializing in treating anxiety, I realize I will be returning home to some very scared clients, in addition to worried friends and family. In the past few ...READ MORE »
I’m writing this post as a follow up to last week’s blog on basic LGTBQ terminology for parents of tweens and teens. As an adolescent and family therapist in Washington DC, I’m often the first point of contact for teens who are exploring their gender and sexual identity. That means that I’m often helping parents navigate this new territory with ...READ MORE »
As a therapist working with adolescents and families, the topics of gender and sexual orientation come up regularly in my work. Times have changed quickly and gender is a very popular topic not only for kids, but also for our broader culture as gender roles are evolving beyond binary terms. Back in the day (actually, not very long ago), we ...READ MORE »
Happy Valentine’s Day from TSG! This week’s blog is all about love and strengthening the relationships in your life. As Valentine’s Day arrives this year, the topic of love and relationships is at the center of many of my client conversations. As a therapist in Washington DC working with adolescents, young adults, and families, I spend a lot of time exploring ...READ MORE »