Dr. K Psychiatry

02/22/2026

Science is starting to find explanations for why gratitude practice improves resilience.

Scientific research reveals that practicing gratitude physically rewires your brain.

Expressing gratitude is far more than a polite gesture; it is a biological catalyst that physically reshapes the human brain. Through the process of neuroplasticity, consistently focusing on appreciation strengthens neural circuits linked to emotional regulation and resilience. This habit triggers the immediate release of dopamine and serotonin—the body’s natural feel-good chemicals—while simultaneously lowering levels of the stress hormone cortisol. By activating the prefrontal cortex and the hypothalamus, gratitude provides a natural boost to mental health, effectively training the mind to prioritize well-being over distress.

Beyond immediate mood improvements, a dedicated gratitude practice shifts the brain’s fundamental operating mode from survival to growth. While the human brain is naturally wired for threat detection, intentional thankfulness trains it to scan the environment for opportunities and positive outcomes instead. Whether through journaling or verbal acknowledgment, this repetitive focus builds lasting synaptic connections that make optimistic thinking an automatic habit. Over time, this mental shift fosters a more balanced emotional state, proving that the simple act of noticing the good can yield profound and permanent neurological benefits.

source: Emmons, R. A., & McCullough, M. E. (2003). Counting blessings versus burdens: An experimental investigation of gratitude and subjective well-being in daily life. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

02/18/2026

Cannabis abuse has now overtaken alcohol as the most common reversible contributor to mental health problems. Among people referred to me, more people are using it daily, than people who don't use it. Users of cannabis continue to be perplexed as to why they still have problems with concentration, motivation and mood dysregulation. I'm sorry, but there is very little I can do to help you until you help yourself get free from cannabis use. You won't even really begin to see the effects it was having on you until it is out of your system for at least three months because that's how long it takes to leach out of your fat cells, where it accumulates.
- Dr. K

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02/10/2026

I was thinking about this today. This is just the beginning.

02/07/2026

I’m not sure who this person is or his background but he has some good things to say here about anger. Some of it is a bit oversimplified in terms of what’s going on but still useful when understanding and dealing with anger. Anger does not acutely shrink the brain but chronically, maybe. It does draw your resources away from the thinking part (prefrontal cortex) into the flight or fight part (amygdala) and most of the time it’s unnecessary for survival. His advice on dealing with it is right on.

01/30/2026

We have had a few people asking about longer appointments or more frequent appointments. Although I might suggest a time frame in which we might expect to see the impact of medication changes, I don’t mind if you want to make an earlier appointment to talk about something else. If the appointment is only to discuss medication issues or renewal, then usually 15 minutes is enough, but you have the option of booking a longer one if you have more to talk about than that.

As a reminder we still need 24 hours notice of cancellation. Fortunately the ability to do video appointments usually makes it possible to keep your appointment unless you’re deathly ill. Some people do their video visits from their car to get privacy. For that you need the free Zoom app on your phone.

Some folks are still habitually late. I try not to take that personally but ask that you be ready at least 5 minutes before. Sometimes the app wants to update before you can begin.

We are getting busier, so it’s a good idea to arrange your visit at least a week before you want it.
Thanks,
Dr. K

01/12/2026

Worry makes you suffer twice... once in your mind, and again in life.

It drains your energy before anything happens
and steals your peace without changing the outcome.

Save your strength for what is real.
Meet life when it arrives, not before. 🌿

01/10/2026

Here's a little story from a book I'm reading about CBT. Apparently true. A couple were sailing in the Virgin Islands, and sent out a distress signal saying "help, we're trapped in the Bermuda Triangle! We sail 20 yards one direction then are stopped, we sail in another direction 20 yards and we are again stopped, we're trapped!"

A rescue boat came along, sized up the situation and said, "You're not trapped by the Bermuda Triangle, you forgot to lift your own anchor!" This anecdote sometimes applies to people who are stuck in depression. They may not be able to see that it is their own negative thinking patterns that are acting as the anchor preventing them from sailing free.

- Dr. K
PS. The book is called Overcoming Resistance in Cognitive Therapy by Robert Leahy

01/10/2026

Granddaughter Sage sings an old standard 🥰. She’s not yet 2 😍

01/09/2026

Facing a difficult decision? Imagine how you’re going to feel one month after you make it, then six months, one year, 5 years later. Wouldn’t you rather get over that hump starting now?
Dr. K

01/06/2026

I wonder if the process of retraining the mind with CBT is like training a little tree with bonsai wire? It might be uncomfortable at first. Young branches are more flexible, but you might hear them creak as they bend. People are like that too. We can be flexible, but we might complain as we are doing that. But the long term outcome, if you stick with it, can be a thing of beauty, and after a while, you can take off the training wire and the new shape becomes normal. Notice below the old branch, representing an old brain circuit. It's about to be snipped off. That doesn't really happen in CBT and the old circuit can still be used if you let it. Keep focusing on new growth.
- Dr. K

01/03/2026

Here is a fallacy of belief, from Overcoming Resistance in Cognitive Therapy by Robert Leahy.

01/03/2026

Self-condemnation amplifies depression. Don’t do it.
-Dr. K