We’re witnessing an epidemic of division in America, one that’s grown rapidly since the 2016 election and continues to snowball. This intense polarization affects all aspects of life, but it’s especially harmful to our mental health. In psychological terms, “polarization” describes when beliefs become more extreme after discussion. Think about that: after we debate a point, we’re often more entrenched in our stance, even when it’s unhealthy. The constant divisive rhetoric we’ve seen since 2016,…
read moreWe’re less than a month away from the November election. While not everybody calls themselves “political,” those that are political often find that the weeks leading up to the presidential election can be some of the most stressful they experience in their day to day lives. Election seasons often bring heightened emotions, political debates, and media saturation, all of which can contribute to stress. Known as election stress, this type of stress can impact individuals…
read moreWe talk about mental health in terms of conditions – anxiety, depression, PTSD, etc. These conditions correspond to official diagnoses that many people receive in the context of their care. But the mental health world is also moving away from diagnoses. We still use them here in many situations, but we also believe that diagnoses can be inhibiting as well, both for treatment and for the patient. We might use the words “anxiety” and “depression”…
read moreParenting is *always* a challenge. Kids have a way of testing our patience, especially when it comes to being a good listener, behaving in public, doing what they’re told, respecting boundaries, and more. Children with ADHD and executive function disorder are no different, in the sense that they are likely to challenge you as will in ways that can lead to frustration and tension. One issue, however, is that many children with ADHD can cause…
read moreADHD is not preventable. There is very little a parent can do – or did – for their child to have developed ADHD. While things like limiting screen time and taking prenatal vitamins *may* decrease the risk of ADHD, it is believed to be entirely a developmental disorder that occurs no matter the behaviors of the parent. Once a child has ADHD, it is also not something that can be “cured.” But it may be…
read moreThe clinical director of Long Island Counseling Services, Stacy Pellettieri, was featured on PIX11 to discuss some of the challenges facing children in today’s schools that are still being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Watch Stacy discuss the missed social opportunities, anxiety, and other forms of learning that children missed out on during their formative years, and what the New York educational system may need to do to help address it:
read moreWe are on the cusp of back to school season, and that means that many families are preparing for the year ahead. They’re buying clothes. They’re picking up supplies. They’re navigating schedules. They’re trying their best to figure out how to make sure their child succeeds, and how to do so in a way that doesn’t impact their own lives. Even for those that are *more* than ready for back to school season to happen,…
read moreRelationships are complicated, and so is sexuality. But in relationships where one or both partners desire sex with their spouse, sex and intimacy contribute to the both emotional and physical well-being of both partners. However, issues related to arousal, intimacy, and sexual longevity can arise, leading to stress, dissatisfaction, and strain in relationships. A psychotherapist, particularly one specialized in sex therapy, can offer valuable support in addressing these challenges, helping individuals and couples navigate the…
read moreWe typically talk about seasonal depression as a winter-disorder and, in some ways, that’s true. It has been linked to issues like isolation, light exposure, and much more. But “seasonal depression” is a more complicated than that, and a person can have season depression at any time – even during the summer months. These days, many people are having a different form of seasonal depression – not one caused by a lack of sunlight, but…
read moreWhen a marriage is struggling and the couple wants to try to find ways to heal, they traditionally look at couples counseling. Couples counseling is one of the most effective solutions we have to help two people communicate more effectively and learn to love each other more strongly, and so it is natural to want to use couples counseling when you find that your relationship is struggling. But many people find that the real solution…
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