Your mind evolved to take care of your body, not the other way around. Most of us live in reverse. We care for our bodies in pursuit of long, healthy lifespans. We train our bodies to support our athletic hobbies. When you feel down, a therapist like me might encourage “behavioral activation” (think going for a walk) as a way for your body to help your psyche feel better. But…what if all of this is backwards? Why Mental Health is Physical You’re familiar with evolutionary the

There’s a myth about self-compassion, and therapy generally, that it takes away your competitive edge. The thought goes that although you might be a bit happier, you won’t try as hard or achieve as much if you were kinder to yourself. This has been, understandably, a point of skepticism for some of my high achieving patients. However, self-compassion actually allows you to stop wasting your energy on criticizing yourself and instead spend it towards something productive. Thin

Some people think they need to be in crisis to go to therapy. But actually, there are good reasons why someone with more manageable issues might speak with a therapist.

Will Therapy Make You Rich? There are no shortage of things promising health or wealth. Therapy typically offers health. Can it also make you richer? This is a review of a 2017 study, and I hope to provide you an answer. Too long, don't want to read? “Men can expect to gain between 12.3% and 12.4” from psychotherapy, while for women the expected gain varies between 10.1% and 8.1%” (p. 268). For a $50k salary, this means a $4050 to $6200 yearly benefit. Income increased not on

You Can Find Mindfulness in the Outdoors "Slurp." I took another sip from my reservoir and hopped back on my bike. It was Saturday and I was riding Mt Wilson in the San Gabriel Mountains of southern California. The ascent is only 9 miles, but I was out of shape and the trail climbs 4400ft with little opportunity for shade. Twice before, I had tried this summit. I made the first attempt during a 113-degree heat wave—and turned around when I began to feel dizzy. I made the