Some Assembly Required

Fear

This 5-Step Practice Will Improve Your Emotional Well-Being

Dan Mager MSW on June 24, 2021

Develop the skills to better regulate your emotions and tolerate distress.

Develop the skills to better regulate your emotions and tolerate distress.

Adolescence

8 Beneficial Strategies for Dealing With Your Teenager

Dan Mager MSW on June 3, 2021

With enhanced, conscious awareness and mindful action, both you and your kids can weather the storms of adolescence and come out of it without capsizing or being blown out to sea.

With enhanced, conscious awareness and mindful action, both you and your kids can weather the storms of adolescence and come out of it without capsizing or being blown out to sea.

Parenting

It’s Time to Disappear Corporal Punishment for Kids

Dan Mager MSW on May 3, 2021

Over the last five decades, attitudes in the United States about physical discipline, also known as corporal punishment, have evolved dramatically.

Over the last five decades, attitudes in the United States about physical discipline, also known as corporal punishment, have evolved dramatically.

Adolescence

Making Sense of Adolescence and Young Adulthood

Dan Mager MSW on March 28, 2021

Confused or worn out by a young adult's decisions and behavior? Recent research confirms that adolescent and adult brains work differently.

Confused or worn out by a young adult's decisions and behavior? Recent research confirms that adolescent and adult brains work differently.

Parenting

Understanding Life as a Developmental Process

Dan Mager MSW on March 8, 2021

Life is an ongoing progression of growth and change that takes people from one phase of development to another—from infancy to older age—where the only constant is change.

Life is an ongoing progression of growth and change that takes people from one phase of development to another—from infancy to older age—where the only constant is change.

Procrastination

3 Practices to Improve the Quality of Your Life

Dan Mager MSW on February 17, 2021

Integrating these practices into your life can become a vital part of being more compassionate and caring with yourself. And you will be healthier for it.

Integrating these practices into your life can become a vital part of being more compassionate and caring with yourself. And you will be healthier for it.

Attachment

How to Help Your Children Thrive by Growing Roots Then Wings

Dan Mager MSW on December 31, 2020

When we do our jobs as parents well, we give our kids roots, and then we help them grow wings.

When we do our jobs as parents well, we give our kids roots, and then we help them grow wings.

Stress

How to Find Emotional Balance During These Holidays

Dan Mager MSW on December 20, 2020

It’s important to know that the holidays—especially this year—don’t have to feel like a celebration. You can give yourself permission to simply be where you are emotionally.

It’s important to know that the holidays—especially this year—don’t have to feel like a celebration. You can give yourself permission to simply be where you are emotionally.

Stress

There’s Nothing Positive About Toxic Positivity

Dan Mager MSW on November 13, 2020

When we're struggling, rather than platitudes, we need acknowledgment and validation that our emotional experience—whatever it may be—is legitimate.

When we're struggling, rather than platitudes, we need acknowledgment and validation that our emotional experience—whatever it may be—is legitimate.

Chronic Pain

Reducing Suffering Related to Chronic Pain

Dan Mager MSW on September 30, 2020

Deepening awareness and nonjudgmental acceptance of "what is" creates the space to shift mental focus away from ruminative thought patterns.

Deepening awareness and nonjudgmental acceptance of "what is" creates the space to shift mental focus away from ruminative thought patterns.

Chronic Pain

Pain Catastrophizing and Exercise Avoidance: A Vicious Circle

Dan Mager MSW on August 30, 2020

New research suggests that although chronic pain obviously isn’t just in one’s head, what’s in one’s head can have a very significant influence on one’s experience of chronic pain.

New research suggests that although chronic pain obviously isn’t just in one’s head, what’s in one’s head can have a very significant influence on one’s experience of chronic pain.

Attention

Meditation Made Simple

Dan Mager MSW on July 27, 2020

Mind-body centering is always of great benefit to biopsychosocial health and well-being, but even more so during the profound stress of a global health pandemic.

Mind-body centering is always of great benefit to biopsychosocial health and well-being, but even more so during the profound stress of a global health pandemic.

Trauma

Trauma and the 12 Steps: A Synthesis Whose Time Is Now

Dan Mager MSW on June 29, 2020

Over the last two decades, it has become clear that a significant percentage of people who struggle with addiction to alcohol and other drugs have had traumatic experiences.

Over the last two decades, it has become clear that a significant percentage of people who struggle with addiction to alcohol and other drugs have had traumatic experiences.

Stress

How to Become Comfortable With Uncertainty

Dan Mager MSW on June 7, 2020

Learning how to live with uncertainty and the various forms of discomfort that come with it creates and strengthens resiliency (the ability to adapt to change).

Learning how to live with uncertainty and the various forms of discomfort that come with it creates and strengthens resiliency (the ability to adapt to change).

Addiction

Addiction Recovery in the Midst of Social Distancing

Dan Mager MSW on May 7, 2020

It’s essential to keep in mind that social distancing may be necessary, but it does not have to mean isolation. Social isolation can be mitigated and even prevented.

It’s essential to keep in mind that social distancing may be necessary, but it does not have to mean isolation. Social isolation can be mitigated and even prevented.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness in the Time of Coronavirus

Dan Mager MSW on March 21, 2020

Even in the midst of the profound stresses of the physical and financial fallout of COVID-19, mindfulness practices equip us to bear them more consciously and skillfully.

Even in the midst of the profound stresses of the physical and financial fallout of COVID-19, mindfulness practices equip us to bear them more consciously and skillfully.

Parenting

The 12 Steps and Mindful Parenting: Step 12

Dan Mager MSW on February 24, 2020

Although spiritual awakenings occasionally happen in a momentous, all-at-once sort of way, more often they occur subtly and incrementally over time.

Although spiritual awakenings occasionally happen in a momentous, all-at-once sort of way, more often they occur subtly and incrementally over time.

Parenting

The 12 Steps and Mindful Parenting: Steps 10 and 11

Dan Mager MSW on January 25, 2020

Step 10 repairs tears in the fabric of parent-child relationships, while practicing step 11 deepens the capacity for conscious connection with ourselves—and our children.

Step 10 repairs tears in the fabric of parent-child relationships, while practicing step 11 deepens the capacity for conscious connection with ourselves—and our children.

Parenting

The 12 Steps and Mindful Parenting: Steps 8 and 9

Dan Mager MSW on December 23, 2019

Apologies are important, but they’re not enough. Making amends involves doing everything possible to right a wrong and repair the damage caused.

Apologies are important, but they’re not enough. Making amends involves doing everything possible to right a wrong and repair the damage caused.

Personality

The 12 Steps and Mindful Parenting: Steps 6 and 7

Dan Mager MSW on November 17, 2019

Personality challenges can be significantly transformed by yourself and others, most notably your kids.

Personality challenges can be significantly transformed by yourself and others, most notably your kids.