Blog & Video Archives
Past Bridge Street Mental Health segment with accompanying text.
NAME CALLING: Why we do it and how to stop
Name-calling is one of the most destructive human tendencies. When name-calling happens frequently between partners in marriage, however, the emotional consequences can be devastating and the lasting effects ruinous for the relationship.
Fortunately, there is a process by which individuals and couples can learn to stop name-calling . Here are the basic steps that, with practice, can transform hurtful arguments into intimacy building, constructive discussions:
Spring Cleaning Your Marriage: Tips for Rejuvenating Romance
A long winter of neglect and putting off needed repairs can take a toll on our homes. So too, disregard and a lack of effort can damage marriages and intimate relationships. Taking some time and paying some attention is needed to put them back in tip top shape. Here are some good tips .
Tips for Freeing Yourself from a False Sense of Obligation
Feeling a false sense obligation is a common problem with which many of us struggle.
Sometimes, our obligations are real. At other times , however, we may feel obligated or have a sense of guilt when there is no rational or logical reason. Here are some basic questions to help you detect a false sense of obligation and to help you discover viable options when you feel trapped or guilty:
Twelve Ways to Reduce Stress by Increasing Non-Demand Brain Activity
Few would argue that stress is a growing problem for many Americans. Sadly , despite a growing professional consensus which recognizes the importance leisure and non-demand activity for maintaining a healthy brain, many Americans are bogged down by long standing cultural and religious attitudes which disparage leisure by casting it as being lazy or wasting time. New studies show that folks who build leisure into their daily schedule have less stress and out perform those who do not. Here are 12 ways reduce the effects of stress by increasing non-demand brain activity.
Bursting the Gun Violence /Mental Illness Myth: What the Evidence Shows
Given the stigma which still exists concerning those who suffer from emotional problems, it is important that the problem of gun violence and our rush to find solutions not result in exacerbating the ongoing prejudice which exists toward the emotionally disordered community.
Specifically, three myths contaminate and distort rational discussions about the current epidemic of mass shootings:
Folks with psychological disorders are dangerous and violent.
Serious mental illness is the primary cause of gun violence.
People with serious mental illness are more likely to perpetrate violent crime than to be victims of it.
Tips for Finding Romance in the Wake of #MeToo
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, a lot of folks are wondering about the impact #metoo is having on romance and dating. Many men have expressed anxiety not knowing if or how the rules have changed. Here are some tips to keep in mind as you navigate the romantic waters in this new era.
Tips for Dealing with Other People’s Anger
While much attention is spent helping those who have trouble controlling their anger, folks who are the recipients of the rage also need help. Fortunately, there are some simple but helpful facts to keep in mind if you are confronted with an angry person … no matter what the age.
Looking Beneath the Surface : Why Keeping New Year’s Resolutions Are So Hard
Okay, it’s the beginning of the new year and many folks are energized and filled with lots of good ideas and resolutions to improve their lives. Numerous studies show that despite good intensions, most plans for change fall apart in the first week . Don't get me...
Tips for Adding a Little Empathy to your Holiday Gift Giving
It is tough to be blue during the holidays. Amid the hustle and bustle of the pre – Hanukkah and Christmas hype are many folks for whom the season is nor joyous or bright. Although many of us look forward to Christmas as a time to gift and celebrate family and friends, there are many others for whom the occasion is difficult and even painful. … Here are some tips to help you improve your empathy skills for those who have the holiday blues :
Intimate Communication: Tips for Talking to your Partner about Sex
Sex is a common problem for couples and while some difficulties are complicated, many are easily solved with better communication. Good communication about sex begins with understanding that men and women have quite different psycho/sexual arousal systems. With these thoughts in mind, here are some common communication mistakes and their solutions:
Tips for Living in a Disordered Society: Why, this Year, We Need Thanksgiving More than Ever.
This has been a difficult year for many people and, as we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, I believe that its message is needed more now than ever. Let me place the emotional impact of hard times and the reports of never ending tragic events in the context of other psychological problems .
How Really Honest Journaling Can Reduce Stress : The Basics.
While exercise, meditation and breathing exercises are important , journaling is also an essential and powerful resource for a successful stress management program. Here are some basic things to remember for anyone who wishes to begin journaling to lower their stress:
Research Confirms Common Sense Formula for a Happy Marriage: Be Nice
Specifically, partners who expressed 5 positive comments to every 1 negative were found to have very happy relationships. Conversely, couples whose positive to negative ration was .8 to 1 were found to have very unhappy or divorcing marriages.
