Before takeoff on a recent airplane flight, I noticed that the flight attendant’s government-required safety spiel included the warning, “In the unlikely event of a cabin depressurization, put your oxygen mask on first before that of your child.” In other … Continue reading
The holiday season is upon us, and it’s time to get together with pretty much anyone and everyone. Or is it? One of the issues I hear about in my office is questions about neighbors who drop in uninvited. Or … Continue reading
Well, it’s that time again. And, in my experience, some people set their holiday expectations very high. Sometimes too high. The requirement for “comfort and joy” can sometimes set the stage for tension, particularly among family and couples. Clients often … Continue reading
Around this time of year, so many people tell me how they find the gift-giving process stressful and/or downright unpleasant. (Not everybody does, mind you, but some definitely do.) There’s got to be a better way to enjoy Christmas! I … Continue reading
It’s a rare day when social media is not sputtering over horror stories about bad experiences with service providers. Since it’s my job to peek behind the proverbial curtain, when I look closer at some of the individual situations, sure … Continue reading
Ahhh! The Delaware beaches! So many things to love about them: our restaurants, the surf and the sandy beaches, the quiet of the off-season, the fun evenings on the boardwalks … oh, and hungry parking meters. Barely a day goes … Continue reading
Now that last week’s Thanksgiving-induced food comas are (hopefully) in the past, I got to thinking about how different people interpret the meaning of that holiday. Of course, conventional wisdom suggests that Thanksgiving is a time to be grateful. That … Continue reading
The beginning of the holiday season brings many of us closer to family and friends whom we love and cherish. Unfortunately, at least for me as a mental health professional, I then start thinking about how devastating it can be … Continue reading
A Delaware Coast Press reader writes that her father died almost 20 years ago. She considers herself fully recovered, but when something reminds her of him, the feelings come rushing back. She asks me if she needs medication to keep … Continue reading
Clients often tell me that they feel like they’re never going to get caught up. They worry about how (and when) they’re going to achieve all the goals they’ve set for themselves. In other words, “I’ll get to it next … Continue reading
The final notes of last month’s 2023 Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival have faded away, but the music lives on, and always will. Why does music have such a profound effect on most people? From the amateur flailings of semi-sober karaoke … Continue reading
A woman I know tells me that she constantly feels jealous and threatened by her boyfriend’s popularity with others, especially women. She goes on to say that she tries to control her feelings, but nothing works. Even though she has … Continue reading