Finding a Culturally-Relevant Therapist
Long before I became a psychologist, the idea of Mental health as an Asian American was fraught with complexity. For many cultures, the very idea of admitting that we have mental struggles goes against every fiber of our being. The stigma of having a “mental illness” is something that is pathologized and shunned. Many suffer […]
A Small Habit That Might Help Relieve Depression
There are many reasons to be a giving, charitable person. Giving to others helps us cement relationships, elicit gratitude, and connect communities. It can also make us feel happier and healthier, both mentally and physically. Still, that doesn’t mean giving is always easy. For example, if you suffer from depression, you may find it too […]
Understanding Protective Frames | Psychology Today
When we think of viewing a tiger, there are three possible scenarios. Firstly, the tiger is in the cage and I feel safe. Conversely, the tiger is without a cage and I feel terror. And lastly, the cage is without the tiger and it’s just boring. However, under certain conditions called protective frames even the […]
Having Trouble With Positive Sense of Self?
Many exercisers enter the gym to give their minds a break. They may listen to music to disengage from what they are doing to endure the monotony of exercise that they need to do to lose weight or tone up—to turn mindless. Being mindful, however, is now considered an important element of a good workout. […]
How Does Menopause Affect Your Mental Health?
Tamsen Fadal remembers the exact moment that she thought she was losing her mind: 10:30 p.m. on November 19, 2019. The longtime prime-time news anchor couldn’t remember how to pronounce the word “subpoena.” But, as she writes in her 2025 book, How to Menopause: Take Charge of Your Health, Reclaim Your Life, and Feel Even […]
How Avoiding Painful Emotions Can Lead to a Smaller Life
“Being cut off from our own natural Self-compassion is one of the greatest impairments we can suffer.” ~Gabor Mate Most of us avoid experiences not necessarily because we don’t like them or want them, but because we don’t want to feel how we will feel when we go through that experience. Our lives become altered […]
How Can Immigrants Protect Their Mental Health Right Now?
In early January, a wave of immigration arrests in California’s Central Valley sparked fear across the state. Those real arrests spurred false reports of raids in cities like Oakland, heightening anxiety just days before President Donald Trump officially returned to office. Then, on his first day, Trump signed a series of executive orders targeting immigrants’ […]
Therapy Isn’t Something to Be Ashamed Of
As a therapist, as well as someone who goes to therapy, I can speak firsthand about the importance of attending therapy. Think of it this way: you are driving your car and suddenly you hear a funny noise. At first, you ignore it and hope it goes away. But over time, the noise starts to […]
5 Powerful Mental Shifts to Stop Worrying About What Other People Think
“Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner.” ~Lao Tzu We carefully pick out what we wear to the gym to make sure we look good in the eyes of the other gymgoers. We beat ourselves up after meetings, running through everything we said (or didn’t say), worried that coworkers […]
How Communities of Practice Can Support Teachers
In classrooms around the world, educators strive to nurture not only students’ academic skills but also the qualities that help them thrive more generally as dynamic people, namely character strengths such as curiosity, perseverance, kindness, and open-mindedness. Researcher Marvin Berkowitz and his colleagues define character education as “the intentional attempt in schools to foster the […]