Happy Valentine’s Day!
By Tom Horvath, PhD Even if you do not have a specific partner this Valentine’s Day, and especially if you do, it’s a great day to engage in relationship enhancing behaviors. You might do something special just for today. In addition to your partner, you could also reach out to someone who is not at […]
Persistent vs. Impulsive Self-Improvement
By Tom Horvath, PhD With 2025 now over a week old, we may already be falling short of some of our New Year’s resolutions. Nevertheless, take heart! It is easy to fall into all-or-none thinking about positive change. Please consider the following ideas. Even if you did not make any New Year’s resolutions, you may […]
Coping with Thanksgiving
By Tom Horvath, PhD, ABPP Although many of us have warm memories about Thanksgiving spent with family and friends, there may be some painful memories as well. If you’re looking for tips on coping with Thanksgiving, and the problems that might arise, consider the following goals: If avoiding squabbles is your goal, can you sit […]
Getting a Fresh Start in the New Year
By Tom Horvath, PhD Although you can embark on a new habit at any time of year, the New Year remains a popular starting time! Here are some suggestions on how to maximize your project. Decide whether to start small or start “big.” Even though your end point may evolve over time, decide at the […]
Listening at Thanksgiving (or any time)
By Tom Horvath, PhD The Thanksgiving dinner table will provide many opportunities for conversation, and perhaps nearly as many opportunities for disagreements and fights. That level of tension can easily motivate us to overuse substances! Let’s look at some ways to prevent the tension from getting that high. Tips for Listening at Thanksgiving Is it […]
The Holiday Season Begins
By Tom Horvath, PhD With Halloween parties starting this weekend, the holiday season begins. That season will continue through Thanksgiving, multiple holiday celebrations near the end of the year, New Years, and then on to the Super Bowl and Valentine’s Day. Including work, family, and other social events, you could be invited to a dozen […]
Setting Boundaries During the Holidays
Boundaries are difficult. Figuring out what your own wants, needs, and limits are can sometimes be hard enough. And then we must figure out a way to communicate our wants, needs and limits to someone else who may have a history of pushing them. Now add on top of that the stress, overwhelm, and sometimes […]
Sparks of Hope for the Holidays
by Thaddeus Camlin, PsyD Sparks do not burst from a vacuum, they are incandescent blasts from intense heat and friction. The famous Christmas Carol ‘Feliz Navidad’ was back in the headlines recently celebrating its 50th anniversary. Most stories talked about the song-writing process of its creator, José Feliciano, as one of magical ease, a spark […]
Family Communication: Be PIUS This Holiday Season
By Thaddeus Camlin, PsyD Holidays are ripe with tales of family gatherings gone sour. Many families anticipate disruptive antics from at least one family member, maybe more. As the beloved Lion King character, Zazu, memorably proclaimed about rabble-rousing kin, there’s one in every family, two in mine actually! Whether there are one, two, or 10 […]
Cultivating Gratitude for Thanksgiving 2020
by Thaddeus Camlin, PsyD Gratitude tends to be hard-earned. When life’s complexities converge and we endure a series of painful complications, gratitude may seem like a fool’s errand at precisely the time when it is most needed. Thanksgiving reminds us, no matter our circumstances, to pause and appreciate. Nestled amidst a global pandemic, this iteration […]