Our Latest Blogs

Gender Dysphoria in Teens – What Parents Need to Know (Frequently Asked Questions)

Gender Dysphoria in Teens - What Parents Need to Know

Despite the fact there is evidence that gender dysphoria has existed since early human civilizations, many people have not heard of this concept until recently. Gender dysphoria is defined by the National Health Service (UK) as “a condition where a person experiences discomfort or distress because there’s a mismatch between their biological sex and gender […]

5 Self-Care Practices that Will Benefit Your Mental Health

Practicing self-care is about knowing what we need to do to take care of ourselves. It involves taking deliberate actions to support our overall health and wellness. Often overlooked, these practices can improve mental health and reduce the risk of disorders like depression and anxiety. Anyone can take these simple steps to support a healthy […]

Dov Kugelmass, PhD

Dov Kugelmass, PHD

Psychologist
Storrs, CT
Glastonbury, CT

Dr. Kugelmass is a licensed psychologist with a private practice in Storrs and Glastonbury, CT. He works with adults of all ages on issues of anxiety, stress reduction, lifestyle and health behavior change, relationship issues, and academic and work success.

Grounding Techniques for Trauma Symptoms

Grounding Techniques for Trauma Symptoms (PTSD)

Many people have experienced traumatic events during childhood or later. Some may not even have considered them to be traumatic. These traumas might include being the victim of or exposure to violence; physical, sexual or emotional abuse; severe neglect; bullying; a serious accident or illness; domestic violence; death of a parent or other close relative; […]

David Kurt Sakheim, PhD

David Sakheim

Clinical Psychiatrist
New Haven, CT

Dr. Sakheim is a licensed clinical psychologist who has a private practice in New Haven, CT. He has a feminist, relationship-based approach to therapy, working with individuals who have extensive trauma.

PTSD and Substance Use: How Trauma Fueled My Addiction

PTSD and Substance Use: How Trauma Fueled My Addiction

“And all the while I feel like I’m standing in the middle of a crowded room, screaming at the top of my lungs, and no one even looks up.” I remember watching Titanic as a kid, empathizing with Rose and her emotional turmoil. Growing up, I always felt like I was drowning and desperately waiting […]

Schizoaffective Disorder: What Lies Within

To live life means to go through a series of roadblocks in our journey, but what happens when the roadblock stems from a mental health disorder? Every mental health disorder is unique and no one goes through similar symptoms or experiences. Each and every person’s experience is distinct. And any mental health disorder can bring […]

When You Have More Than One Diagnosis: Integrated Treatment for Co-occurring Disorders

Integrated Treatment for Co-occurring Disorders

According to a recent survey in 2010, over 45% of individuals struggling with addiction, have also been diagnosed with a co-occurring disorder. Co-occurring disorders, also known as dual diagnosis, refer to the combination of substance abuse and the presence of a mental health disorder. Over 16% of individuals receiving treatment for substance abuse have also […]

How The Gig Economy Benefits Those With Mental Health Disorders

How the gig economy benefits those with mental health disorders

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., and they affect tens of millions of adults. Approximately 72 percent of individuals polled claim daily stress and anxiety interferes with their lives in some capacity — 56 percent while working. Speaking of which, depression is among the top three personal employee problems in […]

Spring Lake Ranch Therapeutic Community

The Ranch Program
Cuttingsville, VT

The Spring Lake Ranch program is centered around the upkeep of a 700 acre farm where residents and staff participate in all the work involved in keeping a community of nearly 70 people going year round. The Ranch program focuses on teamwork, creating action plans with goals and identifying specific strategies to each individual’s needs.

How Depression May Be Harming Your Health

how depression can hurt your health

Depression is a silent killer when ignored. Many people suffering from depression never seek medical attention during their entire lives. They choose to absorb the burden of depression into their different body systems. This can lead to physical symptoms and various diseases at a later stage. This is a more serious issue than you might […]

Creativity and Recovery: The Mental Health Benefits of Art Therapy

man doing art therapy

Art – no matter whether you choose to create it yourself or simply observe and enjoy it – is a relaxing and inspiring activity for many people. However, the particular benefits of artistic expression go much further than relaxation and enjoyment. Studies suggest that art therapy can be very valuable in treating issues such as […]

