Our Latest Blogs

Devon Suozzi, LCSW

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Psychotherapist
New Canaan, CT

Devon Suozzi is a licensed clinical social worker in private practice serving New Canaan, CT, and the surrounding communities.

Susan Schrott, DCSW

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Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified Eating Disorder Specialist
White Plains, NY

Susan Schrott is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified Eating Disorder Specialist, and Certified Yoga Teacher.

Sunil Saxena, MD

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Psychiatrist
Stamford, CT
Southbury, CT
White Plains, NY

Sunil Saxena, MD, is a psychiatrist treating children, adolescents, and adults in the communities surrounding Stamford, CT, Southbury, CT, and White Plains, NY.

Elise Munoz, LCSW-R, DSW

Elise Munoz

Licensed Clinical Social Worker
White Plains, NY

Elise Munoz is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who specializes in treating anxiety disorders and depression in children, adolescents and adults.

Feng Liu, M.D.

Feng Liu

Psychiatrist
Scarsdale, NY
New York, NY

Feng Liu, M.D. is a psychiatrist in private practice serving children, adolescents, and adults in Scarsdale, NY, New York, NY, and the surrounding area.

Svetlana Leeds, PsyD

svetlana leeds

Clinical Psychologist
Stoughton, MA

Svetlana Leeds, Psy.D., is a clinical psychologist in private practice, providing therapy services to children, adolescents, adults and families in Stoughton, MA and the surrounding communities.

Failure to Launch Part 3: What It Is and What It Isn’t

Chances are if you landed on this webpage, you are concerned about a young adult who still lives at home and does not seem to be moving forward in life.  Maybe that person is you, or maybe it’s a son or daughter, or someone in your extended family.  That young person may have been diagnosed […]

Adrienne Lagin, LCSW

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Psychotherapist
Stamford, CT

Adrienne Lagin, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker in private practice serving children, adolescents, and adults in the Stamford, CT, and the surrounding communities.

David King, LCSW

david king lcsw

Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Katonah, NY
Westport, CT

David King, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker who serves children, adolescents, adults, and families in communities of Katonah, NY and Westport, CT.

Carla Kenney, LMHC

Carla Kenney

Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Worcester, MA

Carla Kenney is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who is in private practice, providing counseling services in the Worcester, MA and surrounding communities.

Joel Goldstein, MD

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Psychiatrist
Lexington, MA

Joel Goldstein, MD, is a psychiatrist in private practice serving children, adolescents, and young adults in Lexington, MA, and the surrounding communities. Dr. Goldstein treats a variety of mental health conditions including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, and schizophrenia.

Eleni Galiatsos, LCSW-R

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Licensed Clinical Social Worker
White Plains, NY

Eleni Galiatsos, LCSW-R, is a licensed clinical social worker in private practice serving adolescents and adults in White Plains, NY, and the surrounding communities.

Erica Fross, LCSW-R

erica fross

Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Larchmont, NY
Greenwich,CT

Erica Fross is a licensed clinical social worker who has been helping children, adolescents and adults overcome the effects of trauma since 1997.

Jennifer A. Ford, PsyD

jennifer a ford

Licensed Psychologist/Health Service Provider
West Bridgewater, MA

Jennifer A. Ford, Psy.D., is a licensed psychologist who is in private practice serving clients in West Bridgewater, MA and the surrounding areas. Dr. Ford specializes in the treatment of adolescents and young adults but accepts clients of all ages.

Susan Finkelstein, MD

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Board Certified Adult Psychiatrist and Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist
Westport, CTBoard Certified Adult Psychiatrist and Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist
Westport, CT

Dr. Finkelstein is an ABMS Board Certified psychiatrist, specializing in child and adolescent psychiatry.

Dr. Finkelstein is an ABMS Board Certified psychiatrist, specializing in child and adolescent psychiatry.

