Verified by Psychology Today

Make Your Life a Blessing

How to bring blessings into everyday life

DSM
Approaching the DSM-5

Ilene A. Serlin Ph.D. on May 24, 2013

With the passage of the DSM-5 today by the American Psychiatric Association, more ordinary and even extraordinary experiences of the human condition become psychopathology. This problem of a psychopathology then needs a solution: increasingly medication and quick fixes.

With the passage of the DSM-5 today by the American Psychiatric Association, more ordinary and even extraordinary experiences of the human condition become psychopathology. This problem of a psychopathology then needs a solution: increasingly medication and quick fixes.

Stress
Boston Bombing

Ilene A. Serlin Ph.D. on April 21, 2013

For many people, the bombings in Boston mean that life will never be the same again. Victims, families and community institutions will all suffer from posttraumatic stress.

For many people, the bombings in Boston mean that life will never be the same again. Victims, families and community institutions will all suffer from posttraumatic stress.

Guilt
It's Not All in Your Head!

Ilene A. Serlin Ph.D. on February 6, 2013

How many times have you had someone come into your office or heard someone say to you: “There is no organic cause for what you are feeling. It’s all in your head.”

Furthermore, you may be advised to find a therapist, stop focusing on yourself, get over it and on with things: “Stop being so sensitive!”

How many times have you had someone come into your office or heard someone say to you: “There is no organic cause for what you are feeling. It’s all in your head.”

Furthermore, you may be advised to find a therapist, stop focusing on yourself, get over it and on with things: “Stop being so sensitive!”

Trauma
Narratives From The Front

Ilene A. Serlin Ph.D. on December 16, 2012

It is hard to imagine trauma and resiliency without hearing the stories of people actually living daily under an existential threat. Below is a description from an American woman, very familiar with Israel, and there during the most recent skirmish.

More information about trauma in Israel can be found at the PDF here at http://bit.ly/U3e35g

It is hard to imagine trauma and resiliency without hearing the stories of people actually living daily under an existential threat. Below is a description from an American woman, very familiar with Israel, and there during the most recent skirmish.

More information about trauma in Israel can be found at the PDF here at http://bit.ly/U3e35g

Trauma
Trauma: Israel and Resiliency

Ilene A. Serlin Ph.D. on December 3, 2012

With sudden conflict and its abatement in the Middle East, addressing the trauma that lives in the body becomes ever more necessary and critical for a sustaining a lasting peace.

With sudden conflict and its abatement in the Middle East, addressing the trauma that lives in the body becomes ever more necessary and critical for a sustaining a lasting peace.

Health
Jewish New Year—Inner and Outer Housecleaning

Ilene A. Serlin Ph.D. on September 25, 2012

This time of year is both holy and horrible, sweet and bitter. We reset our moral compasses for the year to come and begin the year anew.

This time of year is both holy and horrible, sweet and bitter. We reset our moral compasses for the year to come and begin the year anew.

Aging
Aging Gracefully

Ilene A. Serlin Ph.D. on August 21, 2012

The decline of the body in aging often brings depression and grief over loss of function, expression, and sense of self. In this keynote talk, given at the Poetics of Aging Conference (Nov 16—19, 2011), I share basic principles of a movement group for elderly, using movement in the expression of feelings to address the existential issues of mortality and meaning.

The decline of the body in aging often brings depression and grief over loss of function, expression, and sense of self. In this keynote talk, given at the Poetics of Aging Conference (Nov 16—19, 2011), I share basic principles of a movement group for elderly, using movement in the expression of feelings to address the existential issues of mortality and meaning.

Career
Transitions: From Corporate Employee to Entrepreneur

Ilene A. Serlin Ph.D. on August 7, 2012

In my office on Union Street I see many successful people who are struggling with how to find meaning and value in their work. Some long for more creativity and freedom, and this piece is from one who records his successful transition.

In my office on Union Street I see many successful people who are struggling with how to find meaning and value in their work. Some long for more creativity and freedom, and this piece is from one who records his successful transition.

Education
Depression and Learning Disabilities: Putting the Pieces Together

Ilene A. Serlin Ph.D. on February 17, 2010

Have you ever had a client or a friend who thought they were stupid or cannot understand why he or she cannot catch their grammatical or mathematical mistakes, or a client or a friend, who is a supervisor, complaining that co-worker is being lazy or not careful with their work, and the stress this causes an adult with a learning disability is rarely understood.

Have you ever had a client or a friend who thought they were stupid or cannot understand why he or she cannot catch their grammatical or mathematical mistakes, or a client or a friend, who is a supervisor, complaining that co-worker is being lazy or not careful with their work, and the stress this causes an adult with a learning disability is rarely understood.