From the Desk of Dr. K

We all know the feeling of cold, clammy hands and shivers up the spine right before we step out onstage, take a test, or make a speech. Some people find this sensation so difficult to handle that they avoid it as much as possible. They might not try out for a play,...

Betty is not shy. Shyness is a fear of social judgment that causes people to withdraw from social settings. When shyness is extreme, we call it social anxiety. Betty isn’t afraid of social situations. She doesn’t fear parties. She just dislikes them. Betty is what we...

Emma started the discussion in my parenting class with the following story:   My daughter and I were playing an exciting game of CandyLand. Her entire four-year-old face was intently focused on the board as she skipped her card across two red spaces. She was very...

“I feel like I’m just in a slump,” says Miriam. “Nothing exciting happened recently. Nothing exciting is going to happen. After the holiday break, we went straight back into school, and it’s like every teacher couldn’t wait to pounce on us with tons of work. It’s just...

Sandra seethed as she drove home from her sister-in-law’s house. “I know what I should have said to her,” she muttered, as she looked for a parking space. “It’s too bad I’m not the kind of person who says what she really thinks!” She stomped up the stairs to her...

Let’s compare working with our inborn natures to stretching a rubber band. Do rubber bands stretch? Of course they do. What happens if you try to stretch a rubber band too quickly or too hard? You will soon learn a painful lesson about why that’s a mistake! However,...