Category: Behavioral Health

When a new client comes into my office for weight loss counseling, I begin by asking two questions to assess motivation: How is your weight hurting you? How is your weight helping you? Most people can easily respond to the first question. Almost all are puzzled by the second. How could being overweight possibly be … Read More

I’ll admit it. I talk to myself. You talk to yourself too. In fact, we are all constantly talking to ourselves as thoughts run through our mind all day. We are not even aware of all of the thoughts that arise, and that’s fine. It wouldn’t be adaptive to pay attention to all your thoughts … Read More

“Nothing tastes as good as thin feels.” “Hunger hurts, but starving works.” “The difference between want and need is self-control.” “Without food I am beautiful. Without food I am perfect.” Welcome to the Pro-Ana movement, an underground cyberworld full of “thinspiration” –motivational tactics for extreme weight loss behaviors – targeting individuals in the depths of … Read More

Do you remember the last time someone gave you a compliment?  If not, it might be because you refused to absorb the compliment, and instead deflected it as inconsequential or even unearned. In our society, humility is still considered a virtue.  But politically correct humility doesn’t benefit anyone.  For example, if someone admires your new … Read More

We talk a lot about mindful eating here at Structure House. You’ve probably heard of it. What do you think? Does it scare you because you don’t feel like you know what hunger and fullness is? Does it make you squirm because you’re afraid you’re going to have to meditate? Do you brush off the … Read More

Starting a home meditation practice can be challenging, but the rewards are well worth the effort it takes. While attending a meditation center or a retreat is a great option for some, for many, the convenience of a home practice means that they are more likely to meditate consistently. Even a few minutes a day … Read More

We used to think that the brain stopped growing and developing in early adulthood, and then after that it was supposedly all downhill from there.  We now know from neuroscience research that the brain continues to change in response to experiences we have throughout our life span; a phenomenon called neuroplasticity.  Research shows that the brain can … Read More

It’s a familiar situation: you planned to order a healthy dinner, you knowwhat the healthy choice is and why you should have it, and yet you choose the cheeseburger instead of the salad. When it comes to making food choices, many people experience a gap between their intention to eat well and their ability to do it. It … Read More

We all slip into auto-pilot mode at times throughout our day. When we engage in activities that we have done repeatedly such as eating, driving, or taking a shower, our minds tend to drift and we don’t pay full attention to what we are doing in the moment. We are often preoccupied with the past or … Read More

What was Mother Nature thinking? Somehow our brains were created in a way that makes it possible to become addicted to substances such as heroin, cocaine, tobacco and alcohol. I assure you, this was not Mother Nature’s intention. Long before humans began to use these addictive substances, our brains were designed to foster the survival of our … Read More