Where Has The Time Gone? Sending Your Young Adult Off To College

I saw a college bound young adult in my practice last week who described needing to create emotional distance between him and his parents in order to make the experience of leaving more manageable and palpable. He effortfully tried to create tension, but his parents would either apologize, try to be supportive or attentive toward […]

Alex Diaz, PhD, LCSW

Alex Diaz

Psychotherapist
Tuckahoe, NY

Alex Diaz, PhD, LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker in private practice providing therapeutic counseling to children, adolescents, adults and families from his office in Tuckahoe, NY and via Skype to national and international clients.

The Dialectical and Cognitive Behavior Therapy Center, LLC

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Psychotherapy
Westport, CT

The Dialectical and Cognitive Behavior Therapy Center serves to provide its clients with therapies that are of the highest quality and informed by the most recent research in psychological treatments; to provide training in dialectical and cognitive behavior therapy to professionals; and to educate the community about the potential benefits of dialectical and cognitive behavior therapies.

T.J. Butcher, LPC

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Psychotherapist
East Lyme, CT

T.J. Butcher, LCP, is a licensed professional counselor, in private practice serving children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families in East Lyme, CT, and the surrounding communities.

Victoria Bellucci, LCSW

victoria-bellucci

Psychotherapist
Brooklyn, NY

Victoria Bellucci, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker, in private practice, providing therapy services to adolescents, adults, and older adults in Brooklyn, NY, and the surrounding communities.

Jennifer Baumgold, LCSW

jennifer baumgold lcsw

Psychotherapist
Darien, CT

Jennifer Baumgold, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker in private practice, serving adolescents, adults, and couples in Darien, CT, and the surrounding communities.

Dr. Laura Seese – Educational Advancement Associates

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Educational Consultant
East Granby, CT
Serving children, adolescents and young adults with learning and social/emotional needs in the region, nation and beyond.

Laura Seese, PhD, is an Educational Psychologist and the Director of Educational Advancement Associates, an educational consulting firm that provides support to help students and their families select the best educational match to meet their needs.

ClearView Communities

clearview residential building

Housing/Residential, Education & Employment Services, Outpatient Treatment
Frederick, MD

ClearView Communities is a private nonprofit organization that provides residential rehabilitation services for adults struggling with a range of serious psychiatric diagnoses.

Skyland Trail

Residential Treatment Program
Atlanta, GA

Skyland Trail is a nationally recognized nonprofit mental health treatment organization, serving adults ages 18 and older with a primary psychiatric diagnosis.

College Students with Mental Health Challenges Now Have Options to Help Them Stay in School

The first big learning for me when I began my career in mental health more than thirty years ago was how many lives had been derailed by mental illness and how unnecessary that seemed to be.  I decided to specialize in the rehabilitation and recovery side of mental health because I believed that people with […]

Watching My Way to Mental Health – One Bird at a Time

Prothonotary Warbler perched on a tree branch.

In addition to his duties as Editor in Chief of www.rtor.org, Jay Boll has been an avid birder ever since he lived in the southern African nation of Zimbabwe, with its beautiful birds and wildlife. In a recent guest blog for Esperanza – Hope to Cope with Anxiety and Depression, Jay wrote about his pastime […]

Living Well with an Eating Disorder

living well eating disorder

  Eating disorders are some of the most dangerous and deadly mental health conditions. These disorders can take a large toll on one’s physical and mental health. Thankfully, recovery from eating disorders is very much possible. Here are thirteen notable people who recovered from an eating disorder and have continued to live well. Paula Abdul […]

Living Well with Borderline Personality Disorder

living well with borderline

Borderline personality disorder is a widely misunderstood disorder that is characterized by extreme mood swings, fear of abandonment, and destructive behaviors. While the symptoms of this disorder can affect a person’s life, it is possible to live well with this disorder. Here are ten examples of people who were able to achieve notable success while […]

Depression in Teenagers and What to Do About It

teen depression

Today’s post comes to us from blogger, Erica Silva. Her article breaks down teenage depression and its treatment options into simple terms that any teenager could find helpful. If you are a parent of a teenager who might be experiencing depression, this post could help him or her better understand what is going on with […]

Mental Health Recovery: 6 Themes of Hope for Mental Health Awareness Month

What is Mental Health Recovery to You-

Recovery is a term much used in mental health, but not always understood. Some people think of recovery in relation to a cure or getting better.  Others associate it with 12-step recovery from addiction. Mental health recovery can be all those things, but for those living with mental illness the term most often describes an […]

Failure to Launch Part 2: Setting Expectations for Young Adults at Home

Bearded young adult with game controller lying on couch.

