December 14, 2017

Why Do We Date the Wrong Person?

December 14, 2017/ Thrive Therapy/ amy mcmanus

Why Do We Date the Wrong Person?

The recent article in the New Yorker, Cat Person, by Kristen Roupenian, went viral almost as soon as it was published. Why is everyone talking about this? What does this story tell us about how we end up dating the wrong people, and why we are so devastated when we break up?

November 30, 2017

10 Lessons From the Happiest People In the World

November 30, 2017/ Thrive Therapy/ amy mcmanus

10 Lessons From the Happiest People In the World

Last month’s release of The Blue Zones of Happiness, by Dan Buettner, and this month’s cover article in National Geographic, “These Are The World’s Happiest Places”, by the same author, have sparked an international conversation about the effect of location on happiness.

Could moving somewhere else be enough to make me happy?

Is the secret to happiness actually location, location, location?

November 23, 2017

5 Ways to Survive Thanksgiving With Your Family

November 23, 2017/ Thrive Therapy/ amy mcmanus

5 Ways to Survive Thanksgiving With Your Family

Do Your Thanksgiving Traditions Include Arguing and Hurt Feelings?

Here are 5 tips for making it through the Holidays without losing your mind:

November 16, 2017

5 Surprising Scientifically Proven Benefits of Gratitude

November 16, 2017/ amy mcmanus

5 Surprising Scientifically Proven Benefits of Gratitude

Why Gratitude Is Better Than Prozac!

As Thanksgiving approaches, many of us begin to contemplate the things for which we are grateful. Many families have traditions of sharing their thoughts at the table, and none of us wants to be caught short. But what are the benefits of having “An Attitude of Gratitude” all year long?

August 24, 2017

What Would You Tell Your Younger Self?

August 24, 2017/ Thrive Therapy/ amy mcmanus

What Would You Tell Your Younger Self?

One way to reflect on ways we have grown, especially when we are getting down on ourselves for what feels like no progress at all in the personal growth department, is to write a letter to our younger self.

August 10, 2017

How To Get Off Of The Hamster Wheel

August 10, 2017/ Thrive Therapy/ amy mcmanus

How To Get Off Of The Hamster Wheel

Have you been bemoaning the fact that you have so many things to do that you don’t want to do, but have to do? Do you also have a lot of fun things that you want to do, but believe you don’t have time for? Are you having trouble figuring out the disconnect? Do you feel like the proverbial hamster on the exercise wheel?

The trick is not to get off of the wheel, but to make running on the wheel something you love to do!

July 20, 2017

Adulting 101– 4 Life Hacks For Your Soul

July 20, 2017/ Thrive Therapy/ amy mcmanus

Adulting 101– 4 Life Hacks For Your Soul

If you are 20- or 30- something, you might be feeling lousy about where you are in life right now. Nobody told you how hard these years were going to be, and you think you must be doing something wrong. Being 20- or 30- something has always kind of sucked, so don’t pay too much attention to the old-timers who are telling you “these are the best years of your life”. That’s just wrong.

May 11, 2017

5 Things To Know If You Are Considering Therapy

May 11, 2017/ Thrive Therapy/ amy mcmanus

5 Things To Know If You Are Considering Therapy

1. Those patterns of thinking (obsessive, anyone?), feeling (math tests make you anxious?), and behaving (ever have a relationship with the “same” person twice? Five times?) have their roots in your childhood. And guess what—when you were a kid, those patterns were great adaptations to your young self’s situation! They may have saved your life. So don’t be so hard on yourself if they don’t work so well for you any more.

May 04, 2017

I Never Say No to Glitter

May 04, 2017/ Thrive Therapy/ amy mcmanus

I Never Say No to Glitter

When I am at the end of my life, I know I will look back and count things like sunsets, kisses, bike rides and fun with my kids. I will not measure my life by hours worked, loads of laundry, or sit-ups. And yet, how often do I live my life as though I remember that?

March 01, 2017

5 Surprising Ways to Combat Stress during Election Week

March 01, 2017/ Thrive Therapy/ amy mcmanus

5 Surprising Ways to Combat Stress during Election Week

Stress and anxiety are two of the top reasons that people come to me for therapy. The current political climate has been adding to the emotional burden, and many of us fear for the future of our country, our children, and our planet. Many families are divided across political lines or have complex ideological differences.

February 20, 2017

Understanding Millennials Part 2– What Are The Differences Between Older and Younger Millennials, and Who Are The Xennials?

February 20, 2017/ Thrive Therapy/ amy mcmanus

Understanding Millennials Part 2– What Are The Differences Between Older and Younger Millennials, and Who Are The Xennials?

Millennials are getting a lot of bad press lately. They’ve been labeled The Narcissistic Generation. Generation Me. The Snowflakes.

