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If 90 percent of sports is mental, why do we spend 90-100 percent only on the physical aspect? More and more professional sports organizations are recognizing the strong “mind-body” connection and how that affects self-confidence, sports performance and overall team satisfaction.

In the dynamic landscape of therapy, the choice between W2 employment and independent contracting has long been a subject of debate. While independent contractors often tout the freedoms of autonomy, W2 therapists find themselves enjoying a hidden advantage—one that transcends the allure of traditional benefits.

Mental health in the workplace has typically been a taboo subject. However, the good news is more organizations are recognizing that mental health is just as important as physical health and offering more and more benefits to support their workers. One of the benefits some employers offer falls under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA),

You may notice it every year.…just as fall turns to winter and the days become shorter, you suddenly notice your mood and motivation change. You may find yourself craving starches and wanting nothing more than to stay in bed for days at a time watching endless reruns of “Law & Order.”

It’s that time of year where we take stock and plan for the future. You may want to focus time on budgeting this year. As a CPA and mother of 3, I have some great tips to start the process and get you thinking.

"Sleep is the golden chain that ties health and our bodies together." -- Thomas Dekker Is there a link between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and sleep disorders in children?

For those of us in the helping professions as counselors, therapists and social workers, we've always focused on understanding the diverse needs of our clients and being culturally aware of our unique differences from a mental health standpoint. However, in light of the divisiveness in our country right now, it may help to translate this approach of understanding and inclusiveness to our interactions with others in our everyday lives.

We’ve all been there. You and your partner are so far into an argument that you can’t even remember how it started. What began as a tiff about doing the dishes has morphed into a completely different fight. Things get intense; you finally decide to take a break. Maybe you go for a drive or hop in the shower to hopefully cool off and finish the discussion. Chances are that one or both of you have committed at least one communication foul.

“Smile, breathe and go slowly”  Thich Nhat Hanh According to the American Anxiety and Depression Association (ADAA), over 6 million people in the U.S. suffer from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), a psychological disorder that is characterized as persistent and excessive worry.

If you look around your surroundings on any given day, most likely you notice a majority of people are focused only on their cell phone – people walking across city streets; couples in restaurants not interacting with each other but in fact looking at their phones; parents not being present with their children but instead looking on the Internet.

As humans, we tend to be harder on ourselves than we are on others. We support and encourage friends who didn’t get their dream job or who are going through a breakup, but should we find ourselves in those same situations, we often judge ourselves as inadequate, flawed or any other negative label we can find.

Springtime may be the season for decluttering and deep cleaning our houses, but it is also a great time for mental health spring cleaning — assessing habits, relationships or activities that aren’t contributing positively to our overall wellbeing. While spring cleaning for our mental health may be harder than washing windows, and sweeping out cobwebs, it offers a great opportunity for a fresh start and new beginnings.

We are surrounded by media on a daily basis. We watch TV, stream music, browse Facebook, Twitter, or any number of other social media platforms — sometimes without even realizing how much time we spend doing it. This is true for children and adolescents, too. Today’s children and teens spend an average of seven hours a day on entertainment media. Social media is especially popular among adolescents.

The stigma associated with abortion, many times, brings a lack of empathy and understanding of others with judgement and preconceived biases.  But the hard decision to end an unplanned pregnancy is personal and varied, and those who have had to make that difficult decision go through a wide range of emotions, most notably guilt AND grief.

June is LGBTQ Pride month in much of the United States. The month of June is chosen for the many festivities celebrating LGBTQ people because it coincides with the Stonewall riots of 1969. Many cities hold parades and festivals to combat the shame and stigma that exists against LGBTQ people.

Do you look on Facebook and often become envious of experiences others have posted about? Do you hesitate to make plans to keep your options open in case a more exciting invitation comes along? Do you constantly check your email or text in the middle of interactions with your family or friends?

As a teenager, my parents would call me lazy. They couldn’t understand why I retreated to my room all the time, wanting only to sleep, and losing interest in activities and social situations I once found gratifying. For a long time I believed I was lazy and that belief carried with me through to adulthood. But what I eventually learned was that I wasn’t lazy, I was depressed.

You’ll never forget the day you’re told you’re having triplets. It was November 30, 2015, and I had made an appointment with my doctor to confirm my pregnancy. She thought I was further along than I should be so she sent me over to the ultrasound technician to make sure that all the dates added up. After about 10 minutes of laying in silence, I was expecting the worst.

As a mother of three children with ADHD, this time of year causes my nerves to fray. I worry about getting a good teacher match. I worry about their behavior in school. I worry about being misunderstood. However, the start of the school year is a great opportunity to focus on communication.

This summer, while enjoying a backyard barbecue with friends, the neighborhood fox ran through the yard. The first thing I did was scream……then run inside…….by myself……leaving my kids outside in the “perceived” danger. While it was a laughable moment, there was some shame and guilt associated with the fact that I fled, instead of protecting my kids and leading them to safety. It became perfectly clear that my stress response is “flight” rather than “fight.”

