Silver Linings Playbook; an example of how when life can’t seemingly get any worse, it really can get better. The two main characters of this movie face a number of personal turmoil. Pat Solantano (Bradley Cooper) and Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence) face a number of life’s challenges. Pat lost everything; his house, his job, his marriage…
DetailsI wish that I could say that I had been perfectly kind in high school. I wasn’t. I wish I could say that what other’s thought of me didn’t matter. It did and it does. We are all imperfect and make mistakes, but how can we choose to be our best selves everyday…even in the…
DetailsThere are a multitude of therapy “styles” available in the mental health field, and it can be difficult to know which one is a fit for you. The primary treatment model at The LodeStone Center is Cognitive Behavior Therapy, or “CBT”. Cognitive Behavior Therapy is a present-oriented therapy, meaning the focus tends to be on…
DetailsWhy see a Psychologist or Therapist? This promotional video from the American Psychological Association is part of a campaign aimed at encouraging people to seek out long-term skills and strategies to address psychological concerns in addition to, or in place of psychiatric medication.
DetailsAs a psychologist, I get asked all the time for book recommendations. Eating disorders (Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge Eating Disorder) can be particularly difficult for the friends and family of patients to understand. The best book I have found to help is called Talking to Eating Disorders: Simple Ways to Support Someone with Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge…
DetailsRecently, I was privileged to be a part of a very special event. On January 8th, I saw the documentary, Finding Kind, for the first time. It immediately sparked an interest and a desire to spread the message about girl-on-girl “crime” (physical fighting, name-calling, threats, power struggles, competition, manipulation, secrets, rumors, and ostracizing other girls,…
DetailsAfter the holidays wind down, New Year Resolutions set in, and life and work responsibilities come back in full force, it is easy to become overwhelmed by stress. Unfortunately, this stress can at times be unavoidable. While you cannot necessarily change all the events and factors that cause stress, there are some simple strategies you…
DetailsToday was the first major snowfall of 2012, which had me remembering how difficult the winter can be for the people I see that have recurrent bouts of depression. In Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Depression, there are several areas of functioning that we always assess to help improve depression symptoms. These are the areas that…
DetailsADHD and Me: What I Learned from Lighting Fires at the Dinner Table by Blake E. S. Taylor ADHD and Me is enlightening for any person who is themselves struggling with or knows someone with ADHD and would like to expand their knowledge and understanding of the positive and negative aspects of the disorder. …
DetailsThe Saturday before last (December 3rd), I traveled downtown with Dr. Michelle Bidwell to attend the inaugural meeting for the Heartland Chapter of the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals (IAEDP). Michelle is on the board and is serving as the Social Media Chair, and specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders. I…
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