David Susman

Why You Need a Little “TLC” for Better Mental Health

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Exercise regularly. Relax. Eat healthy foods. Reduce stress. We’ve heard these recommendations over and over again. They are all widely recognized as being good for your physical health. But did you know these and several other simple but important behavior changes can also be vital for maintaining and improving your mental health? Psychologist Roger Walsh (University of California, Irvine) cites over 150 scientific references to make a very convincing case for incorporating eight “therapeutic lifestyle changes” (TLCs) into your regular routine, …

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How to Be a More Effective Mental Health Advocate

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When I first began my career as a psychologist, I certainly didn’t think of myself as an advocate and didn’t participate in advocacy efforts to improve mental health services. But as I began to work in public mental health settings, I became more acutely aware of the important work of mental health advocates and I got interested in learning more about advocacy. Over the past several years, I’ve been fortunate to be able to engage in mental health advocacy initiatives …

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How to Choose EFFECTIVE Self-Help Resources

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It seems that just about everyone has read a self-help book, attended a support group or surfed online for health information at one time or another. Thousands of new self-help books are published each year. About 1 in 5 adults will attend a support group in their lifetime and 80% of Internet users have sought health information online. Americans spend an estimated $10 billion per year on self-improvement products. Health-related websites abound, along with online self-help programs and even smartphone …

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Help Wanted: Good Citizens to Support People with Mental Illness

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In school, we all learned several ways to be a “good citizen”: vote, participate in community service, be a good neighbor, follow the rules, and treat others with respect. All of these are important responsibilities which contribute to a better society. But did you ever stop to think about how you can be a good citizen by supporting people with mental illness? This is not something most of us were ever taught when we were growing up. Consequently, many intelligent, well-intentioned people don’t know …

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How to Find a Good Psychotherapist

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I’m often asked by friends or acquaintances who are seeking psychotherapy for themselves or a family member if I can suggest a good therapist in our local community. I’m always happy to assist, because I know how important it is to have a good therapist and how it’s often difficult to know how to find one. Since this question comes up so often, I thought it might be helpful to review the 5 steps I share when asked about how …

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10 Keys to Recovery from Mental Illness & Substance Misuse

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Having worked for many years with people in various stages of recovery, I’ve seen clearly that there is no one-size-fits-all formula for success. Each person will find some ideas that work well for them while other approaches  just don’t. If you ask anyone in recovery from mental illness or substance misuse, “What was the key to your recovery?” you will get a variety of answers. Some will name a trusted friend or loved one who stuck by them, others will …

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Let Your Light Shine to Help Others

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I’m a clinical psychologist. I first provided therapy to help others way back during the Reagan administration and I worked in a busy public psychiatric hospital for over twenty years. I’ve also taught hundreds of grad students at a large state university how to become excellent therapists. I won’t say I’ve seen or heard it all, but I’ve heard and seen plenty.  Suicide attempts, addiction, sexual abuse, and schizophrenia are all part of my daily vocabulary.  I’ve been involved in …

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