Critical Inner Voice

Money Stress: Why We Use Money to Feel Bad About Ourselves

Work and money are the leading causes of stress in America, according to the American Psychological Association’s “Stress in America” survey. Money may seem like a practical concern, requiring rationality and logic to manage. However, we very often underestimate the emotional aspects of handling money. Our attitudes about money have... (read more)

How to Stop Being a Victim

Challenging negative voices is the way to overcome a victimized orientation. Reject your sense of injury and the injury itself disappears. ~ Marcus Aurelius, Meditations One of the principle ways that people mismanage their anger is by playing the role of victim. In a previous blog, “Don’t Play the Victim Game,” I described the characteristics... (read more)

Leaving Your Childhood Behind to Become a Better Parent

One mistake we make as parents is assuming that there is one way to parent that is better than all others. The reality is, there are countless methods of raising children, and many of them are perfectly healthy. Yet, no matter how many books we read, rules we make, or goals we set, there is one thing that will impact our children above all else, and... (read more)

4 Steps to Conquer Your Inner Critic

Most of us are familiar with those nagging thoughts that tell us we are not good enough, that cast doubt on our goals and undermine our accomplishments. These thoughts might be there to greet us when we first glimpse at ourselves in the mirror in the morning. “You’re so unattractive. You’re fat. What a slob. Just look at your hair,... (read more)

Be Your Own Couples Therapist

In my 25 years as a therapist, I’ve worked with countless couples facing a broad spectrum of challenges. Yet, despite the diversity between them in age, occupation, or origin, I’m amazed at the similarities in the patterns and pitfalls that couples fall into. When two people walk into my office and start discussing their relationship, the first... (read more)

5 Achievable Resolutions for a Longer, Happier Life

Resolutions are notorious for falling by the wayside a few months or even days into the New Year. A 2012 University of Scranton study revealed that only 8 percent of people who make New Year’s resolutions are successful in achieving them. This low success rate may relate to the fact that many of us are more inclined to center our resolutions... (read more)

Five Questions for a Better New Year

New Year’s tends to be a time of looking forward. Yet, in our effort to set goals for the future, it’s meaningful to reflect on the past year and make sense of what our experiences have meant to us. What can they teach us? How can the lessons of 2012 help us to achieve a more fulfilling 2013? The following are five essential questions... (read more)

Is Cynicism Ruining Your Life?

The risks of indulging in cynical attitudes and the rewards of being positive Whether it’s a lazy co-worker who calls in sick every Monday or a flaky friend who always bails at the last minute, there’s always something (or someone) in our lives that can make us cynical. Like an ill-fitting sweater, cynicism can be easy to slip into, yet... (read more)