A Little About Anxiety Disorders: Panic Attacks
by Steve Wodka, Psy.D. x313
Tom is working, sitting in his cubicle, suddenly he begins to perspire, and feels his heart start to race. His hands tingle, and he feels an overwhelming urge to run. Tom feels light-headed and jumpy, completely unable to concentrate. Fear begins to build within him, and he's worried that everyone in the office is watching him. He's had episodes like this lately, but not this severe. Tom recently went to his physician, and knows his heart is in good shape. He's positive he's going crazy, and then feels his heart just race faster, like it's going to jump out of his chest. Why can't these feelings stop?... Read More

ADHD Evaluations for Children, Adolescents, and Adults
Personal Growth Associates is excited to announce that we have acquired a new software program to aid in the diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This program, the Integrated Visual and Auditory Continuous Performance Test, or IVA+Plus, is a state-of-the-art assessment tool, which offers the following advantages... Read More

Life is Too Fast
by Mark A. Bakal, Psy.D. x314
Over the past ten to twenty years, the pace of life has changed drastically in our culture. In the 1970's, the traditional family (defined as parents still married and only one parent in the workforce outside the home) made up approximately 75% of the population. A combination of dual career and single parent families has reduced that number to 7%. Yes, 7% of families today are "traditional". Additionally, we are working longer hours and have seen a great increase in intensity and urgency. Technology has allowed us to be available 24 hours per day... Read More

Psychotherapy, Why Not?
by Mark Bakal, Psy.D. x314
We live in a fast paced world where people are working longer, have less support, and are generally stretched for time. The French journalist, Jean-Louis Servan-Schreiber once said; "For a long time I admired men and women in a hurry, until I realized they were under stress. What I fear most about stress is not that it kills, but that it prevents one from savoring life." What are we willing to do to take care of ourselves? The easiest thing to do is NOTHING. We may take care of our cars with regular maintenance checks, our homes with regular upkeep, and our bodies with exercise and diet. The people in our culture seem to accept the idea of feeling stressed out or paying a lawyer thousands of dollars to break up our relationships. Why not take care of the way we live and relate to others with PSYCHOTHERAPY.Read More

Overcoming a Dysfunctional Family: Learning to Survive Growing Up in an Alcoholic or Abusive Family of Origin
by Steve Wodka, Psy.D. x313
Many individuals who grow up in dysfunctional families (families where alcoholism or physical/emotional/sexual abuse occur) develop a variety of problems as adults. They can experience increased levels of depression, anxiety disorders, tendencies toward perfection and control, low self-esteem, difficulties with intimacy, fears of rejection and abandonment, difficulty parenting effectively, anger management issues, communication difficulties, and substance abuse. These problems do not have to occur. There are ways individuals can overcome these issues, and cope with life demands and relationships in a psychologically healthy way... Read More

A Parent's Guide to Summer
by Mark Vogel, Psy.D. x318
We all look forward to summer, right? What's not to like? Warm weather, vacations, outdoor activities, and longer daylight hours. Less stress, more fun. Okay, so maybe this view is a bit naïve. The fact is parents may not look forward to summer as much as their kids do, since summer presents its own parenting challenges and pitfalls. Following are some tips to combat these potential problems... Read More

Children of Divorce
by Tracy Strepek, LCSW x351
As a Child and Adolescent Therapist, one of the major challenges I help children cope with is parental separation and divorce. Children are almost always distressed at the idea of their parents separating and aren't able to see the advantage to divorce until many years later. It is important for parents and professionals to recognize the child's developmental stage as one reacts to the separation process. For example, younger children are likely to demonstrate aggression and other acting out behaviors, while adolescents show more withdrawal and depression. I call adolescents the "forgotten mourners." Adults often make the mistake of assuming that adolescents function and think as adults; they do not. A parental divorce during an already turbulent life of a teenager can be earth shattering. Regardless of age or developmental level, children and adolescents do survive the divorce process and can actually emerge with new and varied strengths. The following is a list of helpful suggestions to help a child cope more effectively with parents' separation...Read More

Post Holiday Blues
by Steve Wodka, Psy.D. x313
Typically, the winter months can be emotionally difficult for individuals, for a variety of reasons. People can be drained from the Christmas time hustle and bustle, and often impacted by unresolved family dynamics that might be revisited during holiday celebrations, interactions, and expectations...Read More

Tips for entering Couples Therapy
by Mark Bakal x314
A client must be willing to examine oneself. If you are entering therapy to find your partner guilty as charged, think again...Read More

Reduce Stress with Exercise
by Susan E. Bennett, PHD x320
Lately, there has been an increased awareness of the benefits of exercise. Several studies show that your workout will not only help improve your strength, endurance, and resistance to illness, but will also decrease stress (Claudine Chamberlain, ABCNews.com, June 2001). A recent study at Duke University indicated exercise may not only alleviate stress but can reduce the symptoms of clinical depression as well (James Blumenthal, Archives of Internal Medicine, Oct. 25, 2000). In this 4-month study, 60% of people who engaged in aerobic activity (a brisk walk) three times a week for 30 minutes recovered from depressive symptoms without the use of antidepressant medication...Read More

Creating A Happy Holiday Season
by Mark Vogel, Psy.D. x318
Participating in holiday events is like many other forms of human activity. It has the potential and sometimes the expectation of being a fun, enjoyable, and fulfilling time shared with friends and family. Most people can remember times when holiday events have been fun and meaningful and provided many good memories...
Read More

Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders
Timothy Re, Psy.D., CADC x 317
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is a relatively common condition that affects between 2- 3% of all people. Obsessions are intrusive, unwanted thoughts that cause anxiety and compulsions are behaviors constructed to relieve this anxiety. There are many subtypes of Obsessive-Compulsive (O-C) behaviors that are generally not recognized as Obsessive-Compulsive conditions. These lesser known “spectrum” disorders are generally treatable and respond to the behavioral and medical treatment of mainstream OCD...Read More