PsychNotes 2011
by Monica A. Frank, Ph.D.
Clinical and Sport Psychologist

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NOVEMBER 14, 2011

SEPTEMBER 19, 2011 The best way to understand intensity is that it is a physiological reaction to the competitive situation. We experience physical symptoms that can either help us or hinder us. Sometimes this can vary with the individual, other times it varies with the sport or the situation.

JULY 17, 2011 "We need to determine the validity of our emotions before we act on them."

JULY 16, 2011
"One major problem with demand thinking is that it creates a great deal of unnecessary stress."

JULY 15, 2011 You have probably heard some variation of Albert Einstein's definition of insanity: “Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” This definition has been popularized by pop psychology and marketing gurus to emphasize the importance of taking a different approach to solving a problem. Basically, the idea is you can't keep engaging in the same unsuccessful or even self-destructive behavior and expect that you will succeed next time.

JULY 5, 2011 "Why are people so mean?" seems to be a plaintive cry across the internet. Although the issue may be more prevalent online due to the anonymity and accessibility, it is by no means limited to the online community. Yet, other people's “meanness” impacts us more than it really needs to. The more that people can recognize that the meanness they experience from others is either unintentional or is more about the mean person rather than about them, the less they personalize the meanness and the less impact it has on them.

MAY 15, 2011 New audios focusing on Sport Motivation, Intensity Training, and Sport Imagery Training!

MARCH 24, 2011 Many people struggle with forgiveness. Often, they either are unable to forgive or they forgive too quickly without fully processing their emotions or resolving the situation. In which case, they haven't truly forgiven. Both of these situations involve an inability to navigate the grief process.

MARCH 5, 2011

JANUARY 22, 2011 All emotions are normal. An emotion in and of itself is not irrational. However, what we decide based upon our emotions can be irrational and lead to destructive behavior. Although certain behaviors related to an emotion can create problems, the emotion itself may have some validity. The purpose of emotions is to provide us with information. Once we have the information, we may then choose appropriate action. However, as with any information, emotions may be misunderstood. How we make sense of an emotion may not always lead to the accurate meaning of the emotion. Therefore, our chosen actions may not resolve the problem the emotion brought to our attention, or may even create additional difficulties. READ MORE

JANUARY 21, 2011 The co-worker who deliberately sabatoges your work:

An internet reader described the following situation: I work in a special needs preschool and I do circletime everyday.   When I was sick, I asked my co-teacher aide if she will do it for me and she said "Yes."  I leave to go to the restroom and return to see the head teacher doing circletime.  The co-worker never says a word about why she didn't do it.  Also, she has deleted pictures used to document learning and when I restored them, she permanently deleted them and denied it ever happened.

This reader gives a number of other examples, including behavior towards the special needs children, and states: I feel guilty telling on her but am about to quit my job. READ MORE