Divorce Counseling: How individual therapy can civilize the difficult process and promote faster emotional healing for everyone involved.
Under even the best circumstances, the process of divorce can be one of the most agonizing experiences a person can suffer. Fortunately, there is a way to avoid and prevent fruitless divorce struggles and conduct a reasonable and civil parting of the ways. It is called Divorce Counseling
Smart Phones,Social Media and our Psyche: Three things to know about the technical marvel in your pocket.
While smartphones offer great convenience they also can seriously bias our view of the world by limiting what we are exposed to on the web to our own likes. This formula restricts our choices and can narrow our vision. Here are three tips to protect you from manipulation.
2017
- May 31, 2017
Understanding the Parallels between Biblical and Psychological Wisdom - May 14, 2017
Aprreciating the Emotinal Complexity of Mother’s Day - May 02, 2017
Redefining Mental Health: The Struggle to be Reasonable - April 16, 2017
Easter and the Therapeutic Process: The Rest of the Story - April 02, 2017
Judgers and Perceivers - March 19, 2017
Communication Tip # 6 : Understanding the Differences between Thinkers and Feelers - March 04, 2017
Communication tip #5 : Understanding iNtuitive and Sensate Personality Differences - February 21, 2017
Communication Tip # 4: Understanding the differences between Extroverts and Introverts - February 03, 2017
Aristophanes and the Myth of Androgyne: The Soulful Meanings of Love - January 15, 2017
The Myth of “Holding on” to the Past : Neuro-science and the Grieving Process - January 02, 2017
Being Reasonable about New Year’s Resolutions:
2016
- December 17, 2016
New Research offers Hope for Resistant Depression - December 04, 2016
Bursting Some Common Myths About Pastoral Counseling - November 23, 2016
Thanksgiving: A Time for Regaining Perspective and ,for some, Conflict - November 11, 2016
Dealing With Political Grief - November 02, 2016
Explaining the Facebook Study: Turns out Cyber Friends Are Important Too - October 19, 2016
Beyond Romantic Myths: 9 Tips for Getting real about what it takes to have a great marriage - October 03, 2016
Why Mental Health Check-Ups Are a Good Idea - September 15, 2016
Appreciating the Health Benefits of Good Friends - August 31, 2016
When it comes to sex, men are Windows and women are DOS - August 14, 2016
Good News for People Who Worry about Memory Loss - August 05, 2016
The Psychology of Blaming: Learning to See the Fear Behind the Anger - July 07, 2016
Psychological Manipulation: What it is and How to deal with it. - June 21, 2016
Coping with the Absurd and the Horrifying Stories in the News - June 05, 2016
Do you have to be “crazy” to see a therapist ? - May 18, 2016
Sex in Marriage : Are You having Enough ? - May 07, 2016
Updating the Image of Psychotherapist: A Life-Tour Guide - April 29, 2016
Updating the Image of Psychotherapist: From Orthodontist to Helicopter Pilot When people think abo - April 12, 2016
Spring Cleaning for your Marriage - March 28, 2016
Some thoughts about the importance of Hope - March 16, 2016
I-Statements 101: The Keys to Expressing Anger Constructively - March 02, 2016
Understanding Leisure as an Essential Part of Self-Care - February 12, 2016
Romantic Myth # 3: Love is a Special Feeling - February 09, 2016
Romantic Myth #2 : Love Never Ends - February 06, 2016
Bursting Popular Myths about Love - January 25, 2016
How to Make a Worry List: The Importance of Emotional Triage - January 12, 2016
Want More Intimacy In Your Relationship? Try Sharing Your Dreams - January 02, 2016
The Secret to Keeping New Year’s Resolutions
2015
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- December 21, 2015
Light and the Meaning of the Holidays - December 07, 2015
Dealing with Increased Terror-Related Anxiety - November 20, 2015
Dealing with the stress of Holiday Gatherings - November 10, 2015
Are You An IMpatient Person ? - October 27, 2015
How Exchanging Marital Report Cards Can Improve Your Relationship - October 07, 2015
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month - September 21, 2015
Understanding the new “Female” Viagra - September 12, 2015
Talking about end of life issues and facing our fears of dying - August 24, 2015
