The Blog

Sometimes we are afraid to turn down opportunities. We want our lives to feel fulfilling and meaningful, however, attending every dinner or party or group outing isn’t the only way those feelings happen. Sometimes our inner self is sending us subtle invitations from within, to get quiet, read, relax, sit in nature, meditation. Saying no […]

What can you commit to doing for one minute of each day? Working out? Writing a short story? Stretching? Cleaning a closet? One minute every day is an achievable goal. Try it and see how life changes!⠀

Selfless is neglecting yourself for the sake of others. Selfish is when you are disregarding others’ needs entirely. Self-full is when you are taking care of your own needs…with awareness. Try being self-full for 3 days!

We can get overwhelmed/Stuck when we have a big project of even a big feeling. Sometimes we don’t know what to do next. If you take a moment, usually you will find there is one thing that needs to be done before everything else. Maybe it’s eating a sandwich before tackling anything more. Maybe it’s […]

When a person or situation “gets a reaction out of us” they are in control, and often our behavior and words are not in our best interest. The difference between reacting and responding is a long pause. When you pause, you align with your power. Pause before you speak or act today and see how […]

Depression is often confused with sadness. Everyone feels sad or “down in the dumps” at times in their lives. Sadness is a natural reaction to something upsetting or painful. It is also a transient feeling that typically passes when someone comes to term with his troubles. Depression, on the other hand, can linger for weeks, […]

If you’d like an unusual way of getting some insight into social dynamics, you might be surprised to find that the research at the PEERS program for Autism has some lessons to teach everyone. We don’t often think at a basic level why two strangers have and continue a conversation. It turns out at the core, it’s about discovering “common interests”. As you move into dating, things get more complicated, especially when you are on the Autism spectrum. If you are curious about my familys’ journey, take a look at the UCLA Semel’s CART newsletter.

Facing the holidays while going through a divorce is challenging. From family dinners to holiday parties, the next 2 months are filled with events that may make any newly divorced or divorcing parent feel isolated, overwhelmed, sad or unmotivated. Here are five specific challenges you may face over the next few months and some tips […]

By Stacey Lurie, LCSW  Group Therapy Los Angeles I didn’t enjoy Thanksgiving dinner this year. But you never would have guessed it from looking at me. My husband and I got into a fight early in the day. I don’t even remember what it was about. My four-year-old was grumpy because he was getting sick. […]