Body Dissatisfaction  In today’s world, body acceptance is no easy feat. Body dissatisfaction is so common that it is now considered normal. The promise of fulfillment through reaching the ideal body is one of the biggest lies of our day, yet believed by so many of us. Driven to cut, inject, pound, slather and diet our way to perfection, the pursuit of the perfect body promises to bring us everything from success and happiness to love. Intuitively, we know that our...

Although psychiatry first recognized self-injurious behavior (SIB) in the 1800s, it has warranted most professional attention in the last decade. Thus, there is a need to increase awareness of SIB’s functions and effective treatment strategies. Although this article addresses SIB in the context of eating disorders, it can be generalized to numerous other settings.  SIB, self-harm, and self–mutilation are defined as: Any socially unacceptable behavior involving...

Sandra rushed into her counseling session 10 minutes late. Apologizing profusely she moaned, "Sorry I'm late. There's never enough time in the day to get everything I need to get done. I always feel like I'm rushing to get to the next thing. Is it ever going to stop?"  Sandra's complaint made me pause, because I too was feeling stressed and overwhelmed, anxious about all the things that needed to get done. But for every item that got crossed off my "to do" list,...

Although the rate of divorce among older Americans has steadily been on the increase (about five fold in 25 years), few definitive studies have been done to bring attention to this situation. The prediction is that the divorce rate will continue to increase as a large portion of Americans (namely Baby Boomers) enters the 60 and over age group ( ).1  While most divorces occur within the first seven years of marriage, the divorce rate then decreases until about midlife when it...

If we look a little closer we will find many women in our counseling room using many different styles of self-medicating their pain and escaping their brokenness. Many common styles of pre-addictive denial are what I call “cocoon” comforters.   Cocoon Comforters: Hiding a Hurting Heart  These women are not yet addicts, and although most are not being abused or traumatized, some are. These are ordinary women—wives and mothers attempting to...

You would think with all the advances in modern technology and the sciences that life would be easier and we would be healthier and happier.   Still on the Rise  However, epidemics of stress, anxiety and depression are still on the rise around the world, especially among young women. With every generation onset is becoming younger and risk factors higher. These are complex disorders impacting every aspect of a woman's being and usually loved ones and friends around her as...

Gently pulling up the blanket, she looks at the peaceful sleeping face. Oh the times we spent making clover chains in the park. And the tea parties that gave way to sleepovers were no less memorable than the annual holiday cookie baking weekends. You remember the good ole days while I have to remember the endless details to get through today. You are still my mother, but now I am your mother too.  Among the 8.9 million family caregivers of older adults, 59–75% are women...

Your weekend was truly remarkable. You took a long shower because there was plenty of hot water. You threw clothes in the laundry for the first time in a week and had everything washed and folded before noon. Your refrigerator was full of food, and when you sat down to write your bills, you noticed that you spent half of what you used to spend at the grocery store.  You are an empty-nester. For many women, such newfound delights are enough to smooth the way through what, for...

Every minute of every day, 100 people around the world die, whether from malnutrition, accidents, disease or plain old age. Each death leaves a mark on someone, and though the phrase "time heals" is thought to be an answer, L. Ron Hubbard in Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health, says that it only buries the hurt; and this hurt knocks the life out of people…that is, until Dianetics counseling brings them back to life. Due to the popularity, the seminars...

As I write this we are setting all time temperature records in New England. It hot over 100 degrees today, very hot in Maine. Now I don't mind much but everyone else seems to be complaining big time. Here are a few ways to make the heat more bearable.

1) Go swimming. Maybe you have a pool or a friend or neighbor does, but I greatly prefer the ocean. You might like a lake or stream. Swimming, even if you haven't in years, is wonderfully refreshing. I tend to more hang out in...