The Midtown Practice

10/09/2024

If you’re considering psychotropic medication, contact The Midtown Practice to schedule an appointment. Click our website link in the bio.

Out staff of psychopharmacologists (a clinician specializing in the use of psychotropic medications) regularly collaborative with The Midtown Practice psychotherapy staff.

Our team is dedicated to helping you find the best treatment options to meet your needs and improve your mental health and well-being.

09/30/2024

DEAR MAN is a DBT skill (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy). We practice it to become more convincing. To effectively ask for what we want and need, and also to say no to unwanted requests that would burn us out. It is not only possible, but realistic to get what you want from others while maintaining care, support, and respect in the relationship. Visit our website to learn more about DBT and how therapists at the midtown practice can help you:
https://midtownpractice.com/dialectical-behavior-therapy-dbt/

09/18/2024

Gaslighting is a destructive force in any relationship - romantic, family, or friends. Being gaslit saps us of our confidence and confuses our sense of self. Sometimes exiting the relationship is the best thing. Other times, bringing to light the existence of gaslighting and the perpetrator’s motivation can be helpful. Dr. Julia Samson, co-founder of The Midtown Practice, offers us more in her blog post on gaslighting (https://midtownpractice.com/gaslighting).

To figure out if gaslighting is harming you and a relationship, visit our website to get started with a Midtown Practice
https://midtownpractice.com/

09/16/2024

Life isn’t a game... well sometimes it is. Games are about getting better at something, practicing and leveling up. Our relationship with our thoughts is no different.
Visit our website to get started with a Midtown Practice therapist and level up your therapy game - https://midtownpractice.com/

09/10/2024

Before the modern saturation of screens that define our world, that's talking ancient ancestors to the 1980s, as kids and adults we formed friendships exclusively through the 4 kinds of social interactions covered in this series. (1) Talking in person, which means (2) talking in real-time and reading body & facial expressions, (3) mostly interacting within small groups (the hunting party, the family, the study group, the coworkers, etc), and (4) we had to regularly demonstrate our value and commitment to the well-being of the group (the tribe, the neighborhood, the sorority / fraternity, the professional group, etc)

The virtual world of texting, group chats, social media, video games, online shopping & gambling, etc, are not inherently bad. In fact, each of these technological marvels have made our world better in several ways. However, when consumed unconsciously, without balance nor mindfulness, they rapidly contribute to a world of mental illness.

When too much of our communication with others are; (1) disembodied, meaning that no body is needed - texting & e-mailing, etc, (2) heavily asynchronous, waiting to hear from and respond to another person for several minutes, hours, or days at at time, (3) broadcasted to many at once, like on social media, (4) and take place within communities that have a low bar for entry and exit - people can block others or just quit when they are not pleased, like subreddits and Facebook groups... as kids and adults, we become disconnected and lonely.

It's hard to see this problem because the things that contribute to it are everywhere, always. We are desensitized to the dangers of screens because we are oversaturated in them.

BUT, we don't have to smash our phones and TVs. First, acknowledge that you probably are on your phone, tv, laptop, video game, social media account, or website too much. Then find help to create balanced, mindful engagement with them all.

Visit our website to get started with a therapist that can help:
https://midtownpractice.com/

09/09/2024

A sense of belonging to a distinct group of people is essential for confident and comprehensive identity formation. So much of our learning about others and how the world works comes from authority figures in the household, especially when we are younger. However, our ancient ancestors become cultural creatures by becoming better learners over time. That happened by exposure to ideas & experiences from many different sources.

We align ourselves with group values because group acceptance equals safety. We also look to learn from those who are celebrated for their skills within a group, so that we can also earn celebration, which is a higher form of social acceptance and hence safety. (That is not the same as celebrity status today, that's a different discussion ;).

Group acceptance and celebration comes from regular contributions to the well-being of a community. Entry and exit from internet-based communities, more often than not, are determined by a few clicks... Regular contributions tend to be more superficial and fleeting because of that.
Finding in-person communities, sports leagues, religious or spiritual congregations, professional or intellectual clubs, etc, etc. These communities typically carry the acceptance, celebration, and comfort our brains have come to rely on.
Therapists at The Midtown Practice can help you find your people and establish your belonging to them.
https://midtownpractice.com/

09/05/2024

Social Media has fundamentally changed the way we talk to each other. While social media creates space for life-affirming identity exploration and expression, as well as access to helpful information (like what we are trying here!)... the evidence on social media's net effect, particularly amongst teens and young adults, paints a clear picture of harm. One of the well documented detriments is increased loneliness caused by a false sense of connection and communion with others. We may think social media makes us more social, but actually, too much time on here weakens our ability to form deep, meaningful and long-lasting relationships. Life spent on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Snapchat and Facebook forces us to always think ahead about the social consequences of each photo, video, comment and emoji. It saps our focus and enjoyment from spending time with the people can we see. For many of us, a balance is sorely needed.

