Setting goals is a crucial part of personal and professional growth. Sometimes, it’s not quite enough to simply have goals. To truly set yourself up for success, your goals need structure, which is where the system of SMART goals come in.
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Creating and sticking to good habits can be challenging, but one key strategy to make it easier is to reduce friction—the small obstacles and inconveniences that prevent us from following through on our intentions.
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Whether it's completing a challenging project at work, reaching a personal milestone, or simply making it through a tough day, celebrating wins is an essential practice that fuels motivation, boosts self-esteem, and enhances overall well-being.
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Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a specialized psychotherapy approach designed to help individuals process and heal from trauma and distressing life experiences. Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (such as side-to-side eye movements) to help the brain reprocess traumatic memories, reducing their emotional intensity.
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In a world where it feels like there aren’t enough hours in the day, many of us are cutting corners on sleep to keep up. The problem? We don’t realize just how much our mental health depends on those precious hours of shut-eye.
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Language is a powerful tool that can shape perceptions and attitudes, particularly in the realm of mental health. Having worked in the mental health industry for over two decades, I often grapple with the term “mental illness.”
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Teens today are growing up in a digital age, where technology is woven into every aspect of their lives. While technology offers numerous benefits, it also presents significant obstacles that can hinder the development of healthy habits.
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Stress is an inevitable part of life and it becomes a problem when left unmanaged. Understanding the causes of stress, focusing on key areas for improvement, and implementing practical techniques can help adults reduce stress and improve their overall well-being.
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Social media, an integral part of modern life, offers numerous benefits, from staying connected with friends and family to accessing a wealth of information — it has also been linked to adverse mental health outcomes, including depression.
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In today's digital age, creating tech-free areas for children and families is more important than ever. These designated spaces can foster stronger family bonds, improve mental and physical health, and enhance overall well-being.
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Grief is a profound and complex emotion that can be particularly challenging for teens. The loss of a loved one, whether due to death, divorce, or other significant changes, can leave teens feeling overwhelmed and isolated.
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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder that affects people of all ages. It's characterized by persistent patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, which can interfere with functioning or development.
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Adolescence is a critical period for developing habits that will last a lifetime. Helping teens build healthier habits can significantly impact their mental and physical well-being.
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The most common signs of depression in teens include a marked increase in irritability, sadness, isolation, negative attitude, self-criticism, difficulty concentrating, low energy, low motivation and changes in sleep and appetite.
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Life as a teenager can be pretty demanding. Keeping up grades, watching out for acne, managing a growing social reputation, and preparing for the grand adult transition can certainly take an emotional toll. Often teens with ADHD work extra hard to maintain focus and use appropriate behavior at school and work, which can lead to emotional “unloading” and attention dysregulation when they are home.
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When school is out, or the weekend is here, teens (particularly those with ADHD) tend to collapse into a puddle of poor productivity. Homework and chores fall low on their list of priorities – much lower than the beloved phone, social media, and video games.
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Between getting good grades, building a social life, navigating technology and social media, and coping with the rapid changes that come with puberty, teens have a lot to deal with! Sometimes, the pressure becomes too much – and that’s when the anxiety takes over. Here at the OC Psychology Center, we know that when teens get overwhelmed with anxiety and worry, the entire family can be affected.
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Depression is one of the most common health issues in the United States, and many people mistake it for something else: “I feel so tired and lethargic, I must need more sleep.” “I’ve lost my motivation, maybe I just need more coffee.” “My appetite has gone up/down, there must be something wrong with my stomach.” “My body aches all the time, I must be coming down with something.”
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Childhood anxiety is one of the most common reasons parents bring their children into our office here at the OC Psychology Center. Although accurate assessment and psychotherapeutic treatment are the most effective way to address pediatric anxiety symptoms, there are a number of things parents and siblings can do at home to help manage anxiety symptoms.
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When you feel stressed and overwhelmed in life, your brain works overtime to try to keep up. Even everyday stressors such as paying bills, performing well at work, and keeping your family happy and healthy can certainly put you under a great deal of pressure.
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