Dr. Ermshar & Associates, Specialized Psychological Services

05/20/2026

05/12/2026

❤️❤️❤️

04/29/2026

A great dinner getting to know Gene Harris, Chief of Police, City of Pasadena. Thank you for your service to our community!!
Chief Harris is a Southern California native and former United States Marine, where he served as an airborne, forward observer for naval gunfire and close air support before leaving to pursue his career in law enforcement. With over 30 years of law enforcement experience, he now serves as Police Chief for the City of Pasadena. Gene is the former president and current Board Member of the Los Angeles County Police Chiefs Association, a nonprofit mutual benefit corporation consisting of the Police Chief Executives of the 45 independent cities in Los Angeles County. The Association focuses on advancing the science and art of police administration and crime prevention within the County and at-large; coordinating efforts by law enforcement leaders in developing, teaching, and disseminating professional law enforcement best practices. Other endeavors include stints on the Board of the Asian Youth Center, and the West San Gabriel Valley YMCA, and a current seat on the Board of the California Police Chief's Association.
As Chief and throughout his career, he has placed community engagement at the top of his priority list and will ensure members of the Pasadena Police Department interact with community members at every level. He is dedicated to the tenants of developing community partnerships and believes it crucial in any public, or private community endeavors.

04/29/2026

Talking Connections

In our modern world of convenience, we have many portals to communicate with people, especially without using in-person interactions or talking on the phone. We can communicate via email, through texts, with online and social media platforms, and with postal mail (for the few of us who still use it). These options provide more passive messaging options at our disposal that can be viewed and replied to immediately or at the whim of each individual’s schedule and availability. With so many technological options and advances, talking on the phone or face-to-face directly has become less frequent and perhaps even less preferable. In fact, there are jobs that are fully contingent on the ability to communicate without any direct human contact or live talking. Likewise, with today’s social climate, there are increasing jobs that are conducted remotely to maintain social distancing.

We all use at least some of these features and have adapted to its functions, accessibility, and ease with which to communicate, so we know the clear benefits of them. What about the potential negative aspects associated with modern communication methods? Based on Buffer’s 2020 State of Remote Work Survey, the workers rated that communication, collaboration, and loneliness were the most significant struggles of remote work. Research has shown that people feel less connected with online communications compared to when they talk in person or over the phone. By using any form of voice-based media (rather than text-based media), hearing someone’s voice, and interacting with them, individuals felt more connected and it played a role in bonding. This concept has been particularly trialing through the pandemic when we were forced to maintain physical distance from others. Researchers have studied why people still rely on text-based media for communications even when they felt more connected with voice communications. People reported mistaken beliefs and fears in which that they perceived a conversation on the phone would be more awkward and susceptible to being misunderstood. However, in reality, direct talking was more satisfying, created significantly stronger bonds by hearing a voice, and was not awkward as they anticipated. Another experiment asked participants to predict how they would feel in asking and answering a series of rather personal questions communicated either through live texting, audio only, or video chat. After engaging in the task through one of the three formats, participants reported feeling significantly more connected and no more awkward through voice-based communication rather than text-based. Thus, a strong sense of connection was established with a phone call rather than texting. Ultimately, the fact remains that maintaining social ties is imperative to both physical and mental health, and text-based media does not foster social connections in the same positive manner that voice-based communications elicit.

As we look ahead to a future of ongoing hybrid and/or remote work schedules and increased frequency of text-based communications, it is necessary to consider how talking directly with a person (on the phone or in person) can improve connections and help establish bonding and social ties. Likewise, research has highlighted that are misperceived expectations about communication can hinder us from using voice-based communication, however the benefits appear to outweigh the costs with regard to social interactions and overall well-being.

04/07/2026

Personal peace does not coexist with drama. If there are people in your life that enjoy drama or bring excessive (or any) drama into your life, considering separating from all that as it ends up costing you peace. ❤️

02/18/2026

Stuck in Trauma:

Have you or someone you know experienced a and feel emotionally or energetically stuck in life as a result? of traumatic experiences often have resiliency and coping strategies to manage such adverse events, and the presence of more positive experiences in their lives can counterbalance the more difficult times. Although there are some forms of trauma that can be overwhelming the body and mind, cause recurrent reminders of the event, and leave the person feeling as though all experiences after the incident are overshadowed by the traumatic event. In fact, lingering trauma effects can create a sense of tunnel vision in which the individual interprets all experiences through a lens of the unique traumatic experience. When the trauma is not properly or effectively processed, it essentially rewires the brain and influences behavioral and thought patterns, and can even cause an individual to somewhat regress in their emotional functioning.

Additionally, the presence of unresolved trauma may manifest as a part of your identity, it can disrupt emotional growth, and can result in the individual resorting to old or ineffective coping methods that cause problems with , mood, work/school efforts, and sense of self. Particularly when the trauma occurs early in life, the individual may experience halts and delays in emotional development. In other words, the emotional maturity of an individual exposed to a traumatic experience can be affected, they may demonstrate arrested psychological development, or become “stuck” in the state and emotional response that was present at the time of the trauma. In a real-life scenario, a young adult with exposure to physical abuse by a family member during childhood could, in turn, engage in volatile and relationships made up of manipulation and unfair treatment toward others because of underlying insecurities, low self-esteem, feelings of unworthiness, and cognitive distortions about feeling as though they are deserving of pain, suffering, and chaotic interpersonal relationships. Based on this example, the young adult exhibits childlike behaviors in approaching relationships perhaps because their emotional maturity was halted to the time of the traumatic experiences, and the trauma remained integrated into their sense of self without resolve or further processing. It is important to acknowledge that any significant experience that a person deems as traumatic can impact the ability to manage , cope with stressors, and interact with other people. Another example often observed in our daily lives is witnessing an individual who is chronically agitated, irritable, easily frustrated, pessimistic, sarcastic, and does not easily warm up to or trust other people. This can be a sign of an individual who has chronically struggled with the effects of a traumatic experience, and such effects have infiltrated their mood, perspectives, and views of self.