LGBTQIA+ and Mental Illness: How Relationships Help Protect Mental Health

mental health in the lgbtqia community

When it comes to the topic of sexual minorities, our outlook as a society has progressed and improved over time. But there is still plenty of stigma and discrimination being propagated all around us, and it has a negative impact on the mental health of this particular group. Here is what you need to know […]

Our American Dream: Independence for All Americans, Including Those with Mental Illness

All people value independence, but for Americans it is our defining trait. Whether we descended from the Mayflower, or are first generation Americans born to immigrants, we were raised on a narrative that our forebears came here seeking independence and a better way of life. Never mind that some people’s ancestors were always here, while […]

Therapy in Nature: 4 Mental Health Benefits of Nature Exposure

Many people overlook the positive impact that the natural environment has on mental health. Your surroundings can vastly affect the way you think and feel – and regular exposure to nature has been shown to be healthy for the mind, body and soul. Here are four of the reasons why connecting to nature is crucial […]

Improving Mental and Physical Health – The Yoga Way!

As many as 1 in 5 Americans live with mental illnesses that include depression, anxiety and schizophrenia, among others. Many of these individuals often face problems in accessing health care that they desperately require, and even then, available medications or treatment may not be sufficient, resulting in unsatisfactory progress. Due to this and other reasons, […]

Failure to Launch Part 5: Before You Write the Eviction Letter – Laying the Groundwork for a Successful Transition to Independent Living for Your Young Adult

Failure to Launch

For the past few weeks, social media and the major news networks have been buzzing with a story about a New York couple who successfully sued to have their 30-year-old son evicted from their home. News outlets from Good Morning America to The New York Times are calling it a “real- life case of Failure […]

The Truth About Bulimia: 8 Common Myths About This Eating Disorder Exposed

the truth about bulimia

Bulimia is not a fad, nor a phase. It is a serious mental health disorder, which affects both men and women of all ages. On the surface, it can appear to be associated solely with food or body image. But bulimia is beyond that. It is a double-edged sword. The disorder is characterized by a […]

Robert DiRoma Jr., LMSW, LADC

Drug and Alcohol Counselor
Darien, CT

Robert DiRoma is a licensed master social worker (LMSW) and a licensed drug and alcohol counselor (LADC) with a private practice in Darien, CT. He specializes in substance and alcohol abuse and mental health disorders.

BHcare Parent Child Resource Center

Parent Child Resource Center (PCRC)
Derby, CT

BHcare’s Parent Child Resource Center (PCRC) is a state-licensed child guidance clinic serving children and families struggling with emotional and behavioral challenges. The PCRC staff focuses on nurturing children’s strengths and believes children and families can recover and have better lives.

Dealing With Post-Accident Depression

It is very common to feel helpless and anxious after an accident. These symptoms can speak to the development of post-traumatic depression. Depression occurs when one feels powerless over upsetting surges of negative emotions. While this involves different emotions for different people, most of those entering rehabilitation services while suffering from post-accident depression report a […]

Greenwich, Connecticut

The town of Greenwich, established in 1640, is one of the oldest towns in Connecticut. Located only 29 miles from New York City, on Connecticut’s “Gold Coast,” Greenwich has the convenience of being close to a big city, with the comfort and security of the country. Greenwich has been named as one of the top places to live. Greenwich has a population of 62,256 and a median household income of $134,223. […]

Celebrating All the Moms Who Take Care of Family Mental Health on Mother’s Day

Anyone know what day of the year sees more phone traffic than any other? That’s right, Mother’s Day, which this year falls on May 13 in the United States. Calls on that day can rise by as much as 37%, as dutiful sons and daughters across the country get on the phone to convey something […]

Music: A Sound Outlet for Addiction Treatment

When dealing with a substance use disorder, sometimes, the best thing you can do for yourself and your recovery efforts is to push the outside world away. Music and music therapy are excellent ways to recover from a difficult past. Here are the benefits of music therapy along with pointers on a few of the […]

New York Artist GH Kleiner Showcases His Creative Work on RTOR.ORG for May Mental Health Awareness Month

Today, we kick off May Mental Health Awareness Month with a guest blog post from a New York man who found a way back from the pain of a mental health crisis through the exercise of creativity. GH Kleiner describes himself as “an empath who can visualize and draw my thoughts and feelings.”  His artwork […]

Why “Love Yourself” Is Good Advice to Follow When Struggling With Mental Health

“Love yourself.” Everywhere I go these days, I feel I hear or see some form of this advice. The truth is, some days it’s hard to love anything in the world if you struggle with mental illness, let alone yourself. When I began what I’d call my “journey to recovery” or, better, my “journey back […]

Alicia Murray, MD

Psychiatrist
White Plains, NY
New York, NY

Dr. Murray is a psychiatrist with a private practice in White Plains and New York, NY. She specializes in the treatment of addictive disorders and also generalized mental health disorders in adolescents and adults.

