Advice for Your Best Life

Marriage

Three Ways to Cope With Uncertainty

Christine L. Carter Ph.D. on August 4, 2020

Living with so much uncertainty is hard. What should we do when everything feels out of control?

Living with so much uncertainty is hard. What should we do when everything feels out of control?

Marriage

All I Want for Mother’s Day Is Equitable Division of Labor

Christine L. Carter Ph.D. on May 5, 2020

This Mother's Day, working moms don't want flowers or candy—they just want a break.

This Mother's Day, working moms don't want flowers or candy—they just want a break.

Grief

How to Help Teens Handle the Loss of Proms and Graduations

Christine L. Carter Ph.D. on May 4, 2020

Important ceremonies and rites of passage have been canceled, leaving kids with no closure. Even as they feel grateful for their health, their losses are tangible to them.

Important ceremonies and rites of passage have been canceled, leaving kids with no closure. Even as they feel grateful for their health, their losses are tangible to them.

Coronavirus Disease 2019

How to Help Teens Shelter in Place

Christine L. Carter Ph.D. on March 20, 2020

Teens are not made for isolation, which makes COVID-19 quarantine especially hard on them. Here’s how to help your teenager to see the bigger picture.

Teens are not made for isolation, which makes COVID-19 quarantine especially hard on them. Here’s how to help your teenager to see the bigger picture.

Career

How School Closures Can Strengthen Your Family

Christine L. Carter Ph.D. on March 16, 2020

As closed schools ramp up for online learning, we can retool in our families, too. Here are three practical ways families can cope—and even thrive—despite school closures.

As closed schools ramp up for online learning, we can retool in our families, too. Here are three practical ways families can cope—and even thrive—despite school closures.

Adolescence

3 Ways to Change Your Parenting in the Teenage Years

Christine L. Carter Ph.D. on February 19, 2020

Parenting teenagers is, in many ways, a hell of a lot easier than raising little kids. ⁠⁠But our parenting does need to shift once our kids are in middle school (and beyond). ⁠

Parenting teenagers is, in many ways, a hell of a lot easier than raising little kids. ⁠⁠But our parenting does need to shift once our kids are in middle school (and beyond). ⁠

Friends

My Friend Has Cancer. What Should I Say?

Christine L. Carter Ph.D. on January 21, 2020

How to respond when a friend has a potentially terminal illness.

How to respond when a friend has a potentially terminal illness.

Stress

Why New Year’s Resolutions Succeed

Christine L. Carter Ph.D. on December 29, 2019

New Year’s resolutions don't have to be a source of failure, year after year. Here is your quick start to setting a resolution that will stick.

New Year’s resolutions don't have to be a source of failure, year after year. Here is your quick start to setting a resolution that will stick.

Stress

How to Calm a Stressed-Out Teen

Christine L. Carter Ph.D. on December 19, 2019

Fortunately, there is a lot that we can do for our stressed-out teens. Here are seven steps for helping teens cope.

Fortunately, there is a lot that we can do for our stressed-out teens. Here are seven steps for helping teens cope.

Stress

Helping Stressed-Out Teens

Christine L. Carter Ph.D. on December 16, 2019

Do you have a teen who is struggling? Here are three ways to help them deal with stress.

Do you have a teen who is struggling? Here are three ways to help them deal with stress.

Happiness

Should I See a Therapist?

Christine L. Carter Ph.D. on December 3, 2019

A member of the Sandwich Generation struggles with feeling overwhelmed, sad, and stuck between caring for her parents and her children.

A member of the Sandwich Generation struggles with feeling overwhelmed, sad, and stuck between caring for her parents and her children.

Sleep

How Can I Get More Sleep?

Christine L. Carter Ph.D. on October 30, 2019

Going to bed earlier is a realistic and worthy goal, one that will have real benefits for you in your busy life.

Going to bed earlier is a realistic and worthy goal, one that will have real benefits for you in your busy life.

Alcoholism

How Do I Deal With My Son’s Substance Abuse?

Christine L. Carter Ph.D. on October 15, 2019

What to do when your child may be addicted to drugs and alcohol.

What to do when your child may be addicted to drugs and alcohol.

Grief

Dear Christine: My Son Went Off to College and I Want to Cry

Christine L. Carter Ph.D. on September 16, 2019

I offer advice to a mother who feels like her college bound son has outgrown her.

I offer advice to a mother who feels like her college bound son has outgrown her.

Addiction

The Power of Taking Time Off

Christine L. Carter Ph.D. on February 8, 2019

We check our smartphones and laptops constantly to abate our anxiety that we are missing something urgent at work.

We check our smartphones and laptops constantly to abate our anxiety that we are missing something urgent at work.

Adolescence

How Independent Should Teenagers Be?

Christine L. Carter Ph.D. on November 9, 2018

Healthy, self-disciplined, motivated teenagers have a strong sense of control over their lives.

Healthy, self-disciplined, motivated teenagers have a strong sense of control over their lives.

Authenticity

Accessing Authenticity

Christine L. Carter Ph.D. on November 6, 2017

Authenticity’s appeal is obvious, but how does a person even go about being fully authentic, anyway? Here are three tips to get started.

Authenticity’s appeal is obvious, but how does a person even go about being fully authentic, anyway? Here are three tips to get started.

Stress

Three Steps to Say “No” Gracefully

Christine L. Carter Ph.D. on October 2, 2017

It can be really hard to say no. Despite my best attempts not to care what other people think of me, I still find myself wanting to be liked.

It can be really hard to say no. Despite my best attempts not to care what other people think of me, I still find myself wanting to be liked.

Motivation

How to Get Better at Achieving Your Goals

Christine L. Carter Ph.D. on August 31, 2017

Setting goals is, at its core, about behavior change.

Setting goals is, at its core, about behavior change.

Projection

The Real Reason We Get Annoyed with Our Partners

Christine L. Carter Ph.D. on July 31, 2017

When we feel hooked and irrational or harshly judgmental about someone else’s shortcomings, rather than empathetic or compassionate? We are probably projecting.

When we feel hooked and irrational or harshly judgmental about someone else’s shortcomings, rather than empathetic or compassionate? We are probably projecting.