Help with finding patience and compassion for ourselves as we work towards our goals. January brings a sense of rebirth and excitement for what is to come. But it can also be a reminder of what changes we want to make, especially if we lost sight of those goals in the past couple months. As we close the chapter of 2019, I like to take a moment to reflect on the journey that was this past year. During my yearly reflections, I often notice the situations that seemed so insurmou

Understanding the emotions behind giving and receiving gifts during the holidays. I hear about this all the time and yet, very infrequently do we think about why this is the case. Often, someone’s distaste for gifts is thought of as a quirky personality trait, similar to people who either love or hate their birthdays. But both gift-giving and receiving can evoke a lot of emotions. Out of curiosity, I reviewed some scientific literature on the subject. Unsurprisingly, much of

Help with overcoming loneliness and finding the beauty in being by yourself. For many, the holidays present as a very difficult time to be alone. Whether this means you are single, cannot afford to take time off from work or are not able to visit family, or simply choose to be alone, it’s actually quite common to spend some or all of the holiday season by yourself. Although the answer to this question is particularly pertinent at this time, it can also be a challenge to spend

Help with handling difficult situations during the holiday season. Happy holidays everyone! We are in the thick of the holiday season and by now we have made it through Thanksgiving. I wanted to hold off on this post, hoping that some of the answer would involve some self-reflection on your part. Think about last week and take an inventory on how it went: Was there conflict? If so, how did you react to that conflict? Why do you think you reacted in this way? Were there old fa

Simple and intuitive start to finding the right therapist. I’d like to start off by saying welcome! I’m Dr. Meagan Stanley (as you may have guessed) and I’m a licensed clinical psychologist. I work in private practice in Newport Beach, CA, and from time to time, work as an adjunct undergraduate professor. At first, I thought this would be a great way to connect with my clients and students while I’m not in the office or in the classroom. But as I presented the idea of startin