The Art of Now

Parenting

This Is Not the Child I Dreamed of Having

Susan M. Pollak MTS, Ed.D. on July 11, 2026

Mindfulness and compassion can help a family during the process of gender transition.

Mindfulness and compassion can help a family during the process of gender transition.

Personal Perspectives

Psychological Dimensions of Zen Garden Temples

Susan M. Pollak MTS, Ed.D. on April 11, 2026

Personal Perspective: What do the findings of the spacecraft Artemis 2 and an ancient Zen garden temple have in common?

Personal Perspective: What do the findings of the spacecraft Artemis 2 and an ancient Zen garden temple have in common?

Meditation

You Don't Need to Be a Monk to Practice Walking Meditation

Susan M. Pollak MTS, Ed.D. on February 12, 2026

Can we all benefit from walking meditation?

Can we all benefit from walking meditation?

Suicide

The Importance of Narrative Case Studies

Susan M. Pollak MTS, Ed.D. on January 19, 2026

Why do we avoid talking about suicide in training young clinicians?

Why do we avoid talking about suicide in training young clinicians?

Altruism

Finding Generosity and Compassion in the Crevices of Life

Susan M. Pollak MTS, Ed.D. on October 6, 2025

Can random acts of kindness help us cope with difficulty? Here are some lessons we can learn from the writer Franz Kafka.

Can random acts of kindness help us cope with difficulty? Here are some lessons we can learn from the writer Franz Kafka.

Mindfulness

Does Your World Feel Upside Down?

Susan M. Pollak MTS, Ed.D. on July 1, 2025

How we can find perspective in difficult times.

How we can find perspective in difficult times.

Parenting

If Parenting Feels Hazardous to Your Health, Try This

Susan M. Pollak MTS, Ed.D. on March 29, 2025

Parenting can be stressful. Mindfulness and self-compassion can help.

Parenting can be stressful. Mindfulness and self-compassion can help.

Family Dynamics

A Tree and a Menorah Stand Together

Susan M. Pollak MTS, Ed.D. on December 29, 2024

Personal Perspective: Can we learn to respect each other?

Personal Perspective: Can we learn to respect each other?

Therapy

Undoing Aloneness: Transforming Suffering into Flourishing

Susan M. Pollak MTS, Ed.D. on October 4, 2024

Can we combat our epidemic of loneliness?

Can we combat our epidemic of loneliness?

Mindfulness

Mindfulness for Mourning

Susan M. Pollak MTS, Ed.D. on July 4, 2024

Can mindfulness help us face illness, loss, trauma, and death?

Can mindfulness help us face illness, loss, trauma, and death?

Parenting

In Search of a Father: Reflections From a Parenting Expert

Susan M. Pollak MTS, Ed.D. on June 16, 2024

Personal Perspective: Research on child development shows that boys are often separated from their feelings at an early age.

Personal Perspective: Research on child development shows that boys are often separated from their feelings at an early age.

Mindfulness

Finding the Courage to Face Death

Susan M. Pollak MTS, Ed.D. on June 4, 2024

A Personal Perspective: Can mindfulness help us with the courage to face death?

A Personal Perspective: Can mindfulness help us with the courage to face death?

Awe

The Psychological Power of an Eclipse

Susan M. Pollak MTS, Ed.D. on April 1, 2024

Is the upcoming eclipse a way for humans to come together and experience greater kindness?

Is the upcoming eclipse a way for humans to come together and experience greater kindness?

Dreaming

What We Can Learn From a Newborn

Susan M. Pollak MTS, Ed.D. on February 10, 2024

Musings on babies, dreaming, meditating to slow down.

Musings on babies, dreaming, meditating to slow down.

Happiness

What Is It That Makes Us Happy?

Susan M. Pollak MTS, Ed.D. on November 7, 2023

What can an ongoing 80-year research study tell us about happiness? The results may change your life.

What can an ongoing 80-year research study tell us about happiness? The results may change your life.

Attention

To See Takes Time

Susan M. Pollak MTS, Ed.D. on August 18, 2023

Not only was Georgia O'Keeffe a great artist, but her work can also help you increase happiness in your life and your relationships. Here is a quick meditation.

Not only was Georgia O'Keeffe a great artist, but her work can also help you increase happiness in your life and your relationships. Here is a quick meditation.

Meditation

Can the Tools of Zen Meditation Help Us Heal?

Susan M. Pollak MTS, Ed.D. on May 12, 2023

Inspired by the writing of Mark Epstein, I introduced a classic Zen koan with an elderly patient who was in chronic pain. Here's what happened.

Inspired by the writing of Mark Epstein, I introduced a classic Zen koan with an elderly patient who was in chronic pain. Here's what happened.

Relationships

A Powerful Way to Enhance a Romantic Relationship

Susan M. Pollak MTS, Ed.D. on February 12, 2023

Try these ideas for finding your relationship happiness.

Try these ideas for finding your relationship happiness.

Friends

The Idea of the Beloved Community

Susan M. Pollak MTS, Ed.D. on January 13, 2023

Can a philosophical idea give us a new understanding of the contribution of Martin Luther King Jr. and zen Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh?

Can a philosophical idea give us a new understanding of the contribution of Martin Luther King Jr. and zen Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh?

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

3 Ways to Help Manage Seasonal Affective Disorder

Susan M. Pollak MTS, Ed.D. on October 13, 2022

How can we help our patients manage seasonal affective disorder? These brief interventions may make a significant difference.

How can we help our patients manage seasonal affective disorder? These brief interventions may make a significant difference.