If you struggle with social anxiety, you’ve probably been inundated with advice about forcing yourself into uncomfortable situations. But I want to share my favorite tip for navigating social spaces, and it completely flips the traditional advice on its head. Don't bother facing fears unless you want to. Instead, do what feels nourishing. To YOU. You don't have to expect yourself to do what you're "supposed" to do if it isn't nourishing. When we force ourselves into social bo

I’ve worked as a clinical psychologist specializing in anxiety and traumatic stress. I’ve published dozens of peer-reviewed scientific articles focused on what actually makes therapy effective. If there is one overarching truth I wish I could hand to everyone in the world, it’s this: Shame is the worst source of willpower. We live in a world where many people have adversarial relationships with themselves. The more authoritarian our parents were, the harsher and more demandin

Lately, I’ve noticed a shift in the questions I get in clinical practice. They often sound something like this: "I’ve worked hard to overcome my PTSD, and I still love my high-intensity job. It gives my life meaning. But my partner says if I don’t quit, it means I haven't actually healed. Is that true?" "I’ve had OCD since I was a little kid. I had a wonderful, safe childhood, but I saw online that OCD is always a trauma response. Am I missing something? Do I have repressed m

You may have heard about CBT, or cognitive behavioral therapy. After all, it's been around for a while. The main components of modern CBT...

Absolutely nothing? (No.) First things first, what is worry? When we're worrying, we're normally thinking a lot about something that...

The world has been opening up over the past several weeks. You may be watching your friends take vacations, throw parties, and get back...

I'm going to lay out two truths. These two truths are desperately important, and equally true. Without the first truth, the path ahead...

There's a chance that if you have OCD, you've heard that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the best way to treat it. But did you know...

If you buy into the cultural narrative around OCD, it might not seem like such a bad thing to have. I mean, we're in a pandemic, and...

We're now six months into COVID-19 land. Perhaps you struggled a lot at the beginning and have now adjusted to the state of things. But...

You know what I love for coping with chaotic times? Acronyms. Frickin' love 'em. I know it's kind of dorky, but they really are great -...

The last few days have been a whirlwind for our country, as we face the reality of a global pandemic and what it means for the future....

I’ve been through a lot in my life, and lately I’ve been really struggling. I feel like my past experiences are a part of that, but when...

I've been in therapy for years for my PTSD and have tried every medication under the sun, but I'm still having nightmares almost every...

There's something powerful in knowing that you can help yourself by taking good care of your own well-being. You have some agency in all...

Your doctor tells you that you'd better start exercising. Your mother tells you you're gaining weight. Online, your friends' yoga selfies...

Perhaps this next statement will shock you: our physical well-being affects our mental well-being. No? Not surprised? Okay, me neither....

I don't think I'm alone in this - in times of stress, I have a tendency to eat like crap. Too busy to eat a decent lunch? Peanut butter...

It's not uncommon that people ask me about ways to relieve distress that don't require a mental health provider. And, I understand this...

There are so many therapists out there. When you're struggling with your mental health and require services, this search can be so...