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Be Optimistic!
By Jill MacDonald, MA, LPC
Dare to allow yourself to think the best. Hope for the best. See the best in yourself and others. Dream. Care. Love. Believe. This type of thinking is good for everyone. Of course, you might challenge me and say: I will hurt so much more if I am optimistic and “it” does not happen...
Staying Fit for Life: Behavioral Change for Lasting Weight Loss
An Interview with Samanthia Gaspar, PsyD.--By Meghan Vivo
In the past, many families turned to “fat camps” to help their teens lose weight. Although some campers experienced significant weight loss, most gained the weight back when they returned home. Research now supports a new generation of “fit camps” or weight loss camps, which have achieved remarkable long-term results.
The Many Faces of Denial
By Lee Kern, M.S.W., L.C.S.W.
Bonnie sought help to stop a 25-pound relapse. She had by-pass surgery five years ago at the weight of 380. Four years after the surgery she hit a low of 160, and after two skin removal surgeries she was proud of her new look. But in the past year she began to graze on bread, cheese, popcorn and wine, attributing this to a spike in anxiety...
The Food Diary: A Partner To Success
By Lee Kern, M.S.W., L.C.S.W.
When it comes to long-term weight control, no man or woman is an island. Strength of character and willpower are useful qualities to draw on, but they are not enough. You need to partner your surgery with tools, strategies and support systems that will empower your efforts.
Finding a Therapist
By Lee Kern, M.S.W., L.C.S.W.
There are many approaches to psychotherapy and no one “right” way exists. The two most prominent forms in practice today are cognitive behavioral and psychodynamic. Evidence supports the benefits of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) in the treatment of weight and eating problems. This approach views feelings, thoughts and behaviors as inter-related, and targets distorted or unproductive beliefs that underlie negative behavior.
Start “Wanting” Yourself
By David Sternberg, LICSW
After so many years of hearing from others what we should do and say (and shouldn’t do and say), many of us are now experts at "shoulding" ourselves. When making a decision, most of us respond with the automatic “should” so often that we don’t even consider our own needs.
Weighty Matters - Divorce and Weight
By Mitchell Milch, CSW
Our emotional vulnerabilities post-divorce may create an internal environment ripe for unhealthy dependencies on our own eating habits, as well as on how we feed others. Eating dysfunctions, even in their most benign forms, are perhaps the most insidious because, in a society where obesity is quickly becoming the norm, they can easily go undetected.
Are You Using Your Power?
By Vera A. Gonzales, Ph.D.
You have a blueprint for your life that is called a belief system. A belief system is a set of thoughts, rules, attitudes, expectations and behaviors that are imbedded in your mind. We use this structure of attitudes to make choices in our lives. Belief systems are created from our culture, modeling from people we admire, and from trial and error, among other factors.
Life Balance Training--Whole Person Integration
By Hannah-Leigh Bull, LMFT
We are not one-dimensional people. A lot goes into making us who we are. Because of this, we have all experienced conflicting voices, or factors, within ourselves. Life Balance Training (LBT) is a multifaceted approach to self and life management that integrates the major factors of the whole person and the world in which he or she lives mentally or cognitively, physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually.
Treating Eating Disorders Using Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
By Meghan Vivo
Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) combines cognitive and behavioral therapies to teach healthy ways to handle painful emotions through acceptance and change. DBT uses four skill sets – interpersonal effectiveness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and mindfulness – to improve coping skills. Through DBT, you can learn how to increase self-awareness, control self-defeating thoughts, modify black-or-white thinking, and handle conflict and stress.
Reconnecting with Your True Self: The No-Resistance Method of Treating Eating Disorders
An Interview with Barbara Cole, MFT, Psy.D.—By Meghan Vivo
Despite the challenges, eating disorder sufferers are also one of the most inspiring populations to treat, says Dr. Cole. “These are high-functioning, charming, intelligent, wonderful women whose best traits have been covered up by their disorder,” she says. “It is my job to bring back their true self and systematically diminish the voice of the eating disorder.”