The good news is we are becoming increasingly clear on how to achieve that. As groups of like-minded people, who acknowledge the harm and want to do something about it, we can collectively reclaim our social lives and protect future generations. At The Midtown Practice, we pay attention to the latest advancements in treating the negative effects of too much screen. Visit our website to learn more about the various ways we help our clients reclaim fulfillment in their relationships and lives:
https://midtownpractice.com/services/

09/03/2024

Part 2 of this week's series on Social Anxiety and Screen Time. See parts 3, 4, and 5 later this week.

Talking to people in real time, or in synchrony, is a key foundation in becoming attuned to another person. We first learn this as toddlers when we begin to speak. There is a natural serve-and-return we learn with parents and caretakers. We learn how long to wait before making the next funny face, or give the next rhyme in a rhyming game. Nailing down this timing is an ancient, powerful way we attune to people that help fulfill our needs. As we get older, this same process continues, growing in sophistication. It is normal for us to have trouble in this attuning-timing and is therefore normal to have trouble asking for help, receiving help, or even knowing what we need help with. Since the advent of smartphones - all this is becoming even more common.

Certain kinds of neurodiversity, like Autism and ADHD, present certain challenges in figuring our appropriate timing in social interactions. While neurodiverse people are also susceptible to the negative effects of too much screen time, like neurotypical people - there are ways to get better at this timing.

Visit our website to schedule a free consultation with a therapist to discuss how to create a more fulfilling neurodiverse or neurotypical social life:
https://midtownpractice.com/

08/26/2024

Talking in person helps us determine which relationships matter to us, which ones we invest in. Think back to a recent IRL conversation you had with someone. Was it engaging or disconnected? Were they making eye contact? Were their arms moving around or were they crossed? Were they're shoulders and feet pointed at your or in a different direction. Did their eye brows raise when you shared something? Did they laugh or smile?
Most likely you don't remember some or all of those details, but your brain was paying attention to it all. The combination of all those body and facial movements influences the opinions we form about a person. Those opinions are the basis of social decision making and judgement.

If we deprive our brain of all that essential information, our ability to make and keep friends is limited. We become more socially anxious when that happens and we don't know why.

Certain kinds of neurodiversity, like Autism and ADHD, present certain challenges in reading and expressing social cues. While neurodiverse people are also susceptible to the negative effectives of too much screen time, like neurotypical people - there are ways to increase healthy social exposure and skills.

Visit our website to schedule a free consultation with a therapist to discuss how to create a more fulfilling neurodiverse or neurotypical social life:
https://midtownpractice.com/

08/22/2024

When we are burnt out we often think it’s time for a vacation….yes….. and vacations often leave us restored but yet do not help the underlying issue that caused the burn out. What can we do to prevent it? That involves deeper dive into our values and a deeper commitment to our goals and at times personal identity.
Having trouble figuring out what your goals and values are? We can help. www.midtownpractice.xom

08/21/2024

It is not known when and where Viktor Frankl said this famous quote, so we are free to imagine its origins. ;) Regardless, Frankl certainly learned a few things about coping. He survived four concentration camps and, following the war served as the Head of Neurology at General Polyclinic Vienna Hospital. He was a published writer and founder of a field of psychology, logotherapy. He believed that meaning in life came from three sources: work or creativity, love, and finding courage in the face of adversity.

Visit our website to work with a Midtown Practice therapist on finding that space to change your attitude when you cannot change life's extrinsic circumstances
https://midtownpractice.com/

08/20/2024

Good therapy sometimes means exploring your innermost emotions or childhood history. Other times, it can focus on problem solving or stress management. In other sessions your therapist will offer support, reassurance, or empathy. And sometimes, you need it all at once! At The Midtown Practice, we ask you about your goals for therapy, and design a customized approach based on what you value most. Our only agenda is for you to live your most fulfilling life possible. www.midtownpractice.com to learn more

08/13/2024

Therapists recognize that our patients often need support. This can be more important than the perfect interpretation or analysis. When you get the appropriate support from others, you learn to give it to yourself.

08/07/2024

08/06/2024

Having a panic attack is bad enough, but it is even worse when you are at work. How do you maintain composure and professionalism when you feel like the world is crashing? First of all, remind yourself that you are ok, that it will be ok, and that this feeling, regardless of how terrible it is, will end. Then, try these 4 ways to effectively manage panic and anxiety.
To learn more, read our article
https://midtownpractice.com/managing-anxiety-in-the-workplace-strategies-for-success/

08/01/2024

Mindfulness has become such a common term that we might forget its meaning. When we practice mindfulness, we learn to be in the present without fear or regret. We focus, enjoy, and find flow. ⁠

07/13/2024

“For fast-acting relief, try slowing down. “ – Lily Tomlin

It is true--sometimes, you need to take a beat, breathe, and reset to improve your mind and attitude | https://midtownpractice.com/

07/12/2024

Ever thought about how powerful music can be to help you destress? Need a few ideas? 🎧 🎼

Imagine by John Lennon
Better Together by Jack Johnson
Someone Like You by Adele
Lovely Day by Bill Withers
Hey Ya by Outkast
| https://midtownpractice.com/