The Good Therapy Blog

The Big ‘O’: First, Release Your Expectations

May 22nd, 2013 . 12 Comments

I frequently share with clients one of my favorite Buddhist slogans: the spiritual advice to “let go of attachment to outcome.” When people begin their work with me with goals such as, “I want to learn how to achieve simultaneous orgasm with my partner every time we have sex,” I suggest they release their attachment to the outcome of orgasm … release their frantic need to climax in perfect... Read More

Early Intervention and Healthcare Access May Decrease STIs in Young Women

May 22nd, 2013 . 2 Comments

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are not uncommon among adolescents. When individuals first start experimenting with sex, they often do not possess the education, resources, and communication skills necessary to ensure safe sexual activity. This increases the risk of STIs such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HIV/AIDs. Cultural... Read More

An Attitude of Gratitude: Seeing the Good Helps You Feel Better

May 22nd, 2013 . 3 Comments

Many years ago, I was at home with my now teenage daughter, who was an infant at the time. I was having one of those days as a new mom where everything seemed overwhelming and never-ending. There was laundry to fold, dinner to make, and floors to sweep, but instead I was lying in the middle of the living room, half-listening to Oprah. As I enjoyed those few stolen moments for mommy, my daughter crawled around, pulling everything down from the shelves and making the cataclysmic... Read More

Cultural Revisions to HIV Intervention Improve Outcome

May 21st, 2013 . 4 Comments

Real Men are Safe (REMAS) is an HIV intervention and prevention program designed for men receiving treatment for drug and alcohol dependency. It is delivered in five sessions with the aim of reducing unprotected sex and increasing sexual protection and condom use. However, initial results of REMAS show that although white men increased their safe sex practices, African-American men and Hispanic men did... Read More

Smoking during Pregnancy and Child’s Psychotropic Medication Use Not Linked

May 21st, 2013 . 2 Comments

Mothers who smoke during pregnancy (SDP) put themselves and their unborn children at risk for a variety of health issues. Existing research has indicated that smoking can increase the rate of psychological problems for children, and, in particular, increase the odds of conduct and oppositional defiance problems and ... Read More

Mental Health Stigma in South Asian Communities

May 21st, 2013 . 4 Comments

I am not sure how I was led to write about mental health issues and the South Asian Community. Maybe it has always been a calling, which I never listened to until now. My field of counseling and psychology has taught me how to listen, feel, believe, trust, and share. Since I have taken on this new venture... Read More

Living with Disability: Denial and Avoidance in Long-Term Planning

May 21st, 2013 . 3 Comments

Nobody likes to have conversations related to end-of-life issues, asset protection, and how to pay for long-term care. It is hard enough to get people who are young and healthy to discuss wills and child custody. While it may be unpleasant, though, it is one of the eventualities that must be faced when living with a disability. It... Read More

Cognitive Rigidity Found in Women with Anorexia

May 21st, 2013 . 2 Comments

Cognitive flexibility is an important trait and is used in decision making, task switching, and processing of information. In psychological research, cognitive inflexibility has been identified as a potential risk factor or result of various mental health conditions. With regard to eating and food issues, cognitive rigidity has been present in people with ... Read More

Why Taking Time Off Is Good for You

May 21st, 2013 . 12 Comments

To outsiders, Americans seem chronically vacation-deprived. Workers in the United States get less time off than workers in other developed nations, and the U.S. is the only developed nation that does not legally mandate vacation days or sick leave. Many employees take matters into their own hands and call in sick when they’re not, often referred to as a “mental health day.”... Read More

Not All Shyness Leads to Anxiety

May 20th, 2013 . 12 Comments

Children often exhibit behaviors and personality traits that are temporary and do not persist through adulthood. When they cry, pout, or throw a fit, children are expressing their emotions in the only way they know how. As they mature, they develop tools and emotional intelligence so that they can respond to situations in different and more adaptive ways. But some personality... Read More

Sharp Increase in Exercise Predicts Inpatient Treatment for Anorexia

May 20th, 2013 . 2 Comments

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is an eating issue that has been shown to be especially hard to treat. Even when clients are admitted for inpatient treatment, diet and nutrition remain significant obstacles for improving outcomes. One reason for this could be inconsistency in diet among hospitals. There... Read More

Five Remedies to Heal the Heartbreak of Divorce

May 20th, 2013 . 18 Comments

Everyone wants to believe in forever. Even if we know it’s not real, we hold the hope that our love will prevail, and that our marriages will last a lifetime. When you got married, you deposited all of your hopes and dreams into your partner and the marriage with the belief that your investment would flourish... Read More

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Deceptive Affection: Is It Really Bad for a Relationship?

May 20th, 2013 . 2 Comments

Have you ever thrown a casual “I miss you,” or “I wish you were here” to your partner when, in that moment, you did not miss them or wish they were with you? Spouses and partners who have been together for some time may find themselves using this form of interaction, called “deceptive affection,” in their relationships on a regular basis. Rather than hurting the other’s... Read More

New Study Compares Stress Response in Children and Adolescents

May 20th, 2013 . 2 Comments

Stress reactivity and stress response styles provide insight into emotional vulnerability. Research has indicated that heightened or blunted physiological stress reactions can predict risk for psychological and physical health challenges, including heart disease, depression, anxiety, and behavioral problems.... Read More