NBA Star Kevin Love’s Heartfelt Letter to the World: Why More Superstars Need to Speak Up About Mental Health

Mental health is bigger than just a diagnosis and the labels associated with it. Recently, a number of prominent athletes and celebrities bravely admitted their struggles with mental health. NBA Star Kevin Love in his recent article about his mental illness states that, “Mental health isn’t just an athlete thing. What you do for a […]

Some Advice for Parents of Depressed Teens

When I was a teenager suffering from major depression, my parents tried their best to support me, yet ended up doing all the wrong things. This isn’t something they can be blamed for — understanding another person, even those closest to us, is difficult enough even when mental health issues don’t come into play. When […]

5 Facts About Mindfulness for Better Mental Health

Mindfulness is somewhat of a trendy topic these days, but underneath all the publicity it can have profound benefits. Many of us will suffer from anxiety and depression at some point in our lives. Usually they serve as natural reactions to challenges we have to face or problems we need to overcome. However, at points […]

How Do Nutrition and Mental Health Work Together For Your Benefit?

The Wealth Health Organization1 defines mental health as a complete state of well-being and not just an absence of any disease. It would include your ability to deal with everyday stress and your healthy interaction with people around you. And the factors that govern this state of well-being range from genetic to environmental conditions. According […]

Top 5 Mental Health Benefits of Quitting Drugs and Alcohol

I remember my struggles with quitting drugs and alcohol quite vividly. I was at a point in my life when chasing intoxicated states was all that I could think about. It was a way for me to escape the negative feelings and the harsh realities of where I was in my life. My thought process […]

Downward Dog Your Way out of Depression

The Benefits of Yoga on Mental Health Depression is a common disorder that affects people from every nationality, religion, and gender. Depression does not discriminate when it chooses its victims. According to the University of Southern California, as of 2016, mental health and well-being was among the top five public health concerns in the United […]

Newport Academy Outpatient Treatment Program

Outpatient Treatment Program
Darien, CT

The Newport Academy Outpatient Program treats teens aged 13–19 who are experiencing psychological, behavioral, and substance abuse issues, including depression, anxiety, and trauma. The Outpatient Program is founded on an ongoing commitment to recovery, essential for ensuring sustainable results.

Newport Academy Residential Treatment Center

Residential Treatment Center
Bethlehem, CT

The Newport Academy Residential Treatment Center for teens consists of a minimum of 30 hours of clinical and experiential therapy each week, plus 20 hours of academic study and tutoring. With a staff-to-resident ratio of five to one, we offer compassionate, attentive, and responsive care.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS): A Major Depression Treatment That Doesn’t Rely on Medication

Just about everyone has experienced a chapter in his or her life when things just looked bleak.  An occasional bout with the blues is a normal aspect of the human condition and our physiological and psychological response to hitting a patch of difficult challenges.  For most people, the depression symptoms will resolve in a timely […]

Daily Rituals You Can Do At Home to Promote Long-Term Health and Mental Strength

Daily rituals have been linked to long-term health. In Japan, which is known for its long lifespans, researchers have found that seeing “small joys in everyday life” makes life more fulfilling and might even be associated with living a longer, happier life. For decades, researchers from around the world have been seeing a trend among […]

The Light of Bipolar Disorder: Creativity

BipolarDisorderandCreativity - Sunset with girl in field

So often, we are consumed by the negative factors that revolve around bipolar disorder. We are overwhelmed with the depression, the mania, and the anxiety. We are absorbed with our struggles and ability to maintain balance. We forget there is a bright side to our mental disorder. The creativity gene is festering inside of all […]

How to Stop Compulsive Hair Pulling: 10 Things You Can Do to Beat Trichotillomania

How to Stop Compulsive Hair Pulling: 10 Things You Can Do to Beat Trichotillomania

Trichotillomania is a recurrent, chronic compulsion to pull hair. It usually starts in early adolescence and can last a lifetime. The behavior causes significant distress physically and emotionally often causing people to withdraw socially for fear of judgment. There is no cure for this disorder, but it can be successfully managed. Therapy by a qualified […]

What Comes First: Addiction or a Mental Health Problem?

