Quality of Life
I believe the most profound changes you can make improve your quality of life. Quality of life concerns your fulfillment in those aspects of life you value the most. This can include work, learning, friendships, love life, spirituality and meaning, home, and many other aspects of life. Psychologists have divided quality of life into two types: subjective and objective. Subjective quality of life is your inner feeling of satisfaction with various aspects of life. Objective quality of life is your outer success in those areas (e.g., successful completion of schooling, getting hired for a rewarding job, getting dates with love interests), usually as a result of using effective life skills.
While I use this perspective in working with individuals with mental health diagnoses, anyone can benefit from it. This is the reason I offer Quality of Life Services. I use the effective tools of clinical psychology to help you set goals, sharpen skills, and mobilize quality of life improving actions. Here are my ongoing Quality of Life Services programs:
- Life Skills Training: I can work with you individually, or in groups I offer from time to time, to sharpen such life skills as communication, goal setting, self-management, and stress reduction.
- “Finding Your Direction”: I created this group program for young adult men because of the number of referrals I have received in recent years of young men who are unemployed, out of school, living with their parents, frustrated, unhappy, and struggling with their motivation to change (what some call “failure to launch”). Such young men are often dealing with procrastination, frustration, depression, and/or anxiety. The name of the group comes from its main focus: choosing what you want your life to be about and building the confidence to keep moving in that direction. It focuses on building life skills, and learning from the struggles and strengths of other young men. Please contact us about when the next group will be scheduled.
- “Welcome Back Sleep”: Insomnia can be a frustrating problem. Sleep is an involuntary behavior, but is fundamental to quality of life. Sleep medications are designed for temporary relief, and can actually worsen insomnia with long term use. Fortunately, psychological science has brought us the most effective treatment for insomnia. This involves various techniques to make practical changes in your sleep habits. If you have had insomnia for a while, you have probably run across some of these on the Internet. Unfortunately, many people have difficulty making these changes because insomnia-related habits (e.g., taking long daytime naps) take on a life of their own. Consistency in your sleep habit changes is essential to overcome insomnia. I can help you get over these hurdles and “Welcome Back Sleep”.