I have a client-centered confession: I prefer working with anxious people. I know, it’s like saying, “I prefer my son over my daughters,” but I can’t help it. I’ve been a psychotherapist for over a decade and that’s long enough to know with whom I excel, in my clinical book. It’s not that anxiety is […]
Author: Linda Esposito
Why We Marry our Mom and Dad (and how to divorce them)
“We repeat what we do not repair.” —Christine Langley Obaugh “Why would a person marry someone just like their father or mother if their parents were {insert any abusive trait} alcoholic/narcissistic/emotionally unavailable? Doesn’t it make more sense to look for a partner with the opposite traits?” is commonly asked from up-and-coming therapists during […]
Lust and Loyalty: The Naked Truth About Infidelity
“Part of the modern ideology of love is to assume that love and sex always go together… And probably the greatest problem for human beings is that they just don’t.” ~Susan Sontag Talk about an apropos quote to describe what many couples are thinking, but few are discussing. This is not to say Ms. Sontag’s […]
What’s Up With Millennials and Mental Health?
I adore millennials. By and large, they are my favorite demographic to work with in therapy. This fact makes me unpopular in certain circles. Sometimes the admission is met with inquisitive looks, or eye-rolling, or the occasional contemptuous comment. “Just what is it you find so endearing? Is it the entitlement, the gluten-free everything, or […]
10 Smart, Simple Self-Care Tips for Solid Mental Health
“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.”- Robert J. Collier Do you ever get so busy that you neglect to take care of yourself? If so, you’re not alone. Many of us lead busy lives where we’re consumed with taking care of others and accustomed to putting their needs […]
The Mental Health Game — How Do You Play?
On Saturday I was trolling Netflix for a new adventure, because let’s face it — Criminal Minds gets a bit formulaic (as psychologically sound, as it is), when I spotted Training Day. I recalled Denzel Washington’s award-winning, maniacal rogue cop performance and almost clicked through, when I saw 2001. “Hmm, that’s so dated — is […]
Is Anxiety A Choice?
Researchers who study emotion regulation—how we cope, or fail to cope, with the daily swirl of feelings—are discovering that many anxious people are bound and determined (though not always consciously) to cultivate anxiety. The reason, studies suggest, is that for some people anxiety boosts cognitive performance, while for others it actually feels comforting. Consider the […]
Simple Life Lessons to Ease Your Anxious Mind
My second biggest fear as a parent just may come true. Or it may not. As a psychotherapist who counsels parents of angry, anxious and misguided teens, I sometimes worry that my own kid will get lost in the shuffle. When this happens I follow a few steps to check if my worries are based […]
50 Psychology Hacks for Better Mental Health
1. Recognize all the times you got it right. Rather than wake up each morning anxious about what didn’t get done on the to-do list, focus on what’s going well. *Bonus: Make a list of three times you were gracious in the midst of meanness; three times you faced your fears and prevailed; three times […]
How to Be Happy — 10 Research-backed Tips
We all want to be happy. Our search leads us to seek advice from therapists, clergy, best-selling authors, and Buddhist monks. Despite the wealth of available information, two constants remain: One, there is no recipe for happiness. In short, we’re all unique with different biology, childhoods, life experiences and support systems. Two, happiness is a […]