Bursting the Forgiveness Myth - August 13, 2015
Understainding our False Guilt about Sex - August 02, 2015
Do you know your “Organ of Distress”: Recognizing when an emotional fire is about to break out. - July 20, 2015
How to Build Trust After an Affair . - July 05, 2015
The “Emotinal Cigarette” – A breathing exercise to help you relax. - May 18, 2016
Sex in Marriage : Are You having Enough ? - June 24, 2015
Good News for Work Outs - June 15, 2015
Sneaky Depression Triggers - June 03, 2015
Human Sexuality Is More Complicated Than You Think. - May 28, 2015
Mental Health Myth # 4: Talking to friends is the same thing as going to therapy. - May 28, 2015
Myth # 3: Psychological disorders are very rare - May 06, 2015
The Myth of Mental Illness: 2.0 - May 03, 2015
Did you know that May in Mental Health Awareness Month ? - April 25, 2015
Bruce Jenner Interview Outshines Olympic Gold - April 10, 2015
White House Supports Ban on “Conversion Therapy” for Gay and Transgender Youth - April 03, 2015
Sexism in FDA: Continues a Double Standard, Hurts Women - March 16, 2015
Taking Your Emotinal Pulse - March 05, 2015
Your Emotional Docimeter
- December 21, 2015
Rekindling Passion: Part Two – The Secret to Re-igniting the Fames of Desire
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- January 30, 2015
Rekindling Passion: Part One – The Truth about Aphrodisiacs - January 14, 2015
Emotional Triage and the Worry List - January 06, 2015
A Check-List Before Making Your New Year’s Resolutions
- January 30, 2015
2014
- December 10, 2014
Reducing Stress Around the Holidays - November 23, 2014
Feeling Grattitude When Times Are Hard - November 07, 2014
Reducing Stress for Seniors : Tips for Dealing with Everyday Worries and Finding More Joy in LIfe - October 27, 2014
Five Things You Didn’t Know About Halloween - October 14, 2014
Having Good Sex is a Sign of a Healthy Marriage - September 30, 2014
New “Consent” App Asks Partners Important Questions to Think About Before Having Sex - September 09, 2014
Lame Excuses – Why we make them. How to stop. - August 13, 2014
Robin Williams’ Severe Depression: Keeping Things in Perspective - July 16, 2014
The Quiet Crisis: Adult Children Caring for Aging Parents - June 18, 2014
Clearing up the confusion about Transgendered People and Gender Non-Conformity: Getting the medical - May 21, 2014
Getting Rid of Grudges: Just let it go – or maybe not. - April 16, 2014
Finding Romance among the Diapers - March 26, 2014
Bursting the “Hard Work” Myth”: The Importance of Leisure - February 12, 2014
Wedding Insurance and Pre-Marital Counseling :Bursting the Obligation Myth. - January 15, 2014
Submissiveness and Leadershipin the Modern Marriage
2013
- December 23, 2013
Reducing Stress Around the Holidays – A Pastoral Counseling Approach - December 18, 2013
Balancing Career and Family - November 19, 2013
Dating Younger: How the internet and social media have expanded dating choices for single people - October 30, 2013
Five Things You Didn’t Know About Halloween - October 09, 2013
Are You Bing Bullied in the Workplace ? - September 04, 2013
Are You Addicted to the Internet ? - August 14, 2013
Post-Partum Depression: What every expectant or new mom needs to know. - July 31, 2013
Secrets of Assertiveness 101: - July 08, 2013
Sex Education for Adults: Cheating - June 17, 2013
PTSD Awareness - June 05, 2013
Leaving the Nest – Vaulable Tips for Parents and Young Adults - May 22, 2013
Five Mental Health Myths - May 08, 2013
A Spring Cleaning for Your Marriage: Personal Appearance - April 17, 2013
Dealing with the Boston Marathon Bombings? - March 28, 2013
“Breaking up” with your Hairdresser - March 13, 2013
Is This ( am I ) Normal - February 27, 2013
Romantic Second Chances: When should I give him (her) another chance? - February 13, 2013
Caring and Consideration: The Keys to Lasting Passion - January 17, 2013
Emotional First Aid: Tips for Responding to Everyday Psychological Distress - January 02, 2013
New Year’s Resolutions: Why We Brake Them, How To Keep The,
2012
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- December 19, 2012
Take Controle of your Holiday Stress - December 03, 2012
Life Smarts and The Intelligence Myths
- December 19, 2012
- October 30, 2012
Here’s the Skinny on Scary: The Facts about Phobias - October 19, 2012