The Rise of Male Eating Disorders: Preserving the Masculine Image at All Costs
An Interview with Brad Kennington, MA, LMFT, LPC, by Meghan Vivo
While experts used to believe that only 10 percent of the estimated 10 million eating disorder sufferers were male, a 2007 Harvard study of 3,000 male and female participants has shown that the disorders are much more prevalent – 25 percent of those with anorexia or bulimia and 40 percent of binge eaters were men.
Lies My Stomach Tells Me
By Stanley E. Hibbs, Ph.D.
For me, “hunger” is sometimes just a conditioned response. I “feel” hungry at 9:00 p.m. for no other reason than I felt hungry the night before. It feels real, but it’s a lie.
Food Diary Lessons: The Lifestyle Connection
By Lee Kern, M.S.W., L.C.S.W.
In her recent food diary, Jan expressed pride and satisfaction with her progress. In nine months she had lost 50 pounds (from 230 to 180). Yet two diaries ago her comments were full of frustration and resignation...
Managing Emotional Eating
By Lee Kern, M.S.W., L.C.S.W.
Lisa is a classic emotional eater. She uses food to escape and soothe negative emotions, and responds to upsetting internal triggers in a repetitive, automatic self-defeating way. If you find yourself eating when you are not really hungry, Lisa’s story of relapse recovery may provide strategies to help you get back in control.
Premenstrual Cravings Can Be Tamed
By Colette Dowling, LMSW
When my daughter and I were researching PMS for our book, "You Mean I don't Have to Feel This Way?", we wanted to know whether there were medical reasons for the pronounced cravings women experience premenstrually. To find out, we went to the scientists who were early researchers on the problem.
Changing Your Reality
By Jim Weinstein, MBA, MFT
The phrases "face up to reality," "in reality," "up against reality," "reality check," and "virtual reality" all convey a meaning of reality as a state that is true and factual. In fact, reality to a great degree depends on the very personal perspective through which it is experienced. This article attempts to illustrate this premise and demonstrate how it can be used to significantly advance your personal happiness.
Exercise Away Your Worries
By Randi Rotwein, MA, MFT, CPT
Research has shown for years that there are definite health benefits associated with regular physical activity and exercise (reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stroke, and general overall strength gains in lean muscle mass). However, not until recently has research confirmed that physical activity/exercise is also associated with lowering levels of depression, anxiety and stress, as well as assisting to increase one’s self-esteem.
Yoga Can Enhance Therapy
By Mary Lansing, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
Yoga is about healing the splits inside us, the places of separation and dislocation. Coupled with psychotherapy, it can become a pathway toward self-study that flows into an individual's everyday activities, allowing her to focus on her body rather than disturbing thoughts that keep her rooted in old complexes.
Eating Patterns and Weight
By Marlene Lesson, M.S., R.D., L.D.N., C.D.E.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution for weight control. Recent studies are beginning to identify eating patterns that are associated with healthy body weights. But none of these findings are of much value unless they are personalized for you. So get ready to look inward and reflect. You too can be successful if you take the time to get to know yourself.
Tell Me Anything--But Don’t Tell Me To Stop Training
By Mitchell Milch, CSW
If you are a "workaholic" on or off the athletic field it may be time to consider that a little less pain and suffering will result in better performances, greater enjoyment and more time to nurture multiple sources of self-esteem.
Body Image
By Sally Frances, MA, LCSW
Preoccupations about body image issues can sometimes mask other problems. The body is often symbolic for other concerns in people's lives. In therapy, we look at both the underlying issues and the behaviors, in order to make progress and to experience change.
Kids and Distorted Body Images...Eating Disorders in the Making
By Michelle Gottlieb, Psy.D., MFT
Last weekend, I was enjoying a beautiful day at the park. I chanced to overhear a conversation between two girls sitting near me. These girls looked to be about 10 years old. They were complaining about their bodies...they felt that they were too fat.
Food Diary Lessons: Reducing the Power of The Scale
By Lee Kern, M.S.W., L.C.S.W.
Studies suggest that often there is a gap between weight loss expectations and reality, and this can produce negative feelings. One study of very successful weight losers concluded that the best attitude to take is to view weight loss as a natural result of living life in healthier ways: de-emphasize the scale, focus on healthy behaviors, keep track of all the non-weight benefits of success.
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