Life entails a wide tapestry of different experiences. Some of those are pleasant, some sad, others challenging. Coping mechanisms are the ways we respond to difficult experiences. We can think of our coping mechanisms as our emotional and behavioral toolbox. But what happens when our responses to our experiences are not helpful? What do we …
10 Most Common Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms: A List Read More »
Groundbreaking research in the 1990s discovered that “mirror neurons” fire whether monkeys perform an activity themselves or observe others engaging in it (Rizzolatti & Fabbri-destro, 2010). In the decades since, studies suggest humans also have mirror neurons, and they are fundamental to what it means to be human (Penagos-Corzo et al., 2022). In fact, neuroscience …
A cultural paradigm shift is happening in awareness of the mind-body connection. Ordinary people are talking about nervous system regulation. People are using “dysregulation” as a catchall to describe how they feel when they are not on top of their game. Or to explain the behavior of their children or partner. What is so wonderful …
What is Nervous System Regulation & Why is it Important? Read More »
Have you ever watched in amazement as a family member or acquaintance overcame seemingly insurmountable obstacles with strength and courage? Coping with life’s challenges is what epic history is made of. Abraham Lincoln overcame crippling depression – then called melancholia – to become President of the United States. What choices did Lincoln make that changed …
Healthy Coping Mechanisms: 9 Adaptive Strategies to Try Read More »
As humans, we depend on others for survival. Starting from birth, the need to be fed, bathed, clothed, sheltered and cared for is essential for survival and optimal function. Because healthy human development requires physical and emotional care, fear of abandonment can result from unmet needs in either childhood or adulthood (Fraley, 2019). The impact …
How to Overcome Fear of Abandonment: 6 Helpful Worksheets Read More »
Life is constantly in flux – our environment and ‘self’ change continually. Self-exploration helps us make sense of who we are, where we are, and how we fit into the situation in which we find ourselves (Bench et al., 2015). And yet, knowing ourselves is often difficult. We either lack the motivation to make the …
30 Best Self-Exploration Questions, Journal Prompts, & Tools Read More »
A healthy relationship requires the appropriate interpersonal skills and attitudes to build and maintain a lasting connection (Nelson-Jones, 2006). Yet we all know it’s not always easy! The situations we find ourselves in can be challenging, influencing how we think, feel, and behave: we stop sharing with, listening to, and understanding those we care about. …
What Is Relationship Coaching? Ultimate Tools to Help Couples Read More »
Have you thought about integrating tapping to your clinical toolbox? Emotional Freedom Techniques, or EFT tapping, uses the self-stimulation of acupuncture points through tapping to decrease distress. EFT tapping is a body-centric therapy that combines elements of cognitive and exposure therapy you may already use, with light pressure on acupoints. The number of professionals using …
EFT Tapping: The Psychology Behind Tapping Therapy Read More »
We describe ourselves as seeing red when angry, turning green with disgust, or flustered when excited. But how do we define emotions, comprehend their cognitive and physiological components, and understand the reasons behind our emotional experiences? The challenge in comprehending emotions lies in understanding the link between their physiological and cognitive components. This article explores …
Understanding the Cannon–Bard Theory of Emotion: 3 Examples Read More »