Sandra A. Shachar, PhD, Licensed Psychologist

People often feel guilty when they refuse to do favors. But establishing boundaries and staying within them is ultimately more helpful and is necessary for taking care of yourself. https://www.psychologytoday.com//how-set-yourself-success-

Sometimes, when people seek advice, they're doing it to gather ideas. But if you expected them to be pruning options, you may feel hurt if they don't do what you recommended. https://www.psychologytoday.com//what-do-when-your-partner

There are some simple things we can do to reduce symptoms and triggers for anxiety. You only need to find a few that work for you. https://www.psychologytoday.com//2/5-habits-reduce-anxiety

Communication is a skill that often requires practice to get right. Agreeing to the rules of a conversation before having it will help you and your partner both feel respected. https://www.psychologytoday.com//talking-about-talking-pre

Happy Father's Day from Dr. Sandra Shachar!

People with social anxiety tend to think other people judge them more harshly than they do. This is the result of several biases we can learn to resist. https://www.psychologytoday.com//the-psychology-social-anx

Your feelings are never wrong, but they don't always help you solve problems. Once you've processed a response such as anger, you'll be able to re-engage with a solution-oriented mindset. https://www.psychologytoday.com//how-fight-without-breaking

As you take each day at a time, it can become easy to loose track of how far you've come. But when you're feeling stuck, self-reflection is an important reminder of your strength. https://www.healthyplace.com//measuring-progress-in-mental

Sometimes it seems like the problems between couples are insurmountable. But a therapist could help you to find a new way of communicating, so that if a problem doesn't disappear, it might at least become more manageable. https://www.psychologytoday.com//is-it-worth-going-therapy

When we're anxious, it's easy to get caught in cyclical thoughts that ultimately leave us drained. One of the most important ways to soothe anxiety is to get into the habit of being more analytical about those thoughts; they often get less scary the more you consider them. https://www.psychologytoday.com//responding-thoughts-drive

Empathizing with a partner isn't quite the same thing as understanding their point of view. But both of these skills can be practiced, leading to a stronger relationship. https://www.psychologytoday.com//4-reasons-view-your-relat

As we look forward to welcoming the summer, we commemorate those who sacrificed for our freedom. We with you a good Memorial Day!

The challenges facing us are often more manageable when we break them into their component parts and separate which things we can and can't control. That's true even for things like stress from the ongoing pandemic. https://www.psychologytoday.com//building-resilience-durin

Boundaries are an important part of any healthy relationship. If you're not used to identifying and communicating yours, getting professional relationship counseling can help you feel happier with your partner. https://www.psychologytoday.com//how-set-and-respect-bound

Therapy is about learning better tools for communication, goal-setting, and emotional management. It's meant to work toward specific goals that will ultimately allow you to take your life in the direction you want to go. https://www.psychologytoday.com//how-therapy-works-the-imp

Dr. Sandra Shachar wishes you a safe President's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Uncertainty is a major source of anxiety. But there are still sure things we can focus on, including our values and what we're currently feeling. https://www.psychologytoday.com//4-crucial-tools-dealing-u