Last year I wrote an article about young adult anxiety which quickly became one of our most popular posts on rtor.org. The article, Failure To Launch:  9 Tips for Managing Anxiety in Dependent Adult Children, is based on a podcast by Yale anxiety expert, Dr. Eli Lebowitz. Since it first appeared in 2016, many people […]

The Power of Mindful Writing

mindful writing

Just in time for National Poetry Month, today’s post comes to us from Family-Endorsed Provider, Marianela Medrano, PhD, LPC. Dr. Medrano is a psychologist, poetry therapist, and an accomplished writer. She shares her insights on the influence Mindful Writing can have on our mental health. Thank you, Dr. Medrano, for sharing your insights with us at […]

Cool Millennials and Stressed-Out Moms: Normalizing Excessive Drinking in Young Women

women and drinking

Both men and women enjoy drinking for a variety of reasons—to celebrate an event, to socialize with others, or calm down after a long day. Regardless of its benefits, alcohol can still cause dependence in both men and women. Yet, the stereotype of the alcoholic is usually pictured as a middle-aged man who would prefer […]

SuperBetter: The App that Turns Mental Health into a Winning Game

superbetter

Do you wish that taking care of your mental health and wellness was fun? Does it feel nearly impossible to break free from your negative thoughts and habits while taking steps to improve your overall happiness? Even with the guidance of a therapist, it still might feel daunting to work on your mental health every day. That’s […]

What Parents Need to Know about Psychotherapy

boy in therapy

Today’s post comes to us from Certified CBT Psychotherapist and Family-Endorsed Provider, Elise Munoz, LCSW-R. Her article answers the many questions parents might have about getting their child started in therapy. Thank you, Elise, for sharing your knowledge with us at www.rtor.org. — Veronique Hoebeke, Associate Editor   If your child or teenager is struggling with emotional, […]

Families Helping Families: A Place to Turn for Mental Health Help and Support

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  Have you ever faced a mental health crisis with someone in your family: a child who refuses to go to school because of intense anxiety; a teen who uses drugs and has started showing signs of a thought disorder; a sibling, spouse or parent who is severely depressed and no longer has the will […]

Self-Care Isn’t Selfish and Other Self-Care Myths Busted

love your self, self-care

  Have you noticed that the term “self-care” has recently become a dividing topic? It seems people fall into two camps: those who champion all forms of self-care and those who think self-care is selfishness in disguise. This is made clear by a video released on the popular YouTube channel, College Humor. In the video […]

6 Reasons to Contact a Resource Specialist for Free Mental Health Help: Part 1 – Getting the Right Diagnosis

woman in therapy

Are you concerned that you or someone you care about has an untreated mental health problem that needs attention? Or perhaps you are worried that the treatment provided isn’t helping. Effective treatment and the path to recovery begin with a careful assessment of the problem. That’s why an accurate diagnosis is so important. There are […]

7 Things Not to Say to a Loved One in Therapy (and What to Say Instead)

7-things-not-to-say-to-your-loved-one-in-therapy

Do you have a friend or family member who is in therapy? Maybe you’re new to the concept of mental health and aren’t familiar with what your loved one in therapy is going through. You might not be sure what to say when the topic arises. Here are some basic phrases you should avoid when talking to […]

Evaluating Outcomes: 5 Signs Cognitive Therapy is Working for Someone with Schizophrenia or Other Mental Illness

happy-in-therapy

When someone has a serious mental health disorder such as schizophrenia we always seem to know when things aren’t going well. It can be much harder to tell when things are going right. This final installment in our series on cognitive therapy looks at the results of treatment and how to know whether it is working. […]

Cognitive Therapy for Treatment of Psychosis: Choosing the Right Provider

teen-in-therapy

  Often when young people and their families visit Laurel House, the top question on their minds is how a “psychiatric rehabilitation” program like ours can help people with serious mental illness have a better life. The concept of mental health rehabilitation can be hard to understand at first. But people usually get it when […]

