Garage Sale Stress
Several weekends ago, I had the opportunity to participate in my first garage sale. My best friend decided to clear her house of all its contents to make way for a new start after a long and stressful divorce. Not knowing exactly how this was going to play out, I had certain fantasies of smiling,…
Read MoreDIY Candy Jar
Finding passion in life is one of the things we take very seriously at OPI. In order to live a balanced life you can’t simply go to school or work, come home and just watch tv. There has to be fun, there has to be joy and one of the ways we explore that at…
Read MoreWhy OCD Gets Tossed Around So Lightly in Conversation
You hear it at work in casual conversation, on the subway on your way home, and even at the grocery store — “I am so OCD about…” or, “My partner is so OCD when it comes to…” While the term OCD is being thrown around in general conversations as an adjective, there are people who…
Read MoreHow Learning Disabilities Contribute to Failure to Launch Syndrome
By: Michelle Obergfoll Failure to launch typically affects young adults between the ages of 19-28. For various reasons, such as an underlying learning disability; these individuals lack the tools to successfully transition from childhood to adulthood. This stagnation often has a negative impact on the individual and their family, who often bear the emotional and…
Read MoreSwitching from External to Internal Validation
External validation depends on a positive feedback loop from outsiders in response to your actions or expressions. If, at any point, your expressions, actions, and/or outside responses change course, your feelings of self-worth may plummet. Relying on outside forces for validation can put even the most well-adjusted individuals on a crash course towards self-sabotage. If…
Read MoreBPD and Narcissism
Borderline Personality Disorder is becoming a more popular diagnosis among today’s young adults. The mental health field is becoming more aware of symptomatology that reflects the diagnosis and they are becoming more familiar with recognizing the signs. To make diagnosing even more difficult, since mental health professionals would really rather diagnose anything but BPD, some…
Read MoreUnderstanding Addiction as a Disease: Overcoming Perceptions to Support a Loved One Suffering from Substance Use Disorder
Recently, I watched as a good friend went from a happy, charismatic goofball to a withdrawn, quiet loner. He was falling deeper into his alcohol addiction, and the more I watched helplessly the more I tried to understand. There are so many misconceptions about drug and alcohol addiction. Some say addiction is an excuse and…
Read MoreEasy Recipe – Italian Chopped Salad
Part of our programs at OPI Intensive and OPI involve teaching our participants the life skills they need to thrive on their own. One basic life skill that many Americans are lacking in is how to create delicious, healthy food. Our cooking classes teach you a series of skills as well as a stable of…
Read MoreRestoring Hope
Many who have been hiding behind learned hopelessness have come to wear an armor, more so than just a mask. As a therapist, I first have to let my client know I see the armor and honor it. I validate that, along the way, they believed they needed it in order to protect themselves from…
Read MoreThreenager
About a year ago, I wrote about my experiences using DBT with my toddler while he was in the “Terrible Twos” phase. I am happy to report that we have made it to three, mostly unscathed. I had heard rumblings about the “Threenager” year and wasn’t sure what to expect however blogs, articles, and friends…
Read MoreTechniques to Overcome Failure to Launch Syndrome
Speaking with candor and eloquence, A.M. describes how she overcame Failure to Launch Syndrome by finding a passion in life (in A.M.’s case, it is music), engaging in cognitive behavioral therapy, and working with a life coach who helped her improve essential life skills. Initially confused by her attraction to women, A.M. eventually learned to accept…
Read MoreHoliday cheer for June
By: Extracurricular Activities Director, Jenna Madeiros Since we’re 6 months away from Holiday season and we’re feeling the pains of not having those fun time right at our door step, we decided to bring some of that holiday cheer to the summer by recapping some of the fun things we do here at OPI during…
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