Blogs

Interview with Russell Friedman published on Aol.Health July 26, 2010

How to Help a Grieving Friend

By Stephanie Booth  Read More

One of the hallmarks of self-organizing systems is that the system is always smarter than the sum of its parts. So the fact that a dog's brain has less carrying capacity than ours -- fewer neurons, fewer bells and whistles -- works to his advantage. Once a dog has established a working relationship with his owners, he automatically becomes "smarter." Read More

I believe that medical care shouldn't be considered an ordinary product, like athletic shoes or flat screen TV's. Rather, it is quickly becoming essential, like water. Yet there will be no easy answers when it comes medical care, in this brave new world in which DNA is already being tweaked to grow completely new organs. We are embarking on a new, complex and long chapter of history. Read More

Michelle Obama has launched a new program to fight childhood obesity. Approximately 30 percent of children and adolescents are obese. Fat teens become fat adults and they suffer from diabetes, heart disease, self-esteem issues, and social problems. Read More

The 'what went right' approach is based on one simple truth: You succeeded at self-change before, so you can succeed again. This truth is a self-affirming truth. It affirms that you have the power to change yourself. It helps you realize that the only difference between your current-self and your changed-self is time and effort. Read More

When there is a conventional wisdom about a topic (for example, that married people are better than singles), be especially cautious about media reports of the latest studies. Here's a case study of stealth singlism, as practiced, sadly, by the New York Times. Read More

Most experts on networking agree it’s a two-way street—a way to build relationships rather than foisting yourself, your business cards, and your wares on everyone who crosses your path. Despite that, lurking in our collective unconsciousness is the notion that networking is about using people and getting used. Following that logic, if you’re an introvert—or someone who is more stoked by solo activities than social activities, why would you want to dive into a mosh pit of slick people shaking down one another for leads when you could stay home and read a book? Read More

You couldn't pay me enough money to get me to jump off a bridge tethered to a bungee cord. But I've done a lot of bungee jumping at work - jumping into the unknown to solve a new problem, take on an unfamiliar role, or try out a barely learned skill. Sometimes it feels like I'm about to hit bottom, but fortunately I usually bounce back. Read More

Vast numbers of individuals with Asperger's Syndrome are underemployed or unemployed. They are not sure where to begin to find the right career for them. Here are some ideas. Read More

Want to know how to teach reading to your baby or toddler? The secret is revealed in the acronym READ-Repetition-Enthusiasm-Attention-Drawing. It works for any parent, grandparent, or preschool caregiver. And it's supported by history, science, and literature. Read More

I love beer commercials. I remember several funny ones I saw while watching basketball games this year. In the ads, men easily expressed their love for their favorite beer but stumbled in declaring love for their romantic partners. Even though I remember the beer ads, they were complete failures. Why? Read More

The evolutionary connection between our reactions to being attacked by a grizzly bear and by a sexual predator has important implications for both the law and clinical psychology. Read More

When we had Connor, I learned the meaning of hard work. Having a baby means showing your love through sleepless nights, changing diapers, and altering your life. I remember changing his diaper and in the middle of cooing at him, he peed-guess where his pee ended up? Read More

By Susan Rudnick, LCSW Read More

What happens once your gifted child is in the education system? Read More

How powerful is your brain, really? The answer from autistic savants. Read More

Everyone has a few tricks for beating the blues – things you do when you’re feeling down to try to boost your mood. I've found out from long experience, however, that several of the most popular strategies don’t actually work very well in the long term. Beware if you're tempted to try any of the following:

1. Comforting yourself with a “treat.”

  Read More

"On February 12, 1995, a party of three seasoned backcountry skiers set out for a day on the pristine slopes of Utah's Wasatch Mountain Range. Read More

One of the more embarrassing social situations you can be in happens when someone you are in a conversation with someone you do not know well and they make a racist or sexist comment or joke. In that moment, there is a whole calculus you end up going through. On the one hand, if you do not say anything, you are implicitly endorsing the comment. On the other hand, if you step up and say something, you can create an awkward social situation.

Obviously, there are many aspects of a situation that will affect whether you choose to confront prejudice. For example, if the person making the remark has power over you (like a boss or a customer), then it can be difficult to say something. It can also be more difficult to say something if you are in a group and feel that you are the only one who objects to the comment. Read More