Everyone seems to have an opinion about Millennials, and the older they are, the less they can distinguish among Gen X, Older Millennials, younger Millennials, and the youngest generation, iGen, or Generation Z. And who are these "Xennials"?

February 19, 2017

5 Reasons Why Your Millennial Children are Struggling with Adulthood– Understanding Millennials Part 1

February 19, 2017/ amy mcmanus

5 Reasons Why Your Millennial Children are Struggling with Adulthood– Understanding Millennials Part 1

Millennials are shaping our culture today. They have outpaced the Baby Boomers in population, and as their buying power continues to grow, they will increasingly become the driving force behind technology and marketing... If you are a Baby Boomer, you need to understand what is going on with these young people. What are the unique challenges they face, and how are they affecting our culture? If you are a parent of a Millennial, you need to know the reasons why their young adulthood is so different from the way yours was.

February 16, 2017

From Graduation to Adulting

February 16, 2017/ Thrive Therapy/ amy mcmanus

From Graduation to Adulting

The Big Lie is that because we have all these options, we should be able to find one that is exactly meant for us. There is something out there that speaks perfectly to our knowledge, our skills, and our preferences. Maybe. Many people also think that if they find this magical way to spend their time and energy, it will also always be fun and interesting. Nope.

February 01, 2017

Is AI Going to Make My Therapist Obsolete?

February 01, 2017/ Thrive Therapy/ amy mcmanus

Is AI Going to Make My Therapist Obsolete?

Why would I pay for therapy when I can just tell Siri about my bad day?

We now have mental health apps for our phones and tablets, as well as bots like Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant, that can respond to our emotional statements and inquiries, and even help us regulate our emotions.

January 25, 2017

Why Won't My Teenager Talk to Me?

January 25, 2017/ Thrive Therapy/ amy mcmanus

Why Won't My Teenager Talk to Me?

One reason– they're tired! Not what you thought I'd say? Ha! Read on...When do teens want to talk to their parents? 10:00 pm. That’s right. Just when you are ready to collapse, exhausted, into bed, your teen will knock on your bedroom door with an innocuous question. If you are coherent enough to carry on a conversation, and can stay calm, the best thing you can do is respond with an attitude of “tell me more”. This late hour (late for you, it’s still early for them) is your best time to get them to open up.

January 24, 2017

Should I Let My Teenager Watch 13 Reasons Why?

January 24, 2017/ Thrive Therapy/ amy mcmanus

Should I Let My Teenager Watch 13 Reasons Why?

Well, the better question probably is, "How do I talk to my teenager about the show 13 Reasons Why?"... I will give you resources in this blog, and there are many other resources available depending on your specific mental health concern. You can be fully prepared to deal with the questions and feelings that may be triggered in your teenager by this show.

January 23, 2017

5 Reasons Why Your Teenagers Tell Me Everything

January 23, 2017/ amy mcmanus

5 Reasons Why Your Teenagers Tell Me Everything

Teenagers routinely open their hearts to me, and I am honored to hold their secrets and dreams, their disappointments and their fears. Parents often ask me, “How do you get my kid to talk to you? They won’t tell me anything!” I tell them not to worry, it’s always easier to talk to an adult who is not your parent. But why is that, really? Here are 5 reasons why teenagers talk to me. If you are a parent, maybe this can help you get your teenager to talk to you, too!

January 22, 2017

The 5 Most Effective Ways for Dads to Communicate with Their Teenage Daughters

January 22, 2017/ Thrive Therapy/ amy mcmanus

The 5 Most Effective Ways for Dads to Communicate with Their Teenage Daughters

Now that your daughter is a teenager, she wants to solve her own problems...Though it’s hard to imagine, she actually does want your approval and even your help. It’s just that what makes her feel safe is different, now that she is a teenager. Here’s how to be her hero, now that she is a teenager and has teenage problems.

January 21, 2017

How Do I Get My Teenager to Stop Arguing About the Rules?

January 21, 2017/ Thrive Therapy/ amy mcmanus

How Do I Get My Teenager to Stop Arguing About the Rules?

It’s a trick- they won’t stop! In fact, teenagers get a buzz from arguing with you. The good news is that teenage brains are wired to challenge authority, so if your teenager is arguing with you, you know their brain is working and developing just like it is supposed to do... But your brain is probably exhausted! Here are some ways you can get your teenager to stop arguing and start following the rules.

January 20, 2017

Why Are People Talking About the Michelle Carter Verdict and What Can We Learn From This Tragedy?

January 20, 2017/ Thrive Therapy/ amy mcmanus

Why Are People Talking About the Michelle Carter Verdict and What Can We Learn From This Tragedy?

Words matter. Texts matter. And, according to Judge Moniz, words can kill.

What can we,as parents of teenagers, take away from this tragic situation that could help the troubled teenagers we may know? How can we talk to our kids in a way that might possibly prevent another tragedy?