Mental health and addiction. What comes first?

According to the Journal of the American Medical Association: 53% of people with a mental health disorder also experience problems with alcohol or drugs. 29% of people with a mental health disorder have a co-occurring addiction disorder at some point in their lives. These statistics may lead you to believe that mental health problems cause […]

Regina Colangelo, LCSW

Psychotherapist
Rye, NY

Regina Colangelo, LCSW is a psychotherapist with a private practice in Rye, New York. She offers individual counseling, couples counseling and family therapy. Regina brings compassion, knowledge of human dynamics and relationships to her practice.

Dean Leone, PhD

Psychologist
Westport, CT
Guilford, CT

Dr. Leone is a psychologist with a private practice in Westport and Guilford, CT. where he treats individuals and couples struggling with a wide range of concerns. He specializes in substance abuse and dual diagnosis treatment and is currently running groups aimed helping people reduce or completely abstain from substance misuse.

Joseph F. Goldberg, MD

Psychiatrist
Norwalk, CT

Dr. Goldberg is a psychiatrist specializing in bipolar disorder and depression with a private practice in Norwalk, CT. He has over 25 years of experience in academic research studying the features and treatment of mood disorders and is the author of over 160 research publications and 3 textbooks on psychopharmacology and mood disorders.

Sanders M. Stein, MD

Psychiatrist
Stamford, CT

Dr. Stein is a board certified adult, child and adolescent psychiatrist with a private practice in Stamford, CT. His treatment approach includes the use of psychopharmacology and psychotherapy.

Is Mental Illness a Disease: A Trauma-based Look at Mental Health Disorders Through the Lens of West Side Story

There are many great songs from the musical West Side Story, but my favorite has always been the brilliantly satirical “Gee, Officer Krupke.”  In this number, the Jets’ leader Riff plays a troubled youth who is passed between experts eager to judge what is wrong with him.  In the hand-off between psychiatrist and social worker […]

Westfield Day School

westfield-day-school-logo

Theraputic School
Armonk, NY

The Westfield Day School in Armonk, New York, is a therapeutic day school for “bright underachievers,” including students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, learning disabilities, and social-emotional problems.

Gianni Faedda, MD

Psychiatrist and Clinical Psychopharmacologist
New York, NY

Dr. Faedda is a psychiatrist and a clinical psychopharmacologist specializing in mood disorders. He helps patients and families grasp diagnostic issues, treatment options, identify treatment priorities, strengths, vulnerabilities, and maximize the patient’s support system.

Alison Emel, PhD

Clinical Psychologist
Riverside, CT

Dr. Emel is a licensed clinical psychologist in Connecticut and co-founder of The Behavior Therapy Group, a therapy practice in Riverside, CT specializing in compassionate, effective, evidence-based treatments for adolescents and adults.

Kristie Calvillo, LCSW

Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Riverside, CT

Kristie Calvillo is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Connecticut and co-founder of The Behavior Therapy Group, a therapy practice in Greenwich, CT, specializing in compassionate, effective, evidence-based treatments for adolescents and adults.

4 Exercise Programs for Better Mental Health: Giving You the Endurance and Strength to Push Through Life’s Struggles

Life can be hard, and proof of this sobering reality are the 43 million Americans who suffer from some form of mental health condition, according to Mental Health America. Almost half of those 43 million have a co-occurring substance abuse problem, while some 9.6 million experience suicidal thoughts. Those figures might even increase in the […]

Darien, Connecticut

Located in Connecticut’s lower Fairfield County between Stamford and Norwalk, Darien is a historic, residential town, incorporated in 1820. With a population of approximately 21,000 and a median household income of $200,000, Darien is known as one of the wealthiest towns in America. Regardless of the town’s affluence, 5.4% of residents live below the federal poverty line and there is a significant need for human services from the public and private nonprofits sectors to serve the town’s residents. […]

Recommended Treatments for Panic Attacks and Depression

Panic Attacks It is estimated that at least 18% of the US population suffer from panic attacks. Panic attacks are different from other anxiety disorders due to their relatively short and sudden nature. Panic attacks affect people differently, although they can still be treated effectively with a variety of methods as described below. Cognitive Behavioral […]

