Melissa Cohen, LCSW

06/29/2021

Any creative endeavor starts with an idea. Whether you’re writing an essay, making a presentation for work or painting your next masterpiece – perfectionism can make it impossible to finish the work. We keep tinkering with the project until all the joy is taken out of the experience. Often, we become so focused on the goal that we miss the beauty of the work we’ve put in. Remember, the end result is only a portion of the achievement.

Whether your mental block is rooted in fear, self-doubt or frustration, remember that taking action is the most important next step.

When you hit a mental block, remind yourself of how you got as far as you have.

Celebrate the small achievements along the way. Use them as motivation to keep working toward your goal.

06/28/2021

"Happiness is a skill that can be developed. And with practice, we can raise our baseline level of happiness."

Claim your happiness today!

06/27/2021

How are you kicking off your summer??

Remember: YOU get to have fun too!

06/26/2021

If you are looking to take charge of your life, you need to realize that YOU are the starting point. Let's dive in to the importance of taking personal responsibility when it comes to your own happiness and growth.

Read more here:

If you are looking to take charge of your life, you need to realize that YOU are the starting point. In my last post, I discussed the value of self-awareness. Here, we’ll dive in to the importance of taking personal responsibility when it comes to your own happiness and growth.

06/24/2021

How often do you take the time to simply sit and be present?

06/23/2021

When it comes to truly taking command of your life, an understanding of what helps you feel aligned is key.

Read more about diving in to the value in being self-aware and how that plays an integral part in the personal growth process here:

When it comes to truly taking command of your life, an understanding of what helps you feel aligned is key. In my last post, I discussed the difference between control and command. Here, we’ll dive in to the value in being self-aware and how that plays an integral part in the personal growth proce...

06/21/2021

Little changes add up.

06/20/2021

A good therapist doesn’t have all the answers. She knows the right questions to ask.

A few months ago, a fellow psychotherapist and coach posed the question, “Do you want to be in control or do you want to be in command?”

That’s what I call a THINKER!

Read more about my thoughts on this here:

A few months ago, a fellow psychotherapist and coach posed the question, “Do you want to be in control or do you want to be in command?”

06/19/2021

How self-aware are you?

Really think about that question for a minute. Are you fairly “tuned in” with what you need to feel good, happy, and healthy and the triggers or situations that derail you?

If your answer is “kind of, but not really,” you are not alone. Most people don’t take the time to ask themselves these types of questions. Without realizing it, they spend a lot of time on auto-pilot. They just react to the external world, day by day, doing the best they can.

Many of my clients come to me with things they have struggled with for years. It may be a troubled relationship, a bad habit, or a general unhappiness that seems to follow them around. They usually come to me with the realization that they need help to break the unseen patterns keeping them stuck.

Developing self-awareness is the first step in the growth process.

06/18/2021

We have a blind spot when it comes to our own limits. That’s why we often stretch ourselves too thin. It’s not just about setting priorities and creating boundaries.

We first must understand our own personal capacity. Personal capacity is an algorithm of how much energy you have, how much of your 24 hours have you already used and how much stress you’re managing.

Read more:

We live in a time where we have access to limitless information. The things that constantly compete for our attention are limitless as well. The tricky part? We are, in fact, NOT limitless. Our energy has limits, and our time has limits too. We all have 24 hours in a day. That’s it. There are no e...

06/17/2021

"Conflict. It’s an unavoidable part of any relationship. But do you ever feel like drama follows you everywhere you go? It can be frustrating — and tiring! — to be trapped in unnecessary, overblown struggles on a regular basis.

No, you’re not cursed. Nor does it mean you’re weak or doomed to have dysfunctional relationships forever. You’re caught in the Drama Triangle."

Conflict. It’s an unavoidable part of any relationship. But do you ever feel like drama follows you everywhere you go? It can be frustrating — and tiring! — to be trapped in unnecessary, overblown struggles on a regular basis. No, you’re not cursed. Nor does it mean you’re weak or doomed t...

06/16/2021

"The relationships in our lives — whether with friends, family members, or romantic partners — are one of our richest sources of joy, meaning, and purpose. And when we take the time to invest in them by asking creative, meaningful questions, we create long-lasting bonds that are both deep and fulfilling."

When we take the time to ask purposeful questions, we can create long-lasting bonds.