7 Signs You or a Loved One Can Benefit from Cognitive Therapy

men in therapy

In my first article in this series on cognitive therapy, I explained Why Cognitive Therapy Works for People with Schizophrenia and Other Serious Mental Illnesses. In Part 2 of the series, I give some examples of problems cognitive therapy can help with and who can benefit. Key Points from last week’s post on Why It […]

Understanding & Identifying OCD in the Classroom

OCD in the classroom

Today’s blog post comes to us from one of our Family-Endorsed Providers, Carla Kenney, LMHC. She writes on the importance of both educators and family members noticing the possible signs of OCD in children. Thank you, Carla, for sharing your expertise with us at rtor.org. —Veronique Hoebeke, Associate Editor Children say and do unusual things on occasion, or […]

Why Cognitive Therapy Works for People with Schizophrenia and Other Serious Mental Illnesses

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Part One in a four-part series on the benefits of cognitive therapy for people who experience psychosis. Forty years ago, there were two basic treatments for schizophrenia: medication and long-term hospitalization. Traditional psychotherapy was not usually offered because it did not help people with the most obvious and disturbing symptoms of psychosis: paranoia, delusions, and […]

Double Trouble & Beyond: Co-occurring Disorders in Our Favorite Characters from Movies, Novels and TV

Don draper

  In mental health, the term co-occurring disorders refers to the presence of two or more disorders in a person at the same time. In the past, co-occurring disorders were often confused with “dual diagnosis” (or “double trouble”), a term that was used to describe someone living with a mental illness and a substance use […]

Introvert Wellness: Getting Out There

friends-laughing

  Many of the introvert struggles I hear and have experienced myself revolve around socializing: some people are too loud and pushy, some friends don’t respect boundaries, and networking requires too much small talk. The list could go on and on. I empathize with how uncomfortable the world can be for introverts especially since most […]

No Letting Go: A Family’s Grief and Hope When Mental Illness Strikes

no letting go poster

  Thirty minutes into the family mental health drama No Letting Go 14-year old Tim (Noah Silverman) tosses aside his homework and shouts at his mother, “You don’t get it. I don’t need to go to school anymore.” He has been in therapy since he was ten and seems to have paralyzing anxiety that prevents […]

Sarah’s Scribbles Creator Talks with rtor.org: A Candid Interview with Comic Artist Sarah Andersen

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I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to meet and interview the lovely and hilarious Sarah Andersen, the creator of the widely popular Internet comic strip, “Sarah’s Scribbles.” The strip follows the main character, Sarah, as she finds herself in funny and all-too-real situations. Recently, Sarah has released a “Sarah’s Scribbles” book, Adulthood is a Myth. […]

Favorite Posts from rtor.org (2015-2016)

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rtor.org Celebrates ‘May is Mental Health Awareness Month’ Last year for Mental Health Awareness Month our Associate Editor Veronique and I posted an article on a different mental health topic each day in the month of May.  This year we add some new voices and perspectives to the conversation, with 5 guest bloggers joining us on […]

Robin Williams Still Remembered and a Father’s Grief Takes a Trip to India

Maybe the worst thing about suicide is its finality. It is the one mistake that allows no second chances. When Robin Williams took his life in August of 2014 an entire nation grieved.  Our grief was of a partly selfish nature as we realized that there would be no new Robin Williams characters to move […]

Spotting the Early Warning Signs of Heroin Addiction

Spotting the Early Warning Signs of Heroin Addiction

  In honor of Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Awareness Month, today’s guest blog post comes to us from Matt Abbasfard from Northbound in Newport Beach, CA. He discusses the warning signs of heroin and opioid addiction and the importance of seeking help for a loved one who might be struggling with a substance use disorder. Heroin […]

“Out of the Ashes” by Sallie Crotty

mountain with sunset and "out of the ashes" A story of recovery and hope written over the images

  The following recovery story comes from Sallie Crotty who writes about her own experiences with a mental health disorder. Sallie takes us on a journey from her first day to her last day at the Menninger Clinic and what she learned about herself and mental health recovery in the process. We are grateful to Sallie […]

