New Harbinger Publications Inc. Logo
Off the Couch - The Latest in Psychology and Mental Health

Current Articles | Categories | Search | Syndication

Articles from relaxation
Friday, January 08, 2010
five good minutes: set your intention

Excerpt from Five Good Minutes®


Setting an intention is a way of pointing yourself in a direction, toward an important value or goal. It is a way to identify a quality you wish to nurture in your life.


A skillful intention is more like a friendly guide. Acknowledge from the beginning that important changes take time. You, like everyone else, must make the effort to return repeatedly to the goal you seek.

Read More..

Posted By newharb / 9:00 AM / Friday, January 08, 2010
Thursday, January 07, 2010
five good minutes: exercises & activities

Excerpt from Five Good Minutes®


You will work with a variety of approaches in your five good minutes. They include the following:


  • Mindfulness
  • Meditation
  • Imagery
  • Acting wholeheartedly
Read More..

Posted By newharb / 9:00 AM / Thursday, January 07, 2010
Monday, November 30, 2009
mindful breathing

by guest blogger Sameet Kumar, Ph.D. author of Grieving Mindfully and The Mindful Path Through Worry and Rumination


The old saying “as above, so below” is particularly well suited to learning both the practice of mindfulness and the revolutionizing changes that mindfulness can bring. Mindfulness can change how you experience yourself and thereby affect how you manage your relationships with others. The more mindful you become of your thoughts and feelings, the less likely are you to be controlled by ruminations and irrational worries, or get swept up into the maelstrom of destructive emotions.

Read More..

Posted By newharb / 8:00 AM / Monday, November 30, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
bedtime rituals; empty your mind

Excerpt from five good minutes in the evening


If kids can have bedtime rituals, why can’t you? Tonight, be mindful of your bedtime routine and be fully present in each moment-to-moment ritual. Take extra care in brushing your teeth, washing your face, drying your hands, changing into your comfy pajamas, pulling back the blankets, fluffing your favorite pillow, and hugging yourself good night.

Read More..

Posted By newharb / 9:00 AM / Friday, November 20, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
banishing sheep from your bed

by guest blogger Colleen E. Carney, Ph.D., co-author of Quiet Your Mind and Get to Sleep

 

So you are lying awake and you can’t shut off your thoughts…sound familiar?

You are in good company. Not being able to shut off your mind is one of the most commonly cited troubles in insomnia. But many people do not have effective strategies to deal with this pesky problem.

 

The most common “strategy” in popular culture is to count sheep. So is it effective? Let’s first consider why someone would recommend that you count sheep to help you set aside your thoughts and go to sleep. While some believe it is an activity that would promote such boredom as to facilitate sleep, there is probably a better explanation.

Read More..

Posted By newharb / 12:00 AM / Monday, November 16, 2009
Friday, October 02, 2009
Tackling Turbulence

By guest blogger Duane Brown, Ph.D., author of Flying Without Fear.

Recent airline accidents may have made boarding an airplane more of a challenge for people who are afraid to fly and may have persuaded others that flying should be avoided altogether. The purpose of this note is to examine reports about these accidents and offer advice to fearful fliers.

Read More..

Posted By newharb / 12:00 AM / Friday, October 02, 2009
Monday, August 31, 2009
Sleep: Why What Happens at Night Can Mean Everything to Your Day

excerpt from The Smart Student's Guide to Healthy Living

 

After a long day of classes, the late shift at work, or just experiencing the mayhem of your dorm hallway, you retreat to the quiet sanctuary of your room. As you climb into your bed, wrap yourself in the sheets and attempt to fall asleep, you suddenly remember that you have a biology quiz tomorrow and you haven’t opened the book yet. As you climb out of bed, you tell yourself, “Missing and hour of sleep won’t kill me,” and you study longer. You nail the quiz and feel fine. But as those nights of short sleep become the norm rather than an occasional thing, you begin to see the effects. You begin to feel drained and tired all day. Of course, there will be nights when you will sleep less, whether it is after a big concert or when you’re studying for finals. But chronic sleep loss adds up to being more than tired and grouchy. Lost sleep can cause problems like these:

Read More..

Posted By newharb / 12:00 AM / Monday, August 31, 2009
Monday, June 01, 2009
Using Music to De-Stress
While this book is directed toward students, the following piece, as well as the entire book, can be applicable to anyone. MUSICAL RELEASES Music is recognized for its therapeutic value everywhere from the operating room to the counselor’s office. According to the American Music Therapy Association (2006), music helps alleviate pain and promote wellness, expression of feelings, and memory. Whether it’s punk rock on your mp3 player, singing in the shower or playing classical guitar in the dorm room, consider all of the ways that music can help you release stress. Learn a new instrument. Why not? Take a piano or guitar class. Maybe you took piano lessons as a kid and gave them up. Wouldn’t you love to pound away on something from Coldplay or Ben Folds? What about the guitar? It is never too late to form your own band. Join a musical group, or form one. Once you’ve learned an instrument, or found friends who share your passion for sound, take it up ...
Read More..

Posted By newharb / 12:00 AM / Monday, June 01, 2009
Page 1 of 2First   Previous   [1]  2  Next   Last   
Print  

related books

MBSR Workbook Stress Less, Live More Don't Pick On Me Choosing To Live Connecting the Dots
Bookmark and Share
Subscribe
Print  

a blog by Russ Harris, MD

Print  
NH Authors on Huffington Post Syndicate  
NH Authors on Psychology Today

 
Barton Goldsmith, Ph.D.

 
Cassandra Vieten, Ph.D.

 
Jefferson Singer, Ph.D.

 
John P. Forsyth, Ph.D.

 
Karen Leland

 
Kelly McGonigal, Ph.D.

 
Marilyn Krieger, Ph.D.

 
Mary Lamia, Ph.D.


Rick Hanson, Ph.D.


Russ Federman, Ph.D., ABPP

 
Russ Harris, MD

 
Stephanie Sarkis, Ph.D.

 
Steven C. Hayes, Ph.D.


Susan Albers, Psy.D.

 
Susan Pease Gadoua

 
Troy DuFrene



NH Authors on Psych Central

  Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D.

  Pavel Somov, Ph.D.

  Suzanne Phillips, Psy.D., ABPP

  Dianne Kane, DSW

NH Authors on You Tube

  Barton Goldsmith, Ph.D.

   Jeff Wood, Psy.D.

   Patty James, MS

  Susan Albers, Psy.D.

  Ronald Alexander, Ph.D.

  MBSR Workbook

Print