Changing your Mindset is as Easy as Learning Your ABC’s By Gina Cipriano A major goal of therapy is to assist a person in learning how to become their own therapist (once they are healthy enough). Many times, this may entail helping a person learn the association between their thoughts and behaviors. Ultimately, our perceptions […]
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy By Vanessa Gonzalez Many branches of psychotherapy stem from traditional behavior therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. In acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), clients learn to face their negative emotions and accept them head-on, rather than avoiding, denying, and pushing them aside. They learn to accept that while they may be facing […]
Substance Use Disorders and What They May Entail By Gina Cipriano The American Psychiatric Association’s (2013) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM-5) explains that substance use disorders are characterized by some of the following: Taking more of the substance than was initially intended Inability or difficulties stopping use of the […]
ADHD in Teens By Vanessa Gonzalez Most of us have heard of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) for the most part. ADHD is defined as a neurobehavioral disorder in which the individual has poor attention, difficulty sitting still, is disorganized, highly distractible, and difficulty managing impulsive behavior. Most children diagnosed with ADHD in childhood will […]
Understanding Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) By Vanessa Gonzalez Are you someone who over organizes or cleans? Maybe you’ve described yourself as “OCD.” “OCD” or obsessive-compulsive disorder is described as frequent unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors (compulsions). Although these may be symptoms of OCD, actual OCD is a lot more complicated than being tidy. OCD can […]
Why Do We Have Emotions? By Vanessa Gonzalez We all experience positive and negative emotions. Yet, we all want to be happy, and we find it so difficult to keep chasing the idea of true happiness. Yet, we still feel ‘negative’ emotions such as sadness, anxiety, anger, etc. However, we have all emotions for a […]
Self-Esteem Versus Self-Compassion: Aren’t They the Same? By Gina Cipriano Many people use the terms self-esteem and self-compassion interchangeably. Often, people think of someone who has high self-esteem and self-compassion as being confident, successful, and happy. While there is overlap between self-esteem and self-compassion, the two can present themselves very differently in people. Definitions: “Self-Esteem is […]
Social Anxiety and Comparison By Gina Cipriano There is no doubt that genuine social connections can serve as a protective factor from different mental health disorders. However, what does one do if these social connections are the very thing causing them distress? Social anxiety may occur as a result of a person thinking that their […]
Dissociation: What It Is and What Can Be Done By Gina Cipriano Have you ever lost time, forgot events about your life, and/or feel as if you are walking through a dream? If you have ever felt like that, you are not alone. Also, while what you are experiencing is not necessarily the typical human […]
I love my baby, but I keep feeling sad…. By Gina Cipriano The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) is what is used to assist practitioners in determining if a specific diagnosis is applicable to someone. Postpartum depression would be diagnosed as major depressive disorder with peripartum onset. This means that symptoms of […]
