Insights
Articles on stress, perfectionism, relationships and building a life that works, for thoughtful, high-achieving adults. Clinically reviewed by Dr. Mandelbaum.
Latest
Navigating Surgical Procedures: The Benefits of Pre-Operative Therapy
Whether it’s general surgery, heart surgery, breast surgery, or laparoscopic surgery, preparing for surgical procedures can feel overwhelming. It is completely normal to feel a mix of emotions. Anxiety, fear of pain, concerns about recovery, and uncertainty about risk...
Exploring The Types of Therapists and the Benefits of Groundbreaker Therapy When Needing Short-Term Solutions for Complex Medical Issues
When you are facing a complex medical diagnosis, the emotional impact can be just as significant as the physical symptoms. Many intelligent, capable individuals I work with suddenly find themselves navigating a world of uncertainty, fear, and disruptive life events....
10 Profound Benefits of Therapy for Navigating Complex Medical Issues
In my practice as a licensed psychologist, I often sit with highly sensitive, intelligent individuals who are grappling with something profound: the collision of their physical health with their emotional world. Complex medical diagnoses do not exist in a vacuum. They...
Psychotherapist vs Psychologist: Finding the Right Fit for Your Short-Term Therapy Needs
Psychotherapist vs Psychologist; which one is right for you? When you’re overwhelmed by mental health concerns, the last thing you need is more confusion. Choosing the wrong fit can delay progress, making it harder to start feeling better. As a licensed psychologist...
Acute vs Chronic Conditions: How Ongoing Illness Impacts Mental Health and Stress Levels
Acute vs Chronic Conditions: How does your illness affect your mental health? As a psychologist, I often meet individuals who are not only managing medical conditions but also navigating the immense emotional weight that comes with them. Whether it’s a sudden injury...
What Is the Most Painful Thing in the World? Exploring Physical Pain, Emotional Trauma, and Mental Health
As a psychologist, I’ve noticed a distinctly human instinct to rank, compare, and quantify our suffering. We often feel pressure to justify our pain, wondering if it’s “bad enough” to warrant attention. People ask, “What is the most painful thing in the world?”...
From Doubt to Empowerment During Medical Gaslighting: Mastering Medical Self-Advocacy
Navigating the healthcare system can be challenging, especially when experiencing medical gaslighting. Many sensitive professionals I work with daily feel this stress. You might walk into a medical appointment armed with data about your health concerns, only to have...
When Chronic Pain Becomes Too Much: Mental Health Support for Reaching Your Breaking Point
It happens quietly at first, and then all at once. You wake up, and the familiar ache is there before you even open your eyes. You calculate how much energy you have for the day—subtracting the pain tax—and realize you’re already in the red. For many of my clients,...
Why Palliative Care Is Bad for Some Patients’ Mental Health and What Support Can Look Like Instead
When a doctor introduces the concept of palliative care, the room often goes silent. For many patients and their families, this suggestion doesn't feel like an offer of support; it feels like a door slamming shut. I want to speak directly to that moment of shock. If...
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