Here's an interesting New York Times article on the effects of mental and physical exercise, certain anti-depressants, and social integration on cognitive health:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/25/opinion/sunday/can-you-get-smarter.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

By Alex Chapunoff, LMHC, TIRF
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There is a big problem in the world today, and history indicates it has been causing trouble for thousands of years.

Beliefs.

​Check out any history book and you immediately notice the conflictual role political and religious beliefs have played and still play. Hence, the saying, “Never discuss politics or religion with friends.” If you want to stay friends.

By Dana Baduna, PhD, LMFT

There are many benefits that couples counseling can bring to a relationship. Therapists who work with couples have different styles of working with clients and it is always a good idea to find out a little bit about how counseling works when you come in together to a session. So here are a few guidelines of what you can expect when beginning counseling at the Grounding Center.

By Alex Chapunoff, LMHC, TIRF

​In TIR (Traumatic Incident Reduction), a breakthrough is referred to as an “end point” – a shift that occurs for a client as a result of a new understanding, recovered knowledge or memory, and/or a significant release of pent-up emotional pain. It is usually evident in his or her sense of relief, joy, and increased well-being. The mood changes from “heavy” to “light.”

By Alex Chapunoff, LMHC, TIRF

​Kay (Meryl Streep) and Arnold (Tommy Lee Jones) are a middle-aged couple married for many years. Financially, they are doing well but Kay feels the spark has long left the marriage, leaving her with a mechanical, routine existence. She yearns for real connection to, and emotional authenticity with, her husband: unfortunately, he is very closed off and skeptical, and aloofly resists her attempts to change the comfortable (for him) but bland status quo.

By Dana Baduna, PhD, LMFT

​This book proposes seven steps to self-transformation through which a person can acquire new habits and let go of the “chronically nice” persona that hinders their growth. It is an easy read and offers practical suggestions toward effective habit-changing behaviors, encouraging the reader to face their anxiety and attachment difficulties, making it easier to uncover a new sense of confidence and self.

By Alex Chapunoff, LMHC, TIRF

When a couple gets into relationship trouble, it often turns out each side has been very focused on his or her own perceptions and feelings, and less on their partner’s.

This is common. By and large, from a very young age we are taught to be individuals – to focus on our needs and wants, develop ourselves, pursue our goals and agendas, and so on.

​As a single person, it’s all about you: you live how you want, eat where you want, hang out with whomever you want, and vacation or move anywhere you want. You are 100% of the sum of your individuality. But now, as a partner, you are 50% of a relationship. That’s quite a shift and the result is that what you think, feel, and want is now only one side of the equation. There’s also that other side: your partner’s.

By Alex Chapunoff, LMHC, TIRF

​We are not always aware of our postulates. A postulate is a statement you have made to yourself that helps you understand, or deal with, life. It’s a judgment you hold about some aspect of reality. The closer your postulates are to being realistic — the more factual they are  — the more in harmony with life, nature, and society you feel.

by Dana Baduna, PhD, LMFT

This article illustrates a frame for handling “change” when encountering the unexpected. The author, a therapist, had been planning a vacation to a foreign land with the hope of disconnecting from her hectic and pressured professional lifestyle. Instead, suddenly faced with unforeseen events that disrupted her plans, she discovered how a most needed “personal self-retreat” at home became the ideal break-away. Tapping into her own resources to initiate an overdue “transformative makeover,” she gave her life a new joie de vivre.

The trip to Argentina, intended to expand my cultural horizons as well as get me rested, never happened. Instead, my vacation became an inner trip of discovery and a physical, mental, and spiritual retreat from my busy lifestyle.

I had been prepared to travel to Buenos Aires with my boyfriend, my first trip to South America. I had eagerly looked forward to exploring this famous city, tasting its food, meeting its people, and getting lost in its renowned Euro-American culture. Just as exciting was the idea of taking two weeks off from work. Almost eight years had gone by since I had last been able to slice off this much time from my schedule, and the emotional toll of “lots of work and little play” had begun catching up to me.