Posts by Amber Shimel:

We are living in historic times. As a society, we are scared, overwhelmed, tired, confused, and impatient. And it’s only been a few weeks. We are all settling into the certainty of uncertainty. So many of us aren’t sleeping well, we’re not eating well, and we’ve lost many of the…

As one of the most influential psychotherapists in history, Dr. Albert Ellis (1913-2007) is lauded for developing Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) in 1955. The first of what is now known as cognitive behavioral therapies, REBT is built on the idea that how we feel is influenced by how we…

Before criticizing your daughter or friend the next time they take a selfie, you might want to think again. If you feel selfies are for vain or self-absorbed people, it might be good to step back and take a look at “the whole picture” and find out that selfies may…

Today is the day you’ve been waiting for! Today you have a bonafide excuse to go through caution and calories to the wind. But did you know eating donuts today could actually be a healthy choice? In a ground-breaking Harvard research study (called the Alameda County Study, by Dr. George…

Sigmund Freud is perhaps the most well-known figure in all of psychology and psychiatry. He is the founder of psychoanalysis, and is responsible for developing the concepts of the id, the ego, and the superego. He is credited with exploring the role of repressed memories and conflict between members of…

“You’re such a firstborn.” “I can’t help it, I’m the baby in my family.” “I don’t care where we go; remember, I’m a middle child.” Most of us are aware of the role of birth order to some degree in our lives. If we have siblings, we attribute some of…

A psychiatrist and the founder of logotherapy, Viktor Frankl (1905-1997) is an important figure in the history of psychotherapy and psychology. In a rare appearance from 1972, his TED talk on the importance of believing in others has garnered nearly a million views. This short, four minute lecture encourages us…

The holiday season is a time for good cheer and merriment! Or is it? For many, the mention of Hanukkah, Christmas, or New Year’s brings as many winces as it does smiles. The fact is, the holiday season can be as much of a burden as it is a celebration;…

We need to talk. Few words strike fear in the heart more than these four little words. What follows these words is rarely positive. If you have recently experienced a breakup, they may be all too familiar. Oftentimes in relationships, both members are experiencing turmoil, but when the final breakup…

During the holiday season, we think of family traditions, making memories, and spending time with loved ones. However, the holiday season can cause feelings of grief to become much more intense. The loss of a loved one can make even the most joyful celebrations difficult to bear, no matter how…

Unemployment may come as a complete surprise, or it may be on the horizon for quite some time. When you are in between jobs, it is completely normal to also have an air of uncertainty that is hard to escape. Many times, those who are struggling with unemployment fight to…

For many, watching holiday movies is a treasured tradition. Christmas Day just cannot come without getting most of these favorites checked off the list. When watching a movie, you have the chance to snuggle with loved ones, sit by the fire, and drink hot chocolate. What could be better? With…