“A Good Pun Is Its Own Reword”: Health Benefits of Humor & Laughter

“How many psychologists does it take to change a light bulb?” One, but the light bulb has to want to change.” It’s likely you’ve heard that old joke before, but it still brings a smile or a chuckle. In recent months, perhaps as a coping or self-care strategy during the pandemic, I’ve gotten a lot of comfort and enjoyment from reading silly jokes and watching funny TV programs and movies, even if I’ve already seen them a few times before. …

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Mental and Physical Health Benefits of Volunteering

It’s probably a safe bet that most of us have volunteered our time, talents, sweat, or ideas at least a few times to support a person, group, or cause. Volunteerism seems ingrained in our culture. We frequently help out with school or church activities, or with various community groups to support their many worthwhile efforts. Although volunteering can require a lot of time and energy, I’ve usually found it enjoyable because I’ve had the satisfaction of working with others toward …

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10 Tips to De-stress Your Holidays

The holidays can be joyful, but as we also know all too well, they can be tremendously stressful. Several factors contribute to holiday stress, including disruptions in our routines, lack of rest and sleep, financial challenges, difficult relationships and feelings of loss, loneliness and depression. Here are 10 tips that can help you manage some of the holiday-related stresses we all are likely to experience: 1) Consider your needs Take some time well in advance of the holidays to first …

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11 Tips for Communicating More Clearly

In my career as a clinical psychologist, I’ve seen time and time again how important clear communication is. In the health care setting, it’s vital that patients and health care professionals communicate effectively with each other. Patients need to be able to express their concerns openly and thoroughly, and providers must be able to give clear recommendations to patients for suggested treatments or behavior changes. Breakdowns in any part of this two-way process can cause significant problems, including decreased health …

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Workplace Bullying: How to Survive and to Thrive

An Interview with Janice Gilligan White I was very pleased to be given the opportunity to interview Janice Gilligan White about the topic of workplace bullying. Janice holds a BA in psychology from Montclair State University and is affiliated with both The Workplace Bullying Institute and End Workplace Abuse. She is currently a blogger for targets of workplace abuse and is committed to spreading awareness, knowledge and the resources available so others can be spared the shock and damage of …

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10 Healthy Tips to Make Your Theme Park Trip Even More Magical

Not long ago, our family enjoyed a wonderful trip to an iconic theme park. As a psychologist, I’m invested in mental health, wellness, and self-care strategies for all types of settings. So I started noticing several “psychologically healthy” choices we made during our visit that helped make the experience more fun and enjoyable for all of us. I thought you might like to see my list of 10 of these tips so you can consider using them for your next …

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Mental Health Benefits of Yoga

I was fortunate to be able to talk recently with Lili Graue, a registered yoga teacher, who has started an innovative program using yoga techniques to address mental health concerns including anxiety, depression, and trauma, to name a few. I asked Lili a few questions about how yoga is used in this way, its benefits, and about her program. Here’s our interview: DS: Most people have heard of yoga, but what is yoga for trauma? LG: Yoga for trauma is …

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10 Simple Ways to Help Manage ‘Overwhelm’

Overwhelm (noun) – the state or condition of being overwhelmed. Yes, I realize some grammar pundits say overwhelm isn’t really a noun, but I think sometimes we get stressed to the point we reach a state of “overwhelm.” That’s where I’ve resided a little too often lately, so I thought it was time to talk about it and how to begin to manage it. Let me first say that my life has been incredibly blessed with generally good health, a …

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