Oh, I Remember it well … or maybe not ! - September 26, 2012
The Importance of Remembering - September 05, 2012
Going Back to School Chaos: Help for Parents - August 17, 2012
Money Conflicts and Marriage: Tips for Keeping the Peace - July 30, 2012
Using Your Imagination to Overcome Procrastination - July 23, 2012
UPreventing Tragic Story Overload in the Wake of the Colorado Massacre - July 09, 2012
Redefining Normal: An Inclusive Way of Understanding Mental Health - June 27, 2012
PTSD National Awareness Day : Myths and Facts - June 20, 2012
Reducing Stress When You Travel - May 30, 2012
How to Cope with an Unreasonable Boss - May 16, 2012
How to Disagree without Being Disagreeable - May 14, 2012
Myths and facts about happiness: What really makes us happy ? - April 25, 2012
Body Language: Our Emotional Traffic Lights - April 04, 2012
The Importance of Work Place Colleagues - March 14, 2012
Stress and Relationships - February 29, 2012
Is It Love or Chemistry ? Tips for knowing when real love comes along. - February 13, 2012
Can Love and Romance Last ? Yes, But It Takes Work ! - January 18, 2012
Why am I so Impatient ? Tips for Dealing with the New Technologies that are Driving us Crazy./a> - January 04, 2012
The Psychology of Successful Weight Loss — Tips for Avoiding the Emotional Pitfalls which Sabotage
2011
- December 23, 2011
Are You Emotionally Out of Shape ? Here’s a Check List to Help You Become Emotinally Fit - December 07, 2011
Don’t be So Defensive – Tips for Dealing with Criticism Gracefully - November 23, 2011
Feeling Gratitude in the Wake of Hard Times - November 08, 2011
The Truth about Secrets and Itimacy in Marriage - October 26, 2011
How to Have A Constructive Argument - October 12, 2011
The Psychological Cigarette – Understanding the Breathing/Relaxation Connection - October 03, 2011
Am I OCD or just really particular ? - September 12, 2011
The 411 about Marriage Counseling – What it Can and Can’t do. - August 09, 2011
Psychology and Smart Phones: The Risks of Overusing your PocketPC - August 01, 2011
The Art of Compromise: Keys to Successful Marital Negotiation - July 20, 2011
Planning your wedding ? Don’t forget your relationship: the Essentials - July 05, 2011
Creating 2nd Chances: Tips for Turning a Bad Situation into a Good One - June 08, 2011
The Seven Year Itch: Why it Happens and How to Prevent i - May 25, 2011
Fair Fighting – Some Ground Rules for Resolving Marital Conflicts - May 11, 2011
Unnecessary Criticism: Why we do it ; How to stop it - April 27, 2011
Money Conflicts in Marriage: It’s not just about the Money - April 13, 2011
Spring Cleaning Your Marriage: Personal Appearance - April 01, 2011
Understanding and Coping with Jealousy in Marriage - March 16, 2011
Therapeutic Self-Talk: What it is, Why it’s Helpful and How it Works . - March 09, 2011
Breaking the Ice After an Argument: Understanding the Psychology of Post Argument Silences - February 23, 2011
Guilt-Tripping and Emotional Manipulation No one likes to be guilt-tripped, yet it happens all - February 14, 2011
The Secret of Keeping Romance Alive: Tips for Busy Couples - January 26, 2011
Sibling Relationships 101:Tips for Updating your Sib Status - January 19, 2011
How Words Can Help Us to Heal The tragedies of the Tucson shooting has created many emotional wounds - January 14, 2011
A Myth About Mourning Although most of the country was moved by the ceremony held for the victims - January 06, 2011
Boosting Your Brain: Sorting out the Facts from the Myths
2010
- December 29, 2010
End of Year Marital Review and Marital Resolutions for the New Year - July 19, 2010
Pouting - June 28, 2010
Are You Just Discouraged or Really Depressed ? How to Tell the Difference - May 25, 2010
Emotional False Alarms - May 06, 2010
The Science of Making Up - April 12, 2010
Spring Cleaning for your Marriage
2009
- December 07, 2009
Marital Make-Overs for the Holidays: Tips for Fallling in Love All over Again - November 02, 2009
Marriage Is Hard - October 05, 2009
Keeping Your Cool - September 10, 2009
Nagging: Why we do It , How to Stop - July 23, 2009
Understanding Affairs - June 30, 2009
Interviewing Successfully - June 01, 2009
Helping our Parents with Difficult Decisions - March 09, 2009
The Good News About Stress - February 19, 2009
Talking to Teens about Sex
