Author Archives: rjtherapy

28 Sep

WHY TEENS NEED THEIR ZZZs

As a former mental health counselor in our public high schools, I’ve seen one too many bleary-eyed, emotionally distraught teen, having left class to see me because they could no longer cope.  I was often surprised to learn that many of these teens—presenting with symptoms of depression, anxiety, and sometimes suicidality—had been averaging six or fewer hours of sleep a night.

What I was seeing in our schools and now observe in my private practice is part of an epidemic of insufficient sleep among our youth—and it’s posing a risk not only to our kids’ physical wellbeing, but also to their emotional and psychiatric health. Read More →

09 Sep

TED Talk 2013: Kelly McGonigal “How to Make Stress Your Friend”

Kelly McGonigal’s talk on “How to Make Stress Your Friend”
Filmed June 2013 at TEDGlobal 2013.

“Stress. It makes your heart pound, your breathing quicken and your forehead sweat. But while stress has been made into a public health enemy, new research suggests that stress may only be bad for you if you believe that to be the case. Psychologist Kelly McGonigal urges us to see stress as a positive, and introduces us to an unsung mechanism for stress reduction: reaching out to others.”

–TED.com

09 Sep

TEDxHouston 2010: Brené Brown “The Power of Vulnerability”

Brené Brown’s talk on “The Power of Vulnerability”
Filmed June 2010 at TEDxHouston 2010.

“Brené Brown studies human connection — our ability to empathize, belong, love. In a poignant, funny talk, she shares a deep insight from her research, one that sent her on a personal quest to know herself as well as to understand humanity. A talk to share.”

–TED.com

09 Sep

TED Talk 2012: Amy Cuddy “Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are”

Amy Cuddy’s talk on “Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are”
Filmed June 2012 at TEDGlobal 2012.

“Body language affects how others see us, but it may also change how we see ourselves. Social psychologist Amy Cuddy shows how “power posing” — standing in a posture of confidence, even when we don’t feel confident — can affect testosterone and cortisol levels in the brain, and might even have an impact on our chances for success.”

–TED.com