We recently had a colleague who died unexpectedly, and while many in the office didn’t know him well, his death affected us all, but in different ways. Whether it’s the death of an immediate family member or someone with whom you aren’t that close, the grieving process can take on many forms.

I felt like I was always swimming with Tom Petty. His songs were a staple of music blaring from the speakers of our local pool, evoking memories of Coppertone, Sun-In and my parents old Camry, where the cloth seats were always wet from our bathing suits and always seemed to smell like chlorine in the summer.

Our culture focuses a great deal of advertising dollars on encouraging us to celebrate our joys, comfort our sorrows and soothe our stressors with the perfect food items. While indulging in our favorite treat or comfort food can bring temporary comfort and relief from uncomfortable emotions, using food as our only method of self-soothing can leave us feeling guilty and depressed. In addition, the accompanying weight gain that sometimes can follow a “food binge” can bring on self-loathing and self-recrimination.

For many, the upcoming holiday season is a time of joy and excitement, but for others, the holidays can bring a different group of emotions such as anxiety, sadness, resentment and even uncertainty. That’s because, the holiday season brings with it a whole host of stressors that can contribute to distressing emotions – financial, family, time management, unhealthy eating patterns, social connections, etc.

For some of us, the chaos of the holidays and the stress of family and friend obligations can trigger depression or anxiety throughout the month. It’s sometimes hard to find balance in a season of excess and high expectations, leaving many of us feeling down and empty. Studies have found that finding activities and interests that offer purpose and meaning, as well as performing random acts of kindness, without the expectation of reciprocity or acknowledgement, can reduce depressive symptoms and improve overall well-being.

You may have noticed your motivation and mood change recently, maybe chalk it up to the chaos or stress of the season. You may find yourself craving starches and wanting nothing more than to stay in bed for days at a time watching endless reruns of “The Real Housewives.”

I used to be a “chaser.” For most of my life, I chased happiness, perfection and prosperity, frequently using the mind set “if only (I had the perfect job, had enough money, the perfect marriage),….,” or “when I…..(lose 15 pounds, get that promotion, find a boyfriend).” Every year, I would make a New Year’s Resolution, connected to one of my “chases” – I will resolve to work out every day; I will start looking for a new job;

You may have heard of Lavar Ball, the powerhouse dad, media personality and businessman, who seems to be the face (and mouth) behind the Ball family basketball dynasty. All three of Lavar’s sons are basketball prodigies – with one recently drafted as the second pick in the first round to the Los Angeles Lakers and the other committed to playing basketball at UCLA.

ANT infestation is challenging to overcome, and no I’m not talking about those pesky little creatures that invade your home during the warmer months. I’m referring to Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTS). These types of ANTS are pesky, yes, however, they invade your mind!

In honor of Valentine’s Day, let’s talk about love. Love can fall on a spectrum of admiration and affection to a deep, emotional connection – you love your Aunt Edna, but you LOVE your husband.

The Winter Olympics are in full swing, and I, like many of you, have found myself captivated by the Games over the past several days. It’s easy to lose sight of, especially when you’re caught up in the emotion and drama of competition, but what you’re seeing on television is only a brief snippet of these athletes’ lifelong pursuit of sporting immortality. You never witness the thousands of hours of training, the specially designed diets, the self-denial and the absolute determination to succeed against incredible odds that led them to that point.

I spent some time this week looking at the list of this year’s Oscar-nominated films, crossing off the ones I’ve seen and making mental notes of the ones for which I need to carve out time to watch. In the process of doing that, I started thinking about the similarities among them, and that made me stop to consider the ingredients that make for a truly great piece of cinematic art.

Definition “Midwest Mania”: “The act of individual’s residing in a location known as the Midwest region of the United States and behaving with extreme excitement and energy in early May and June due to changing warm weather patterns of this region of the country.”

It seems almost weekly that I hear people use the word “bipolar” to describe others – “he must be bipolar or something;” “I swear, she is bipolar” – using the term as an adjective to describe mood swings, irritability or strong emotions.

Researchers who study early childhood attachment – the emotional connection or bond that forms between babies/adolescents and their primary caregivers – are using science to better understand how attachment affects the development of the brain and how early childhood attachment impacts how humans form relationships throughout their life span.

Emotional support animals (ESAs) have become a particularly touchy subject lately. Earlier this year, air carriers Delta and United announced more stringent guidelines regarding ESAs on board their aircraft. In March, sources at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development hinted that the Department is considering doing the same, which could potentially make it more difficult for a tenant or homeowner to use the ESA designation to possess an animal in a property with a no-pets policy.

“All children, except one, grow up,” reads the opening line of J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan. The one to whom it refers, of course, is Peter, the boy who was determined to hold onto his youth at all costs.

“It’s a rough world out there, people. Try to hang on.” Actor and comedian David Spade tweeted those words in the hours following the death of his sister-in-law, renowned fashion designer Kate Spade, who died on June 5 of an apparent suicide.

I’m often asked by clients and friends, “when should I consider couple therapy?” It’s commonly asked when one partner feels frustrated, angry, or disconnected with their partner within their relationship. Often this question includes feelings of doubt and fear, because people often believe that relationships that are in “trouble” are the ones that need couples' therapy.

