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“The Hunger Games”: Some Suggestions For Parents
The new film, “The Hunger Games,” based on the novel by Suzanne Collins, has outstripped Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax as the top grossing film this year. Perhaps because it is based on a young adult novel...
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Important Validation for the Aftermath of Adult Trauma
Many people face a traumatic event in adult life. Be it a serious car accident, combat, rape, a natural disaster or the loss of a child, people are often confronted with a horrific event that threatens...
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The Denver Movie Shooting: A Dark Catastrophe
The definition of catastrophe is an event causing great and often sudden damage or suffering. The early morning shooting and killing of 12 people and wounding of others as they eagerly began viewing...
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Does Hope Really Make a Difference? Scientific Findings
Almost everyone has some experience with hope: We hope for the best. We hang on to hope. We despair when we lose hope. It would seem that hope, which is broadly defined as an emotional state that...
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The Psychological Importance of “Our Stuff”
Well beyond the necessities and somewhere between collecting and hoarding…we all have ‘stuff.’ Be it the toy truck, the pasta bowl, the piano, the silver earrings or the old books, we all have stuff...
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Recognizing and Understanding Depression After Trauma
Disaster and trauma studies often focus on identifying the incidence of PTSD as the sequel to traumatic events. Early interventions with those affected after a disaster or traumatic event increasingly...
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Finding New Meaning In Life After Trauma:Three Guidelines
This weekend the Wounded Warrior Project came to our town. Many had the opportunity to run the 4-mile race next to veterans and their families. The t-shirt of the young man in front of me read “ New...
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You Needed Last Night’s Dream: Research and Re-thinking
Whereas there is increasing recognition of the importance of sleep, there is less awareness that one of the reasons we need to sleep is that we need to dream. Even though you may not remember them, you...
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Coping with the Holidays: Family Bonds and Family Binds
While many may aspire to a Hallmark Holiday Season, the reality is that the holiday season involves real people in real families doing the best that they can do. Most families are a group of related...
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Tattoos After Trauma-Do They Have Healing Potential?
Whether you have many tattoos or would never consider getting one, you may be surprised to learn that 40% of Americans between the ages 26-40 and 36% between ages 18-25 have at least one tattoo. Once...
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The Family Story of Trauma: Ways to Change the Legacy
Whether in the past or the present, a traumatic event experienced by one or all members of a family, impacts the entire family system. Be it the violent loss of a child, the devastation from natural...
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When Injury Disrupts Exercise: Five Ways to Reduce Stress
There is considerable evidence that exercise benefits our mental health. Research suggests that in addition to improving memory, lifting mood, moderating depression, and reducing attention fatigue,...
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Surviving and Succeeding in Face of Uncertainty: Six Strategies
Events like the Boston Marathon Bombing, Hurricane Sandy’s Devastation, The Newtown CT School Shooting and the many traumatic events they echo, assault us with the uncertainties of life. Leaving death...
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The Ohio Kidnapping Case:The Moral Injury of Witnessing Atrocity
In the past two weeks it has been difficult to be anywhere without reading or hearing about the Ohio Kidnapping, 10 year captivity, sexual abuse, torture and beatings causing miscarriages to three...
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Superstitions: Coping with Uncertainty
Are you superstitious? Do you knock on wood? Wear a lucky jersey when your favorite team plays? Believe deaths occur in three’s or use your horoscope as a life guide? If so, you are not alone. It may...
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Missing a Loved One on Thanksgiving: A Way of Grieving
Thanksgiving, which is celebrated in this country across cultures, religions, ethnicity, geography and socio-economic levels, is an emotional mile marker. It brings to the table and to the mind and...
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Developing a Post-Trauma Identity-Who Am I Now?
We are the story we tell ourselves about ourselves. Traumatic events disrupt out story and assault our sense of self. They leave us asking: Who am I if I can’t be a cop, a surgeon, a provider? How can...
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Protect the Children: Change the Legacy of Fear and Violence
In the face of the shooting of two black men by police officers on July 5th and 6th, and the sniper attack on July 7th that killed 5 police officers and wounded 7 others including 2 civilians, most...
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Coping with the Holidays: Family Bonds and Family Binds
While many may aspire to a Hallmark Holiday Season, the reality is that the holiday season involves real people in real families doing the best that they can do. Most families are a group of related...
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Tattoos After Trauma-Do They Have Healing Potential?
Whether you have many tattoos or would never consider getting one, you may be surprised to learn that 40% of Americans between the ages 26-40 and 36% between ages 18-25 have at least one tattoo. Once...
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