As a licensed mental health professional, I work with many individuals, couples, and families who are affected by divorce. I have developed this list of survival strategies for people who are experiencing divorce. If you or someone you love is in this situation, I hope these ideas will help you. 1. Take your time as…
Category: Self Help (Page 1 of 2)
Depression – part 1 This is the first of a two-part series on depression. In this part, I will explore what depression is and what causes it. In the next part, I will describe how depression is treated and prevented. If you or someone close to you suffers from depression, it is important to educate…
OCD CHECKLIST DIRECTIONS: You may have a problem with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) if you mark several items in the following table. If so, identify your specific worries or rituals in the questionnaire to relabel them as obsessions and compulsions. Underline all concerns that apply in each item. Obsessions: Unpleasant thoughts that come into my mind…
FamilyDIFFERENTIATING FROM YOUR FAMILY OF ORIGIN You may handle family pressure by trying to conform or by divorcing yourself emotionally. However, there is an alternative. You can learn how to express your differences or differentiate without getting caught in conflicts or abandoning your significant others. Once you’ve left home, the best place to reclaim the…
RELATIONSHIP WORKSHEET 1. What qualities first drew me to my partner? 2. What troubling qualities does my partner have that are similar to my early caretakers? 3. What qualities does my partner have that I think I lack? 4. What needs am I (unsuccessfully) trying to meet through my relationship: Understanding Appreciation Approval Freedom Other:…
DISORDERS THAT AFFECT RELATIONSHIPS Not all relationship problems result from unhealthy patterns of interaction. Sometimes, one person has a disorder that has a direct impact on his or her partner. The better a spouse is able to recognize such disorders, the less chance there is of intensifying them. Mark any of the problems described below…
BELIEFS THAT HELP RELATIONSHIPS Often, problems that surface in relationships are indications of underlying self-destructive beliefs. If you have difficulty making changes that could help your marriage, it may be because of such ideas. These thoughts are not actually caused by your partner, but were instilled in you from early life experiences. To discover thoughts…
UNDERSTANDING YOUR FAMILY DRAMA Do you ever feel as if you’re trapped in the web of your own personal family soap opera, unable to make a move without inviting disapproval or “wounding” someone? Have you ever thought you escaped your past, only to find yourself caught in dramas with spouses, children, friends, or coworkers? Expressing…
What Is Happiness? If you are thinking about changing your life for the better, one way to start is by identifying your goals. You are probably hoping to find some version of happiness or emotional well-being. That might look like any combination of the following: A sense of freedom Self-esteem Self-confidence Happy to get up…
Why Am I Not Happy? Signs of Discontent You don’t need a degree in psychology to know when you’re off-track, but sometimes it creeps up on you. It can seem like you wake up one day and realize that things are not right. These are a few of the signs: You don’t want to get…