Positive Quotes on Coping with Depression

Breel quote

  As a follow up to last month’s post Quotes About Anxiety I’ve selected a collection of quotes on coping with depression. Many people who experience serious depression refer to it in terms of deep emotional and spiritual pain. The writer John Styron in Darkness Visible: A Memoir of Madness describes his depression as an assault on […]

Welcome to The Family Side: A New Blog on Mental Health Recovery

family and friends sitting at a dining table

Dear Readers, Welcome to my new blog, The Family Side. For the past year and a half I have been blogging on www.rtor.org under the title of Eunoia: Thoughts on Healthy Thinking.  In my first post of May 2, 2014 I described my purpose for the blog: “to bring you news about best practices, research […]

The Healing Power of a Dog

go-fetch-wellness

Today’s wellness story comes from Jeff Fink, the founder of Go Fetch Wellness. Jeff’s story demonstrates the amazing impact animals can have on people’s lives and the importance of a holistic approach to mental health. We are grateful to Jeff for sharing his story with us at rtor.org. –Veronique Hoebeke, Associate Editor    Suffering, medications, […]

Interview with Ginny Levy, Co-editor of “Parts Unbound”

ginny levy

  On a gloomy Connecticut morning in December, I sat down with Ginny Levy to discuss her most recent project, Parts Unbound: Narratives of Mental Illness and Health which is published by LimeHawk Books. The book contains 18 essays detailing different experiences of mental illness. The majority of the writers speak about their own experiences of […]

Living Well With Depression

living well with depression

Depression is a common mental health disorder that tends to be cyclical in nature. Some people experience a single episode after a difficult event or period in their lives, while others struggle with it over the course of a lifetime. The following is a list of notable people who have experienced major depression or a […]

Green Wellness: How Spending Time in Nature Can Help You

Woman sitting in a field.

  It seems like a no-brainer that spending time outside in the fresh air while doing physical activities is good for us. Thankfully, there are many research findings which indicate that spending time in nature, especially while exercising, has many mental health benefits. From a boost in self-esteem and attention span to decreased feelings of depression […]

“Parts Unbound”: Many Voices on Mental Illness Come Together in a Single Volume

parts unbound cover

  If stories have the power to heal, then stories about mental illness have the potential to heal at the most fundamental level, touching on our sense of self and how we experience our lives.  We often think of illness in terms of its impact on the body.  But illness also affects the mind, and […]

“Looking Back and Laughing” by OCD Smiles

smiley face

Let me give you an idea of who I am, what type of OCD I have and what exactly I’m doing about it. I have an annoying OCD enemy situated at the forefront of my brain. We have been together for about 8 years on and off, we disagree on everything and I have been […]

Renaming Mental Illness: Getting Your Feedback

rename mental illness

  Does the term “mental illness” bother anyone else as much as it bothers me? As a treatment provider helping people to determine if they would like to discuss their “disability” with an employer, I have been in the uncomfortable situation of informing someone that their anxiety disorder, depression,  PTSD or some other DSM diagnosis […]

‘Love & Mercy’ and Recovery: Beach Boy Brian Wilson’s Comeback from Mental Illness

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  Rarely does a movie get beneath my skin the way that the Brian Wilson biopic Love & Mercy did. As a child growing up in the 60s I preferred the American pop sound of the Beach Boys to the anglicized rock and roll of the Beatles. So I silently cheered when Paul Dano playing […]

Back to School: 5 Tips for Kids With Mental Health Concerns

  It’s late August.  Interstate 95 in the Northeast is actually moving during morning and evening rush hours as workers ditch the daily commute for one last vacation of summer.  Meanwhile, the stores are full of parents and their children shopping for new clothes and school supplies.  Labor Day is late this year, but in […]

“Healing with Music and Getting Help when You Need It” – A Recovery Story

The following post is written by Drew Osbahr who uses his love of music as a way to recover from anxiety and depression. We are thankful that Drew has let us share his recovery story on rtor.org  -Veronique Hoebeke, Associate Editor  Hi, my name is Drew and I have been recovering one step at a time from […]