
Decoding tantrums
A toddler having an emotional meltdown is one of the most provocative situations that a parent can face. It’s intense, irrational, seems out of the blue, and worst of all, completely out of your control! A study published recently in the journal, Emotion, took an in depth look at the emotions present during a tantrum, and found distinct and predictable patterns in the madness. Most interesting, I thought, was the presence of sadness throughout the tantrum and the predictable

Multi-tasking more stressful for women!
NPR featured a story recently on a study published in the American Sociological Review looking more deeply at the emotional experience of “multi-tasking” for women and men who are parents in dual income families. This is a really interesting study because it goes beyond the stats and numbers that support overall work hours and work loads have increased at about the same rate for both men and women in professional and managerial jobs over the last few decades. Yet women seem t

Interview on Parent-Infant Bonding!
I was recently contacted by a writer for Associated Content to do an interview answering questions for parents on common difficulties bonding with a new baby, and tips to create a healthy relationship. Below is the content of the article, and a link to the original: Tips on Attaching & Bonding to Your New Baby
Interview with Therapist Nikki Lively, LCSW
By Jaleh There are some moms that have a difficult time attaching and bonding to their new baby. To help understand what

Good Morning America, "Advice Guru" Application!
A few months ago, I just happened to be at the gym on a cardio machine facing a row of televisions, one of which was on Good Morning America. On this particular morning, they were announcing a nationwide search for an “Advice Guru” who would appear on the show as part of their “team” and answer questions from viewers seeking guidance with life problems. Now, I don’t usually watch Good Morning America, so I thought, “maybe this is kismet that I just happened to see this! I