Marriage and Family Therapy

11/19/2020

11/09/2020

The Plastic Brain: Simply put, neuroplasticity means that the familiar pathways of our brain can be changed. Equally great news is that these changes can be made regardless of our age. If we employ the curiosity known to us as children to the world around us as adults, we have the opportunity to grow new neural networks. One way we can begin to reroute well-worn pathways in our brains is through directed mindfulness. This is where we direct our thoughts rather than let them flow freely. For example, if we notice butterflies in our stomach before we are scheduled to present a new topic at work, what happens if we focus on an image of our partner’s smiling face or memories of ocean waves crashing on the beach during a favorite vacation, instead of thinking about those annoying butterflies? A directed thought like this helps to slow down our reactions, similar to pushing ‘pause,’ allowing us to better notice our automatic reactions rather than become fully immersed in them. If you are in NY and looking to change outdated unhealthy patterns into a healthier way of engaging with the world around us, please email jammft7@gmail.com or call 518.618.4392 for an appointment.

10/29/2020

Announcement: Our next SI group meeting is November 10 at 7pm!!

SURVIVING INFIDELITY: A women's support group offering a safe place for individuals who are dealing with painful and often overwhelming emotions after a partner's betrayal. Coming together for purposes of gaining strength, insight and mutual support, this group is well-suited for individuals who are seeking to gain greater perspective about the issues of affairs in order to make better informed personal decisions. Participants can experience powerful benefits including the ability to break through feelings of isolation and the ability to see other participants at different stages of recovery; offering perspective that is difficult to achieve alone.

We will meet virtually using Theraplatform on Tuesday, November 10 at 7pm. Please email to register. Clients find this HIPPA compliant, confidential tool to be user-friendly. Group session fee is $20.

Email jammft7@gmail.com to reserve your spot today.

10/16/2020

If you did not witness a healthy, loving relationship between your parents, you may not know what a healthy loving relationship looks like.

Very often, our emotions are our guiding force when we enter into relationship with another. Before we know it, our emotions have led us to commit, yet do we all really know what commitment involves?

First, we need to understand that committing to sharing our lives with another person means more than spending blissful time together feeling 'in love.' It also means being able to compromise and enter into a dialogue with our partners, even when we don’t at first feel like it.

Love to many is considered an emotion, but we need to look at love more broadly and see that love also encompasses behavior.

If you live in NY and you'd like to learn more about healthy loving behaviors that honor both yourself and your partner, please set up an appointment by email (jammft7@gmail.com) or by phone (518.618.4392).

10/14/2020

Have you considered that our thoughts are the most powerful tools that we have? How are you using the power of your thoughts to help yourself? What might you change about your thinking that could lead to a change in your behavior? The possibilities are limitless!

09/27/2020

Self care is key not only to our own health, but to our capacity to engage in and support the world around us. What self care practices do you enjoy?

09/25/2020

We are facing the stress of COVID19 and many families are faced with job loss and financial hardship. While the article below speaks to becoming a minimalist, the content also talks about giving to others who may need unused items more than our closets and our attics do. For most, taking action and feeling productive in some way greatly helps to alleviate some of the stress that permeates our 2020 days. In this case, taking action to purge unused belongings and helping others at the same time turns into a win-win.

It is possible to break through the layer of perfectly good things. Consider these practical steps on how to let go.

09/09/2020

Successful long-term relationships are created through small words, small gestures, and small acts. - John Gottman

09/03/2020

According to Pia Mellody, there are 5 symptoms of Codependence: