Author Archives: ppcweb

Sadly, It is envy reports research psychologists Van de Den at Tilberg University. When we envy someone our persistence on a creative task improve. We also try to emulate the person we envy. Benevolent envy is creative while malevolent envy is destructive.

Tip: Your envy may be a good thing. Check to ensure it is rooted in benevolence, not negative seething. Sometimes a quick check with a therapist will help you turn into your motivation.

Psychology Today, February 2015, p. 50

Sponsored by PPC-Professional Psychologists & Counsellors – 664-0000, www.peopleproblems.ca

Who? Parents with young children, adopting parents, pre-natal parents
When? Saturday, January 30 OR Friday, February 26
Where? Oshun House, Saskatoon
Cost? $125.00 for one parent or $175.00 for one parent and a support person/couple
Call Gryba, Phillips & Associates to register at 934-5898 or on PicaTic.com
Lunch Included
REGISTER TODAY!

Click HERE For More Info

1. Watching nature on a digital format may not be the first recommendation, but recent studies show that we can boost our mood or drop our stress by looking at digital nature. National Geographic has some at nationalgeographic.com
2. Doing puzzles or Sudoku to keep your mind sharp is largely debunked. But, fast paced attention games can improve vision, increase attention, sharpen multi-tasking skills and speed decision making reports studies from neuroscientist Daphne Bavelier.
3. Use of your phone is like a drug. “Studies show there is a firing up of dopamine-related neurotransmitters” causing us to have addictive-like use with our devices.
4. Practice purposeful moderation by limiting your checks for mail, your Facebook time and your free time scrolling.

Scientific American Mind Page 16. November/December 2014

Sponsored by PPC-Professional Psychologists & Counsellors – 664-0000, www.peopleproblems.ca

Scientists have known for several decades the critical importance of REM sleep. Trouble is, we cannot make ourselves have it. Ken Wright, director of Sleep and Chronobiology Lab at the University of Colorado reports there is no universal wake-up time. But, it is ideal to awaken at the conclusion of REM which is just before we awaken naturally.

He suggests you set your natural alarm by self monitoring your natural wake-up time when on holidays. Once you have that established, build your day around this set point for optimal effectiveness.   

Psychology Today, February 2015, p. 72

Sponsored by PPC-Professional Psychologists & Counsellors – 664-0000, www.peopleproblems.ca

• 58, 000 parenting books on Amazon.
• 1000’s of parenting studies published annually.
• Undisclosed volumes of parenting theories over the years.

Research Reports 3 Major Recommendations

1. Boredom is good as it forces “self directed executive functions” aiding in emotional regulation and goal achievement. In other words, throw away the keys to your helicopter.
2. To increase confidence and decrease anxiety increase autonomy and decrease parental decision making.
3. Clean up your own mental and physical backyard first. The stressed or depressed parent, the overweight or under fit parent or the untreated ADHD parent has more negative impact than the parent who works out their own issues and challenges.                                                                                                     

Scientific American Mind, July/August 2015, p. 11

Sponsored by PPC-Professional Psychologists & Counsellors – 664-0000, www.peopleproblems.ca

• Telephone survey through Cornell University found over a quarter of men and women to report a midlife crises.
• Studies show that happiness hits a lifetime low in middle age due to life events, biology and psychology.
• Martially, it is not the stereotype of the man, but the women who instigate 2/3 of American divorces.
• Empty nest too may be more of a myth. Of 300 parents, a Canadian study found more parents had positive feelings to their children’s departure.
• Interestingly, when older people are asked of the age they would like to return to, it’s the 40’s!                                                                                                                

Scientific American Mind, Page 58. April 2015

Sponsored by PPC-Professional Psychologists & Counsellors – 664-0000, www.peopleproblems.ca

Esther Perel is one of the gurus of the counselling field. She is well respected and well written with very little controversy around her opinions. One of her observations is “we live in a time in which we no longer divorce because we are unhappy: we divorce because we think we could be happier. We demand a lot more from marriage in terms of satisfaction, happiness and emotional and sexual intimacy.”

Hint: Try to look at your whole life. Try to find a wellbeing, happiness and satisfaction from multiple sources not just one. Just as we are told to keep a “diversified financial portfolio”, equally keep a wide source of wellbeing, not just from one person!

Psychotherapy, Page 59. January 2015

Sponsored by PPC-Professional Psychologists & Counsellors – 664-0000, www.peopleproblems.ca

Attention all health care providers: one of our therapists, Jillian Christensen, along with Paige Gryba, is putting on a workshop for health care providers to help them support new parents using techniques from emotional regulation therapy. If you’re interested or have questions, give Paige a call at (306) 934-5898

Women who wear red or use red lipstick have a lot of influence – with men. Studies show men viewing women in red found them more attractive and sexually desirable. In a study simply based on three colors of lipstick or no lipstick, women wearing red were approached the fastest and the most often, both genders may want to beware of this phenomena….

Scientific Mind, Page 21. November/December 2014

Sponsored by PPC-Professional Psychologists & Counsellors – 664-0000, www.peopleproblems.ca