Brandon P. Romano, Psy.D. & Associates, LLC

05/31/2026

🛠 Do you need a mental health toolkit? ⚒

Mental health tool kits are personalized collections of items, activities, and techniques that help you self-soothe when you’re stressed.

05/30/2026

Mental Health Awareness Month is drawing to a close. We believe education is a powerful tool for reducing stigma and encouraging people to seek help when needed.

Neurodevelopmental Disorders are conditions that begin early in development and affect brain functioning in areas such as learning, social interaction, communication, attention, or motor skills. This category includes conditions like Autism, ADHD, intellectual disability, and specific learning disorders. Early diagnosis and interventions including educational accommodations can make a substantial positive impact across the person's lifespan.

🔗If you'd like to pursue more info on this topic, review this guide from the American Psychiatric Association

Neurodevelopment disorders refers to a group of disorders that begin in childhood. They affect the development and function of the brain. They may impact a child's interactions or functioning at home or school or in the community

05/29/2026

It's Mental Health Awareness Month. We believe education is a powerful tool for reducing stigma and encouraging people to seek help when needed.

Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders involve disruptions in thinking, perception, emotions, and behavior. These may include hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, or reduced emotional expression and motivation. These disorders can significantly affect daily functioning but are often treatable. Early intervention with medication, therapy, and support services often leads to better long-term outcomes.

🔗If you'd like to pursue more info on this topic, check out this article from the Mayo Clinic

This mental condition can lead to hallucinations, delusions, and very disordered thinking and behavior. It can make daily living hard, but it's treatable.

05/28/2026

It's Mental Health Awareness Month. We believe education is a powerful tool for reducing stigma and encouraging people to seek help when needed.

Bipolar and Related Disorders involve significant shifts in mood, energy, and activity levels, including periods of elevated or irritable mood (mania or hypomania) alternating with periods of depression. These shifts can range from mild to severe and often impact relationships, work, and daily functioning. With proper diagnosis and a combination of therapy, medication, and support, many individuals effectively manage their symptoms.

If you'd like to pursue more info on this topic, check out this overview from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Learn about NIMH research on bipolar disorder. Find resources on the signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder, types, and potential treatments and therapies.

05/27/2026

It's Mental Health Awareness Month. We believe education is a powerful tool for reducing stigma and encouraging people to seek help when needed.

Depressive Disorders involve persistent feelings of sadness, emptiness, or loss of interest in activities, along with changes in sleep, appetite, energy, or concentration that cause significant distress or impairment. These are common but serious medical conditions influenced by biological, psychological, and environmental factors. With appropriate treatment, often including therapy and medication, most people experience meaningful improvement.

🔗If you'd like to pursue more info on this topic, check out this resource from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Learn about NIMH research on depression. Find resources on the signs and symptoms of depression, types, and potential treatments and therapies.

05/26/2026

We continue our focus on Mental Health Awareness Month. We believe education is a powerful tool for reducing stigma and encouraging people to seek help when needed.

Anxiety Disorders involve excessive, persistent fear or worry that is out of proportion to the situation and interferes with daily activities. Common types include generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety, and specific phobias. Physical symptoms such as restlessness, rapid heartbeat, or difficulty concentrating often occur alongside the emotional distress. These are highly treatable with therapy, medication, or a combination of both.

If you'd like to pursue more info on this topic, check out this overview from the Cleveland Clinic

There are seven types of anxiety disorders. Do you know all of them?

05/25/2026

It's Mental Health Awareness Month. We believe education is a powerful tool for reducing stigma and encouraging people to seek help when needed.

Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders involve persistent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and/or repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) that the person feels driven to perform to reduce anxiety. These can significantly consume a person's time and interfere with daily functioning. Conditions in this category respond well to specialized therapies such as Exposure and Response Prevention and also medication when deemed necessary and appropriate.

🔗If you'd like to pursue more info on this topic, check out this article from the Mayo Clinic

OCD features unwanted thoughts and fears, or obsessions. These obsessions lead to repetitive behaviors, also known as compulsions, that get in the way of daily activities.

05/25/2026

We are closed in observance of Memorial Day. Our office reopens tomorrow (Tue, 5/26) at 7:30A.

05/22/2026

It's Mental Health Awareness Month. We believe education is a powerful tool for reducing stigma and encouraging people to seek help when needed.

Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders, such as PTSD, can develop after exposure to traumatic or highly stressful events. Symptoms often include intrusive memories, avoidance of reminders, negative changes to mood, and increased reactivity that interfere with daily life. Evidence-based therapies like trauma-focused CBT can help individuals process experiences, reduce symptoms, and regain a sense of safety & control.

🔗If you'd like to pursue more info on this topic, check out this overview from the MSD Manuals

Overview of Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorders - Learn about the causes, symptoms, diagnosis & treatment from the MSD Manuals - Medical Consumer Version.

05/21/2026

Reminder that May is Mental Health Awareness Month. We believe education is a powerful tool for reducing stigma and encouraging people to seek help when needed.

Dissociative Disorders involve disruptions or discontinuities in memory, identity, emotion, perception, or sense of self. These may include feeling detached from one's body or surroundings, significant memory gaps (often trauma-related), or in some cases, distinct identity states. These conditions are frequently linked to overwhelming stress or trauma and can be effectively addressed through specialized therapy focused on safety, processing experiences, and building integration and coping skills.

🔗If you'd like to pursue more info on this topic, peruse this overview from Rethink Mental Illness

Dissociative disorders affect the way you think. Find out about why dissociation happens and get information on diagnosis and treatment.