At the risk of sounding like my great-grandmother, longing for the good ol' days, I can't help but think back on simpler times when people would come home from work, throw their mail down on the counter, check their answering machine for messages and call it a day. These days...

It starts out healthy enough -- or, seemingly so. Maybe you started by cutting out processed foods. Then desserts. Then sugar. Then meat. Maybe you switched to all organic and while you were at it, went gluten-free and wheat-free. In a culture that has gone health-food crazy, it's easy to...

Having been around the spiritual book block a time or two (umm, make that more like 2,000!), I am no stranger to the concept of surrender. If you're anything like me, you've heard it and read it a thousand times too: "What you resist will persist," "Let it go and...

One of the most important aspects of being human is the fact that we have feelings -- all day long. And yet, rarely are we taught healthy ways to cope with them. Who among us learned about coping with emotions in school? And how on earth did such an important...

"I shouldn't have said that." "I shouldn't have done that." "I shouldn't have eaten that." These are common phrases I hear from clients in my counseling practice. So many people are so hard on themselves so much of the time, believing that self-criticism will help them attain their goals. After...

Having spent decades bouncing back and forth between my strict diet du jour and the "I blew it, screw it, eat everything in sight and start again on Monday" program, I am honored to share with others the tips and tools that helped me crack the diet/binge code once and...

There are many complex reasons why your child might be eating more food than his or her body needs. Stuffing down difficult emotions is a top contender. Believing unkind thoughts can also cause overeating in an attempt to quiet a busy mind. Some kids eat more than they need out...

In a culture that has created a generation of screen surfers, I find myself treating more and more people who are addicted to video games. It starts out innocently enough; your kid gets a new game. They seem to enjoy their newfound pastime. You love when they seem to be...

It seems to me in our great grandparents and grandparents' era, people seemed to stay together no matter what. In today's fast moving, perfectionistic world, people seem quick to leave no matter what. In my therapy practice, I often help ambivalent clients differentiate between deal-breakers and deal-makers. Should they stay...

Co-written by Steve Legallet, LMFT

After the recent, horrific event in Connecticut we read a blog titled, "I am Adam Lanza's Mother." Within minutes there were thousands of responses to this mother's plea for help. Her son, much like Adam Lanza and millions of others, is disturbed, angry and violent....

As a therapist who loves working with young girls, I see so many who struggle with all of the typical issues that adolescents face: low self- worth, body image issues and friendship insecurities, just to name a few.

I try to be creative and speak in ways they can...

We live in such a competitive culture that many of us are still trying to keep up with the Joneses. But do we ever ask ourselves: Who are these idealized Joneses and do they really have such peaceful and balanced lives? Do they suffer from chronic anxiety and stress? Are...

We live in such a fast-paced culture with such high expectations that it's no wonder so many people are struggling to find balance. I often ask clients in my psychotherapy practice to take a realistic look at their schedules and see what can be deleted, shortened, or shifted, and we...

In a recent blog, I wrote about speaking your truth when you are upset with someone, rather than stuffing it down or blasting it out. To that end, I wanted to share some practical one-liners for those times when you are caught off-guard. Many of us feel like a deer...

Most of us do not easily speak our truth. Our behavior is determined by years of conditioning. We are told, "Be nice and polite," and "Don't hurt anyone's feelings." We may be so bogged down with shoulds and shouldn'ts that we find it hard to identfy our true feelings and...

As an eating disorders counselor and author, I have spent decades working with clients of all ages who are struggling with their food and weight. My experience comes not only from my schooling and my counseling practice, but from the trenches. I too, spent the majority of my life hating...

I started my first diet when I was 12, and this began a full-time career of yo-yo dieting, sneak eating, and eventually 10 years of secret bulimia. It's tragic to say that I thought about food and weight more than anything else. I was painfully self-conscious about my body and...

As an eating disorders therapist and woman who spent the majority of my life in the grip of a weight and food obsession, I walk around with my antennae tuned in to whatever might help me understand how we got ourselves into this mess. Obesity is now considered an epidemic....

I had my first "dart in the heart" moment at age 12, when a kid at school called me "thunder thighs." Until then, I wasn't aware of my body as being too big, I was simply in my body. So, I started my first diet. Little did I know this...

As a family therapist who spent two decades helping others in their relationships, I prided myself on being happily married to a kind and gentle man. I was certain that my marriage would stand the test of time. That was why, 15 years ago, I decided to show my husband...