A new study published in the online journal JAMA Psychiatry supports what we’ve known for awhile about treating depression – teaching problem solving skills works! This study supports how it can prevent depression as well in mothers of children in Head Start programs. The idea of preventing depression with problem solving skills is hardly a… Read More
A new study published in the journal Translational Psychiatry just a few days ago contains some alarming data about the rising rate of depression in adolescents in the United States. The study employed data compiled from in-person interviews with more than 100,000 children who participated in the National Survey of Drug Use and Health from… Read More
The American Psychological Association (APA) conducted a poll in January regarding Americans’ feelings about the current political and social climate in the United States. The results will probably not surprise Americans, but our international friends may be at least a little surprised that the stress level in America has escalated so greatly in so short… Read More
One of the toughest challenges of clinical practice, and certainly the most consequential of them for literally being about “life and death,” is dealing with the potential or actual suicide of a client. I run case consultation groups for those clinicians who have been through my 100 Hour Training in Clinical Hypnosis and Strategic Psychotherapy,… Read More
Late last week (March 30th), the World Health Organization (WHO) released a powerful statement from its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, declaring depression “the leading cause of ill health and disability worldwide.” WHO estimates that more than 300 million people worldwide are now suffering a diagnosable depression. This reflects an increase of more than 18% between… Read More
So often people ask me “Why do you have an elephant logo?” Well, here’s the answer… Many years ago, I was hired as a consultant to the Zoological Society of San Diego, the administrators of the world-famous San Diego Zoo and San Diego Wild Animal Park (SDWAP). I was told that elephants are a highly… Read More
I’m home, basking in the afterglow of the Evolution of Psychotherapy Conference held last week in Anaheim, California. Taking place just down the street from Disneyland, which calls itself “the happiest place on earth,” I think that title was temporarily hijacked by the 8,000 plus attendees from 50 countries who rocked the Anaheim Convention Center.… Read More
In my last blog, I talked about some of my afterthoughts about being interviewed on the Dr. Oz radio show about my book Depression is Contagious. The other guest, Dr. Peter Freed, spoke to the medical/biological aspect of depression in contrast to my social perspective. Both perspectives have value, of course, as there is indeed… Read More
In Dr. Yapko’s Blog #4, some after thoughts about an interview with Dr. Oz. Dr. Oz did a special focus on depression in his radio interview with me, psychologist, Dr. Michael Yapko, and psychiatrist, Dr. Peter Freed. The interview included looking at genetic contributions, neurological signatures, medical and biological aspects of depression as well as… Read More
In Dr. Yapko’s Blog #3, he introduces you to the concept of focusing and how your attention determines your quality of experience. It is a basic principle of perception that what your focus on, you amplify. So, rather than focusing on negative feelings and thoughts or things that do not enhance your quality of life,… Read More