Julia Chan Psychotherapy NYC

02/15/2012

I recently went to a training for therapists on the detection and treatment of sleep disturbances. I learned about good sleep hygiene (sleep habits). Some factors are common sense, while others are counterintuitive. For example, sleeping in on the weekends to "make up for lost sleep" is generally not a good idea for people who struggle with insomnia. To learn more about good sleep habits, visit my website www.juliachantherapy.com and download "Tips for Sleeplessness" at the bottom of the page.

Licensed psychotherapist with private practice providing individual and couples counseling based in New York, NY

02/12/2012

Aside from my regular weekday office at 920 Broadway (and 20th St), I now also see individuals, couples and families at my satellite office in Park Slope on Saturdays. The office is located at 699 Sackett Street between 4th and 5th Avenues, not far from the Park Slope Food Coop.

I welcome referrals. The Saturday hours and Park Slope location may be good for those who live in the area, especially couples with children.

01/31/2012

A tender and inspiring Ted talk by Brené Brown on the power of vulnerability. She spent years studying what "wholehearted" people have in common--courage, compassion, connection, and willingness to be vulnerable. She talks about our tendency to numb feelings of vulnerability but the problem is that they can't really be numbed. For many people, therapy offers a space to cultivate our ability to embrace our imperfections, and to know that even with our flaws, we're still good enough and worthy of love and connection.

Brene Brown studies human connection -- our ability to empathize, belong, love. In a poignant, funny talk at TEDxHouston, she shares a deep insight from her research, one that sent her on a personal quest to know herself as well as to understand humanity. A talk to share.

01/24/2012

This article offers a basic understanding of fear and anxiety. What's the difference between the two? How much worry is too much? The song at the end is a little goofy but educational.
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/anatomy-of-fear/ #

12/12/2011

A nice, short piece on the NY Times on generosity and marriage. The benefits of generosity do not only apply on marital relationships but also our relationships with others, even with ourselves. Are we kind, generous, and forgiving of ourselves? The mental health field has historically focused on pathologies but learning about positive mental qualities such as generosity and compassion is just as important.

From tribesmen to billionaire philanthropists, the social value of generosity is already well known. But new research suggests it also matters much more intimately than we imagined, even down to our most personal relationships.

10/21/2011

Check out my colleague, Chris Kingman's latest blog, "Life as a creative process." Chris' writing always offers a sense of hope. We now know for a fact that our brain is a changeable ("plastic") organ. Neurons that fire together wire together. We can actually conscientious change our habits of thought and emotion (the software), and in so doing change our brain and nervous system (the hardware). Our brain is so much of who we are in a sense. It creates and shapes our experiences, and at the same time, is shaped and created by our experiences. Our sense of "who we are" is changeable and we have the choice of what we want to create! Make sure to also watch the short and inspiring video embedded in the blog.

thinking about thinking Just as the heart ceaselessly beats, the mind ceaselessly thinks. All day, everyday, our minds are busy processing information, developing explanations, replaying the past, imagining the future, interpreting reality, assigning value, creating stories, producing images, having...

10/13/2011

The history of research on emotions has focused on "pathologies" and negative mental states such as anger, anxiety and depression. Good health is not just defined as the absence of illnesses, but also the presence of positive qualities such as vitality and strength. Similarly, mental health is not just the absence of a mental illness. With the advances in brain imaging technologies, neuroscientists have begun to study how cultivating positive qualities such as compassion and kindness can "rewire" the synaptic networks in our brain, and improve both our mood and cognitive functioning. It is great news that our brain is not "hardwired" and that we can actually "train" our mind and change our brain, just like we can go to the gym to train our body. Visit this website for the latest research and resources.

The scientists and staff at the CIHM regularly review top research articles from both within the Center for Investigating Healthy Minds and from other research groups. Provided here are non-evaluative summaries to share with the public and scientific community.

09/28/2011

Research has shown that meditation can improve our mood, decrease stress, boost our immune system, and lower blood pressure for those with hypertension. Unlike medication, meditation is free and does not have any of the nasty side effects. Yet, many people are reluctant to give this natural remedy a try as they believe that it is only for the hermit or "hippie" type. Well, it is not. Anyone can do it and benefit from it. It only requires a little discipline. I found this short and fun animation video with excellent instructions on how to do a one-minute meditation. One minute! It is not hard at all! From there, people can gradually increase to 5 minutes or more a day. Give it a try!

Here is basic training in One-Moment Meditation - helping you reduce stress, focus better, and find a bit of peace ... quickly. Learn more about One-Moment M...

09/21/2011

For all couples who are in a long-term relationship, I highly recommend the book "Mating in Captivity" by Esther Perel. Conventional wisdom tells us that what contributes to a good relationship (safety, familiarity, predictability) would translate to good s*x but Esther posits that too much closeness and transparency can stifle erotic desire for many couples. She believes that maintaining erotic desire in a long term relationship is possible by maintaining novelty, flexibility, and a balance between connection and individuality. Here's a short video interview (10 mins) with the author. The book is well worth reading.

Carte Blanche, July 15, 2007, South Africa

09/14/2011

For those who have a loved one struggling with a terminal illness, NY Times published a short and touching article recently on the music therapy program offered by a local hospice provider. I particularly like the photos and song clips. Dying is inevitable for all of us but suffering caused by the lack of planning and futile aggressive intervention is avoidable. I have a lot of respect for those who are in the field of promoting quality of life during the last chapters in life.

Three music therapists from MJHS Hospice and Palliative Care crisscross the city and suburbs to sing songs to the dying.

09/12/2011

For couples that are feeling dissatisfied with their relationship, I recommend this short (7 minutes) video interview with Lois Braverman, president of the Ackerman Institute. With her friendly and casual tone, Lois pinpointed challenges that many modern couples face, as well as possible solutions, such as having a support network and conscientiously changing their attitudes so that they can improve their appreciation of each other.

Accentuate il positivo from Riccardo Stagliano' on Vimeo. Qui sopra Lois Braverman, direttrice dell'Ackerman Institute for the Family di New York, spiega (in inglese) il boom delle terapie di coppia. Perché, da un punto di vista neurobiologico, l'