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Dr. Paula Bloom
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Dr. Bloom is a practicing clinical psychologist, speaker, featured pbs.org blogger and frequent contributor to CNN. Through her training and work on suicide hotlines, community mental health centers, and medical and psychiatric units, Dr. Bloom quickly realized that she knew far more about mental illness than mental health. Her focus has now shifted to helping individuals struggling with psychiatric conditions such as anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder to go beyond their diagnosis and find a greater sense of productivity, purpose, and meaning in their lives. Dr. Bloom believes that all of us have a limited amount of mental health “capital,” and often very little emotional “overdraft” protection. She challenges us to consider which thoughts and behaviors we can afford, and to abandon those old patterns that drain us.

Dr. Bloom earned her master’s and doctoral degrees in clinical psychology from Nova Southeastern University and lives in Atlanta with her husband and children.

For more information go to her website www.paulabloom.com

Blog Entries by Dr. Paula Bloom

Accessing Faith Through Treating Depression

Posted June 9, 2010 | 16:40:00 (EST)

"I don't believe in medication; I have faith and just need to be more connected to God."

I hear this a lot. Faith and spirituality can be powerful sources of strength, happiness and meaning. I know this to be true from reading scientific studies, listening to clients' stories and...

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PBS's 'This Emotional Life': Can Facebook Help You Grieve?

Posted May 11, 2010 | 12:56:00 (EST)

As a psychologist I'm often asked about what I think of social media. I've discussed the harm that can be done by the lack of accountability that can come from relative anonymity. I've spoken various times on TV about the "retrosexual" syndrome which is basically the idea of being stuck...

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PBS's This Emotional Life: How is Simon Cowell the Key to Better Relationships?

Posted April 1, 2010 | 11:24:09 (EST)

Hi, my name is Paula and I like American Idol. I am ready to admit this which I guess is the first step in my recovery. (Though I don't think I have a problem because I can stop DVR'ing it anytime I want.)


Like many Americans, one of...

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PBS's This Emotional Life: 5 Lessons I Learned From My Vacuum Cleaner

Posted March 24, 2010 | 10:35:00 (EST)

Wisdom comes to us in many different ways. Sometimes a friend will ask you for advice and you find yourself saying what you yourself most need to hear. Other times you go to a faith community and feel the sermon is totally directed at you and your current dilemma. Bumper...

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What Can You Do To Lower Your Kids' Future Therapy Bills?

Posted February 23, 2010 | 10:58:00 (EST)

"You're right, I'm the worst mom ever. This will give you another thing to tell your future therapist," you say to your daughter. While kidding -- at least halfway -- the modern parent is beginning to see therapy in their child's future as inevitable, a necessary part of being a...

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Poisonous Resentment

Posted February 18, 2010 | 13:02:00 (EST)

Colombia is a country with frequent kidnappings, often with tragic results.

Such was the case of a father who reported his 11-month-old son kidnapped, then joined in the frantic search for his missing child. The outcome was terrible: the child was found to have been killed by his own father.

...
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Transforming Your Pain Into A Gift For Others

Posted February 15, 2010 | 11:40:17 (EST)

A woman I'll call "Sasha" was referred to me by her primary care physician after her 12-year-old daughter died suddenly of unknown causes. This doctor believed Sasha needed therapy because of what happened. While therapy can be a powerful tool, most of life's solutions are not found on the couch....

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Just Do It! Does Action Precede Motivation?

Posted February 11, 2010 | 15:39:24 (EST)

As I write this my father is in the ICU. He is very sick with a multitude of issues and struggling to breathe. I feel so sad and powerless and am resisting the urge to do something to get rid of these very healthy, normal feelings. These feelings are so...

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Evangelical Pessimists, Stop Trying to Convert Me!

Posted February 3, 2010 | 13:22:45 (EST)

There is a natural tendency in all of us to want to be validated. Feeling connected to others is a key to physical and emotional well being. We all want to feel heard.

Have you had the experience of someone telling you how bad his or her life is? You...

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PBS' 'This Emotional Life': Your Diagnosis Does Not Define You

Posted February 1, 2010 | 14:31:00 (EST)

If you had a broken leg how would you tell someone? Would it be "I am broken leg" or "I have a broken leg"? Unless you are a caveman it would likely be the latter. We recognize that a broken leg is not a representation of who we are. It...

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