Maysie Tift, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

5 ways to finally get your meditation practice off the ground... it's easier than you think! http://www.maysietifttherapy.com//how-to-start-a-meditatio

Embrace your to-DON’T list! https://t.co/ehSXkGVqHS

Please sign this petition to tell Psychology Today magazine how offensive their covers are. Psychotherapy is for *everyone* - so why does the cover of every issue feature a white female, meticulously made up to look like a fashion model?? More diversity please! https://www.facebook.com/maysie.tift/posts/10156003173199783

Bay Area folks: do you know someone who suffers from IBS? I can help! Read about hypnosis for IBS here: http://www.maysietifttherapy.com//ibs-pain-and-discomfort-

IS YOUR MOM TOO DEPENDENT ON YOU? If you are contemplating this question, there’s a good chance your mom does lean on you too heavily! Idealistic notions of Mothers abound in our culture. It’s wonderful when a mother and adult child enjoy a close and loving relationship that is mutually satisfying. But sometimes, the closeness takes on an unhealthy dynamic called enmeshment that overwhelms or burdens the child, and serves primarily to meet the needs of the parent. Often this ...Continue reading

"As we gather here, let us remember the lonely, for whom this company would be a festival of life; the persecuted, for whom this gathering would be an act of physical courage; and the hungry, for whom it would be the feast of a lifetime." -a beautiful blessing by the late Dr. Seuss. Happy Thanksgiving!

Playing Wonder Woman is not just for kids anymore! Using "power poses" may boost your confidence and your ability to tolerate stress by increasing testosterone and lowering cortisol. Could it help your mental health overall? I was inspired by a Ted Talk I recently heard where Harvard professor and researcher Amy Cuddy talked about the biochemical changes that occur when we assume certain poses that display confidence and power. The science of body language is fascinating -... researchers know that our nonverbal behaviors have enormous effects on how others perceive us and respond to us. Professor Cuddy's angle is a little different - she is interested in how our body language affects OURSELVES. Apparently, when research volunteers assumed power poses for as little as 2 minutes, they had significant increases in testosterone and decreases in cortisol. Why is this desirable? According to Cuddy, Our lab at Harvard suggests that the best leadersboth male and femaleseem to have relatively high testosterone, which is linked to decreased fear and increased tolerance for risk and desire to compete. Cortisol is associated with fear and stress, and has long been documented to be detrimental to us in high doses. Cuddy's findings suggest that power posturing may help us to feel more powerful and perform well in the face of stressful events such as job interviews, public performances, and situations where we must compete or assert ourselves. Acting confident seems to manifest confidence. (Reminds me of Paul Ekman's work on microexpressions and the effects of facial expression on emotions). Which leads me to wonder... could power posturing play a role in the treatment of depression and anxiety? When we are depressed, we rarely assume big, open postures with heads up and good eye contact. On the contrary, we often turn away from others, hang our heads, assume the fetal position. Anxious folks commonly cross their arms tightly over their chests, pull their shoulders up to their ears, and tighten their muscles. What would happen if people chronically overwhelmed with fear and helplessness regularly assumed poses that conveyed just the opposite (even if only in private)? Anyone want to take the challenge? A great article below summarizes and comments upon Cuddy's research, with photos illustrating the "high-power poses" and "low-power" poses, as well as photos of animals instinctively power posing in nature. Notice how the low power poses mirror the body language of people in distress. http://www.businessinsider.com/body-language-power-poses-20