Garth Kroeker

Here are some suggestions for maintaining your health during the new school year: 1) Have a healthy study schedule.  You will learn much m...

It can be hard to make it through the next hour, if you are feeling desperately unhappy, agitated, empty, worthless, or isolated, especially...

Drum circles are groups where people gather to pound drums together: producing, hearing, and appreciating rhythms. The perception of rhythm ...

Altruistic volunteering is beneficial for mental health. There are several mechanisms by which this could happen: 1) the experience of givin...

There are a number of reasons why singing (out loud!) can be beneficial for mood: 1) the parts of the brain, as well as the facial and phary...

The depression which occurs in the context of bipolar disorder may have a variety of unique features (sometimes such a depression may occur ...

Peace and quiet are important for mental and physical health. Here are a few links to references: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1475772...

The idea of an "anxiety hierarchy" is simple and powerful. It is an application of behavioural therapy, and is analogous to a well...

I've been putting off publishing this post. But to follow some of the behavioural advice about solving procrastination problems, I reali...

I just finished reading an excellent book called Happiness: Lessons from a New Science , by Richard Layard (Penguin, 2005). His main points...

Here's another style of therapy probably under-utilized: This is based on Bandura's work on social learning theory and self-efficacy...

Here's another example of a therapy style that is probably under-emphasized. Relaxation techniques are simple, straightforward, and intu...

I am intending this discussion to be focused specifically on the theme of suicidal thoughts which occur in chronic depression. While I thin...

There are many reasons why a person could have trouble making friends; here are a few: 1) shyness (social anxiety) 2) depression (with resul...

I think it is beneficial to journal. A journal can become a sort of relational experience, in which the journal becomes your confidant; in t...

I always ask patients about drug and alcohol use. Often times, someone will tell me that they drink alcohol or smoke marijuana "sociall...

The feeling of boredom may be a signal to change what we are doing, to seek something more stimulating or pleasurable. Many signals that the...

Here is a set of books that can be worthwhile to read, dealing with mental health & self care issues. I think I will try to update this ...

-lots of fresh vegetables & fruits (except for root vegetables), in amount and variety -lots of high-fiber foods -less meat, if any -fi...

This is a sensitive topic, as many people feel badly about their weight, body image, and dietary habits. And many people have eating disord...