Our thoughts are not always facts. We’re all prone to errors or systematic biases in our thinking. As a result, our processing of information biased. For example, in depression and anxiety, thinking tends to be overly negative—little attention is paid to the positive and the neutral. One overarching thinking error is confirmation bias: we selectively […]
Author Archives: Lisa Napolitano
Mindfulness in a crisis
In the midst of a crisis, we’re driven to seek refuge—places of safety, peace and calm. But, for many of us, because of responsibilities in our daily lives, it’s not possible to escape the stressful situation we find ourselves in. The good news is that by practicing mindfulness you can create a refuge that’s always […]
Want better relationships? Show interest
So often in social situations we feel compelled to be interesting. We believe this is the way to draw others to us. And then, to see how effective our efforts are, we monitor others for signs of interest in US. But, the skill that’s actually needed to build and enhance relationships, whether romantic, professional or […]
Don’t worry! Problem solve!
Does your mind often leave the present moment and travel into the future anticipating negative events? Do you often feel anxious and restless, but have difficulty pinpointing why? If you answered yes, you may be a worrier. From a CBT perspective, worry is a mental habit or bias in thinking. It’s the tendency of your […]
What were your top 3 decisions of 2019?
With the end of the decade and the start of the new year, we tend to look back and assess the progress we’ve made towards our goals and set new ones. While this year-end review process has the potential to be positive and inspiring, it can also be negative and self-defeating. As a result of […]
What is Cognitive Therapy?
Maybe a friend’s recommended it or you’ve read about it in the New York Times. What is cognitive therapy any way and what’s all the hype about?
Cognitive Therapy was created by University of Pennsylvania psychiatrist Aaron Beck in the 1960s. At the time it was created, cognitive therapy marked a radical departure from the dominant therapy, namely psychoanalysis. Interestingly, Dr. Beck was in fact trained in psychoanalysis and developed cognitive therapy in the course of testing the psychoanalytic theory of depression—anger turned against the self. While interviewing depressed patients Dr. Beck observed distinctive thinking styles and thought patterns rather than self-directed anger…
Community Nights Workshop (May 4, 2017): Helping a Student with Test Anxiety
Our upcoming workshop on Thursday, May 4, is Helping a Student with Test Anxiety. In my experience treating students of all ages in the New York City area, the ever-growing demands of middle and high school entrance exams, Regents exams, SATs, ACTs, and even typical classroom tests have presented an array of challenges, beyond the academic, for students and their families. The goal of this workshop is to provide parents with strategies they can use to help their children manage stress and build coping skills for school and test-related anxiety…
Powerball as an Opportunity
In the wake of last week’s Powerball drawing, you’ve undoubtedly read or heard about the potential psychological hazards of Powerball. It preys on our delusional belief that the practically impossible from a statistical viewpoint could be possible for us. Then, we’re left reeling with the crushing disappointment of not winning or (more likely) the embarrassment at having played. I would like to suggest a different point of view: the Powerball is an opportunity. It’s a catalyst to begin acting more in keeping with your values and priorities NOW…