You’ve already decided that you would like to start seeing a therapist, and now comes the process of deciding which provider to work with. While you’re evaluating your options, you notice that some of the providers available to you are listed as an “intern” in their profile. While your first thought may be to look for someone who is fully licensed or has graduated from their Master’s program instead (and we get it!), there are some compelling reasons you may want to work with an intern as your therapist

The parenting styles of today have definitely shifted since my days as a kid.Summers were spent exploring the neighborhood on our bikes, community sports teams and long days at the local swimming pool.

“Researchers have found that even more than IQ, your emotional awareness and ability to handle feelings will determine your success and happiness in all walks of life, including family relationships” -John Gottman, Raising An Emotionally Intelligent Child

In our society, happiness is typically seen as the desired state no matter what you may be facing. Unfortunately, at some point in our lives, most of us have experienced the scary pit of hurt, anger or sadness that comes with stressful life circumstances. Some of us have felt it in lesser forms…as a twinge or flutter of something that does not quite feel right. We may try to ignore, block, numb, or “get over” these difficult emotions.

Many of us like to wind down after work with a glass of wine or connect with our friends socially over Saturday night drinks. However, a recent study recently published found that alcohol consumption, including beer and wine, is the leading risk factor for death and disease and the seventh leading risk factor for premature death and disability worldwide in 2016.

Separation and divorce can be devastating on couples as they grieve the loss of their partnership or marriage, but the loss of a family unit can be even harder for the children involved. Many times, parents can’t see past their own anger, hurt or sadness to put the emotional needs of their children first. While the adult relationship may end, the family as a whole doesn’t.

It can be difficult to tell when to bring a child into see a therapist; when to know if their reactions are normal, a result of a developmental “phase,” or something that would benefit from clinical attention. It is difficult to know whether or not a therapist will be able to help.

For many, the upcoming holiday season is a time of joy and excitement, but for others, the holidays can bring a different group of emotions such as anxiety, sadness, resentment, and even uncertainty. That’s because, the holiday season brings with it a whole host of stressors that can contribute to distressing emotions – financial, family, time management, unhealthy eating patterns, social connections, etc.

Many of us have heard the term “gender socialization” and recognize how it plays a part in the differing behaviors, emotional expressions, and preferences of males and females. Gender socialization is the process of males or females learning behaviors and attitudes considered to be appropriate for their assigned gender, whether it is a boy or girl. Our society is inundated with messages of what it means to “be a girl” or “be a boy.”

The past two-and-a-half years have come with a whirlwind of changes looming at every corner. From welcoming triplets to my husband’s lay off from work and all the events in between and after. There really hasn’t been a dull moment.

I took my first improv class when I moved to Chicago five years ago. I didn’t know many people in the city, so I thought it might be a fun way to make new friends and reconnect with my high school theater days. It wasn’t easy at first. I felt really vulnerable being asked to be silly with a room full of strangers. Over time, though, I not only started to have fun, but I started feeling an increased sense of well-being and happiness in my life on and off stage. These days, performing and teaching improv plays a vital creative and therapeutic role in my life.

How often to do you think about your relationship? What do you think is important in a relationship? What makes a relationship good? People often list things like trust, communication, or intimacy, and there are countless theories of love that try to get at the secret ingredients of a good relationship. One popular theory is Sternberg’s Triangular Theory of Love:

Have you ever heard people joke that their best friend should get paid for being their therapist? Or their mother should? Many feel that if they have a good support system they should not need to pay for someone to listen to their problems. However, they may be missing out on some very real benefits of therapy!

Many of my clients report experiencing fear and anxiety associated with unusual sleep events, but often have trouble talking about their fears, even in therapy.  The fear is often related to unusual experiences before, during and/or immediately upon waking up. Parasomnias are undesirable experiences that are related to sleep, also known as disruptive sleep disorders.

Adolescence is the stage of development in which a teen seeks to find their identity and shape who they want to be. It is a time in which teens start looking less at their parents for guidance and more towards their peers to define how they should act. With this, parents can feel anxious and overwhelmed when they start to see changes in their teen’s behavior and attitude. Especially, when their child may be getting in trouble at school or in the community that could lead to serious legal consequences. So, what should you do?

If you have sought couple’s therapy before or have a passing interest in therapy, chances are you’ve heard of Gottman Therapy. Gottman Method Couples Therapy is a combination of several therapy approaches and interventions put together in a way that has shown to be one of the most helpful for couples. It was developed by John and Julie Gottman, a researcher and therapist power couple who spent over a decade developing this approach to therapy.

If you had to put a number on it, how much do you feel like your partner listens or pays attention to you? How much do you listen and pay attention to your partner? Feeling listened to, heard, and understood are vital parts of communication

We’ve all had moments where we feel at odds with ourselves. Maybe it happens when our partner says something hurtful. In that moment, part of us wants to run out of the room; part of us feels vulnerable and hurt; part of us knows they didn’t really mean it, and part of us might feel ashamed of having these feelings at all. We might even tell a friend later, “Part of me wanted to scream at him and part of me was so embarrassed that I even cared.