This past week, with the Uvalde school shooting, has been difficult. Given the context of the shooting in Buffalo not too long before and the SCOTUS leak about Roe V. Wade, there is so much worry in our world right now. If you are a parent, you are likely concerned about how to talk with your children about the school ...READ MORE »
Over the past 15 years that I’ve been providing therapy to teens and families in the Washington, DC area, the topic of psychiatric medication has come up frequently. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I don’t prescribe medication and I always recommend discussing questions and concerns with your primary care doctor or psychiatrist; but often I find that I have ...READ MORE »
“Am I doing therapy correctly?” is a question I’ve heard more than once from many of my teen and young adult clients in my psychotherapy practice in Washington, DC and nearby Bethesda, MD. My answer is that there is no “right” or “wrong” way to do therapy. Honoring your own process and journey is important. Although your therapist may challenge ...READ MORE »
In a previous blog, I talked about how to recognize what we value as a way to reframe and manage stress. In this blog, I would like to talk about how I use my values to get motivated. In my work as a child/teen, and family therapist in Washington DC, I utilize Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help my ...READ MORE »
Have you found yourself wondering lately why you are still so anxious? With the pandemic subsiding some, do you worry about why you don’t feel better yet? Have you felt some of these symptoms below recently? A sense of panic Heart racing/palpitating Obsessive worry Dizziness Insomnia Nausea/Unsettled stomach This is what grief looks like for those of us thriving and surviving in the midst of so much worldwide! ...READ MORE »
In my work as a psychotherapist in Washington, DC I often use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) with my clients. One of the major areas covered in ACT therapy is that of values. At first glance, we may all think we know what values are and that we have them, but we often can’t answer some basic questions about our ...READ MORE »
I am so grateful that I read Glennon Doyle’s book, Untamed, at the start of the pandemic and learned of her mantra, we can do hard things. I don’t think I could have appreciated all of what this means, until we experienced all that has unfolded these last 21 months. And I know I’m not alone in this. As a ...READ MORE »
I’m writing this note on the eve of Thanksgiving, and at the onset of our holiday season, which is filled with joy, fun, and often lots and lots of partying for teens, young (and old) adults. Since I quit drinking a couple of years ago, I’ve paid much greater attention to how we equate drinking with fun. Partying=drinking or ...READ MORE »
I’m writing this blog the week before Thanksgiving. So, of course, gratitude and thankfulness are broadcasted everywhere these days—at Target, on your favorite podcast, in your feed, and in those pesky pop ups when you are shopping online. Yet, I want to take a completely different spin on Thankfulness this time. During this long stretch of coping with COVID, I’ve ...READ MORE »
Do you ever feel you act differently at work versus with family? Have you ever said to yourself, “Part of me wants to do X, but another part of me wants to do Y.” The complexity of the human brain is such that we are capable of having multiple emotions, perspectives, and goals at the same time. Within our overall ...READ MORE »