On a positive note, an individual can work through the trauma with proper treatment and support, gain insight into the rationales of their behaviors and emotional responses, and find resolutions to with grief, loss, and other significant stressors that are interpreted by the body and mind as traumas. With time, practice, and readiness to process these complex thoughts and feelings, traumatic experiences and your reactions to the event can be reestablished as a less daunting and disturbing process. Therefore, it is highly beneficial to address the difficult life experiences safely with support and professional help as needed, and you can learn to become “unstuck” from a life overshadowed by trauma.

02/06/2026

Multitasking, Friend or Foe?

Multitasking is the process of moving quickly between different tasks without losing focus. In our culture, it is often deemed as a desirable quality because it can lead to productivity and achievement-based goals. Business leaders, restaurant workers, and parents alike pride themselves in being able to multitask, such as answering emails while organizing a space, fulfilling orders and doing customer services simultaneously, or taking care of household chores while also meal prepping. In fact, some people feel a sense of pleasure and contentment in being able to efficiently use their time to complete multiple things at once. From an objective standpoint, multitasking is not necessarily good or bad, instead it depends on its usefulness to the individual. For those who function well with distractions, which are inherent with multitasking, this approach can be rewarding and effective. However, among others who find multitasking to be a risky habit because of the potential costs involved in the process, it can be ineffective and counterproductive.

We have all tried multitasking at some point, and in some cases, it seems inevitable or most appropriate for a situation. Alternatively, there are also times when it can cause more harm than good. Let’s look at the pros and cons of multitasking, starting with the reported benefits with multitasking. First, paying attention to and staying busy with multiple tasks at once can deter boredom and make good use of breaks, particularly when faced with a repetitive task. Additionally, by engaging in several things at a time, the individual can make progress and feel as though they avoid procrastination. Further, multitasking may serve as a way to increase resilience, adaptability, and flexibility by preparing for real-life scenarios when the individual must manage and cope with multiple tasks at the same time. Continue reading on the blog! https://www.drannetteermshar.com/multitasking-friend-or-foe/

01/19/2026

We’re proud to announce the promotion of Charlotte Sohl to Director of Executive Support Services at Dr. Ermshar & Associates.
Charlotte exemplifies professionalism, sound judgment, and quiet excellence in everything she does. Her leadership, discretion, and ability to keep complex operations running seamlessly make her an invaluable part of our practice. We are fortunate to have her, grateful for her continued dedication, and excited to see her thrive in this well-earned role. Congratulations, Charlotte—we truly love having you on our team. ❤️

01/15/2026

There are many neurological differences in brain functioning that have traditionally been identified or labeled as or . For instance, ADHD, anxiety disorders, Autism Spectrum, Bipolar Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, concussions, Depression, Down Syndrome, dyslexia, epilepsy, OCD, PTSD, schizophrenia, stroke, and Tourette’s syndrome all represent differences in neurological functioning. Unfortunately, the preconceived social model of disability tends to pathologize people for these differences, categorize them as “abnormal,” and thus foster a culture of judging, discriminating, or ostracizing those who do not fit into the majority. Given the ever-growing presence of individuals with neurological differences among us, it is more important than ever to evolve our understanding of these differences.

The term “neurodiversity” was coined by an Australian sociologist, Judy Singer, in 1998. Neurodiversity is a concept that describes a broad range of diverse people who have different ways of perceiving, learning, processing, and thinking. Individuals with neurological differences are not broken or impaired, and may or may not require treatment or interventions. If required, with support and accommodations for their unique needs, individuals can thrive and succeed. The term neurodiversity has gained momentum in the neuropsychology field because it fosters and supports inclusion rather than a negative connotation of being separate from the “majority” group.

When we perceive our brains as being part of a continuum of functioning, a paradigm shift emerges as to how we conceptualize mental and cognitive functioning. For instance, Spectrum Disorder is described on a broad continuum with varying degrees of social ability ranging from a fully adaptive skill set to a range of social limitations. Similarly, brain functioning can also fall on its own spectrum or continuum and represents human functions at varying degrees. Just as biological and cultural differences exist, brain differences can similarly understood to encompass “neurologically diverse brains” for people who are “differently abled.”

There are several benefits to shifting our perspective on neurological or brain differences. First, by removing the labels of “disability” versus “normal”, it allows for increased connection and inclusion. It also allows for an increased focus on individual strengths rather than weaknesses or limitations, and it encourages companies to integrate those who have differences in brain functions. For example, traditional job interviews assess individuals based on strong communication skills, eye contact, emotional intelligence, and confidence. A neurodiverse individual may score lower in those categories, yet have other strengths and abilities which may prove to be an asset to a business because of their ability to see and process things differently. Imagine a community or society which supports acceptance, , and collaboration among all. While diversity is a hot topic these days, it is my hope that neurodiversity becomes a more understood household term that recognizes individuals for their differences and unique ‘abilities’ and strengths.

01/09/2026

“It’s not that diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but it’s your best friends who are your diamonds.”
— Gina Barreca
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