Postpartum Depression: A Multifaceted Problem
Many people believe that postpartum depression is caused by the hormone shifts that occur in a woman after she gives birth. In our culture, we attribute women’s emotions to sex hormones, while we attribute men’s emotions to whatever situation they happen to be in (this link opens a PDF). But these myths, and the biological determinism that it is part of, actually make matters worse. People who assume that emotions are primarily caused by biological changes that are outside of their control tend to... Read More
Images of unrealistic female ideals are rampant in the media. Magazine covers, television shows, and movies celebrate the tall, thin, and nearly flawless female figure. Most of these portrayals are fictitious, the result of airbrushing, digital enhancement, and skilled make-up artists. But these unrealistic ideals can cause the average woman to become dissatisfied with her own authentic and real body image. Body dissatisfaction has increased dramatically over the past several decades, conversely in proportion with the shrinking of the media’s representation of the perfect female body. Even though... 
Children who experience difficulties in childhood are at increased risk for various negative mental health outcomes. Two of these outcomes, depression and psychosis, have been linked to adversity in childhood. 
Psychological well-being is measured by looking at a number of different emotional conditions. Depression and anxiety decrease well-being, while feelings of control and self-esteem can increase an individual’s overall well-being. People who have AIDS/HIV must address not only the physical symptoms of the illness, but also the psychological side effects caused by the stigma associated with AIDS/HIV. Although there has been much progress dispelling the myths about AIDS/HIV over the past decade, there still exists some 
Anger in its various forms, shapes and guises is a doozy of an emotion. Few of us would count anger as a preferred, let alone favored, emotion. Yet for survivors of trauma it is a well known and sometimes frequently experienced emotion.
Before getting any further, a quick moment of clarification is necessary. The word anger encompasses many different experiences—from a quickly passing irritation to longer lasting indignation, to being irate, having resentment, harboring exasperation, or having hate. If you are interested in an in-depth discussion of the various forms of anger, I encourage... 
One of the most difficult times in our lives is when we choose or are faced with changing some of the most basic aspects of how we live. Where we live, who we live with, what our children experience, how much financial security we have, or what kind of work we do are all potentially affected when we end a relationship.
One of the decisions partners are faced with if that time arrives is what model of divorce to choose. You can do it yourself, otherwise known as a kitchen table divorce, go to a mediator, hire a court-based attorney, or you can decide to have a collaborative divorce. In a collaborative... 
One form of treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD) is acute phase 
Research has shown that
Executive functioning (EF) is known to be impaired in children and adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (
Are you moving through the day on autopilot? Do you sometimes feel as if life is passing you by? Do you find yourself reacting to situations, events, and people with anger and frustration? If you responded yes to any of these questions you’re not alone.
Many of us will face challenging situations in our lives that make us want to retreat from life or lash out at the world. Some of these situations will be life changing, and some of it will be the small stuff.
I actually experienced living on autopilot last week as I was driving to the office. I was coasting along, following my normal route... 
“I have tried everything and cannot lose weight!” How often have you heard this from clients or patients? How often are they contemplating extreme diets or surgery as the last ditch effort? Upon further inspection, how long have they tried to make changes before giving up? A week? A month?
The more restrictive the diet, the faster people quit. Dieting in our society has become a four-letter word. People treat diets like they are being sent to prison. It seems like this is for good reason. Looking at 99% of the diets available, they are full of restrictions. No flour, no sugar, no fat, no... 
Eldercare maltreatment is a societal problem that often goes unaddressed. Financial exploitation is another act that is committed against the 
The right hemisphere of the brain has been studied in relation to generalized 
Oxytocin is a nonapeptide that helps alleviate contractions during childbirth and stimulates milk production for breast-feeding. Oxytocin also affects key regions of the brain that influence social behaviors. Recent studies have shown that oxytocin increases certain types of eye movement and negative evaluation of emotions in people with 
