How to Be a Top-Notch Learner

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As someone who spent many, many years in school, I definitely picked up several effective strategies for being a better learner along the way. Since then, in my career as a clinical psychologist, college professor, and mental health advocate, I’ve also seen how learning works from the other side. I’ve tried to motivate students to absorb and apply new information and I’ve assisted many people in learning how to cope with a wide variety of personal and mental health challenges. …

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10 Features of Effective Weight Loss Programs

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In my work as a psychologist, I’ve often helped people develop and implement plans to make healthy lifestyle changes such as losing weight, stopping smoking, eating healthier foods or getting more physical activity. A significant number of folks have dealt with ongoing weight issues, which can be due to medication side effects, poor nutrition, or physical inactivity. While I’ve never been extremely overweight, my weight had crept up at an average of a pound or so per year since my …

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Accepting All the Parts of Myself

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Stories of Hope: An Interview with Lisa Tobe This is part of a series featuring individuals who share their life experiences with mental health issues. Recently, I asked writer and consultant Lisa Tobe about her history of mental health challenges. Here’s our interview: DS: Tell us about when you first started becoming aware of concerns related to your mental health. How did these issues continue to affect you and was there a turning point that led you to decide to seek help? LT: That’s really a multi-layered …

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Why You Must Stop Smoking

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I’ve worked with many people over the years to help them with challenges related to mental illness and addiction to drugs and alcohol. Unfortunately, a large percentage of these folks have also struggled with another tough addiction: nicotine from tobacco products. I’m always careful to ask if someone smokes or uses other forms of tobacco, and to encourage them to quit. Here are several good reasons to quit and some points to consider to help you stop smoking. 1) Smoking …

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Recovery is a Process

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Stories of Hope: An Interview with Rose Lockinger This is part of a series featuring individuals who share their life experiences with mental health issues. Recently, I asked mental health advocate Rose Lockinger about her history of mental health challenges and about some of her current advocacy work. Here’s our interview: DS: Tell us about when you first started becoming aware of concerns related to your mental health. How did these issues continue to affect you before you sought treatment? RL: I’m pretty sure that the …

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8 ‘Rules of the Road’ for Better Mental Health

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I drive to and from work several days per week and I have well over a half million miles as a driver under my belt since learning to drive as a teenager. Over the years, I’ve certainly seen my share of both good and bad driving behaviors. And yes, I’ve been in a handful of minor fender-benders (and that one time when I almost drove up under an eighteen-wheeler on the interstate). Lately, for whatever reason, I’ve become more aware …

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My Journey to Mental Health

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Stories of Hope: An Interview with Rebecca Lombardo This is part of a series featuring individuals who share their life experiences with mental health issues. Recently, I asked author, blogger, and mental health advocate Rebecca Lombardo about her history of mental health challenges and about some of her current advocacy activities. Here’s our interview: DS: Tell us about when you first started becoming aware of concerns related to your mental health. How did these issues continue to affect you before you sought treatment? RL: I started …

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Gratitude for the Good Things in My Life

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Stories of Hope: An Interview with Rebecca Chamaa This is part of a series featuring individuals who share their life experiences with mental health issues. Recently, I asked author and blogger Rebecca Chamaa about her history of mental health challenges and about some of her current advocacy work. Here’s our interview: DS: Tell us about when you first started becoming aware of concerns related to your mental health. How did these issues continue to affect you before you sought treatment? RC: For several years in my …

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