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) – More Than Just the “Winter Blues”

Most people look forward to the wonderful colors of fall and exciting holiday season after that. It is the time to enjoy being indoors with family and friends. However, for patients suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), the shortening of days and lack of sunshine is not something to look forward to. For these patients, […]

When Your Young Adult with “Failure to Launch” Won’t Get Help: Survival Tips for Parents Who Aren’t Done Parenting

Failure to Launch Syndrome

Failure to Launch Part 4 – In a blog post from 2016 I wrote about a serious problem in our culture, which I call “failure to launch” (FTL) I use this term in a non-judgmental way to describe the frustration and concern parents and other family members feel when a young person seems unable to move […]

Understanding the Connection Between Mental Health and Substance Abuse

Nearly 45 million American adults struggle with mental illness each day. To complicate matters, individuals who have mental health disorders are much more likely to struggle with substance abuse than the general population. Approximately 20 million American adults have a diagnosed substance use disorder, and over eight million Americans struggle with both a diagnosed substance […]

How to Help Your Teen Through Depression When Being Bullied At School

October is National Bullying Prevention Month, a month-long observance to encourage communities nationwide to unite and raise awareness of bullying prevention through events, activities, and education. In recognition of this event, www.rtor.org has engaged psychologist Todd Griffin, Director of TG Psychology in Penrith, Australia to write a guest blog on bullying and depression in teens. […]

Abnormally Normal: How to Help a Friend or Family Member with OCD

All people have some form of obsession in their lives, it is what drives the human condition. For most people, they can simply rate these things on the standard scale of wants to needs. And with those wants and needs come compulsions to quell these wants and needs in their heads by doing something. Every […]

How to Find the Right Therapist for You

Finding the right therapist can be an intimidating task. You may be wondering where to begin, where to look, or what to look for. You may fear that you won’t know who is or isn’t a good fit for you and your particular needs. I’ve been there; I have had to navigate this process both […]

5 Easy Self Care Tips for When You Are Depressed

Coping with Depression | Depression Tips

Depression can be a crippling mental health disorder that can erase your happiness, steal your will, and cause physical symptoms to manifest that impact your health negatively. Depression  can be caused by genetics or life stressors, but can occur seemingly randomly. Knowing the causes does not help much when facing a depressive episode, but having […]

6 Ways That Depression May Lead to Substance Abuse

Depression is a mood disorder that can wreak havoc on your life. It comes with feelings of sadness, hopelessness, numbness, and isolation. It is this numbness, the inability to feel anything at all, that drives many people to substance abuse. Drugs and alcohol provide a shock to the brain so that suddenly, after months of […]

William Jarvie, LCSW-R

Family-Endorsed provider icon

Psychotherapist
Rochester, NY

William Jarvie, LCSW-R, is a licensed clinical social worker at University of Rochester Medical Center, Behavioral Health Partners in Rochester, NY.

Umesh Mehta, MD

umesh-mehta

Psychiatrist
Belle Mead, NJ

Dr. Umesh Mehta is a psychiatrist who specializes in the treatment of older adults with mental health disorders.

Tarique Perera, MD

Tarique-Perera

Psychiatrist
Greenwich, CT
Danbury, CT
New York, NY

Tarique Perera, MD, is a psychiatrist serving adolescents, adults, couples, and families in Greenwich, CT, Danbury, CT, New York, NY, and the surrounding communities.

Roseanna Bodner, LCSW

Roseanna Bodner LCSW

Psychotherapist
Turnersville, NJ

Roseanna Bodner, LCSW, is a psychotherapist who is in private practice serving clients in Turnersville, NJ, and surrounding areas.

Randi Cohen, M.D., PhD

randi-cohen

Psychotherapist and psychiatrist
Westport, CT

Randi Cohen, MD, PhD, is a psychotherapist and psychiatrist in private practice serving adults, couples, and families in Westport, CT, and the surrounding communities.

Rachel Duzant, PsyD

Family-Endorsed provider icon

Psychologist
Wethersfield, CT

Rachel Duzant, PsyD, is a psychologist in private practice serving adults in Wethersfield, CT, and the surrounding communities.

Phyllis Marton, LMHC

Phyllis Marton

Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)
Bedford Hills, NY

Phyllis Marton is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in private practice, providing counseling and therapy services to adults and adolescents in Bedford Hills, NY and the surrounding communities of Westchester County.