Alli Spotts-De Lazzer, M.A. - Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist - Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor - Certified Eating Disorders Specialist
Posted by in Blog I mentioned that I was researching selfie deaths to a younger friend. One brow raised, and the other furled in confusion. They said, “What?” I explained that people had died trying to capture a spectacular selfie. With a tone of confusion and disbelief, they responded, “How?” “Cause of death: Selfie” understandably seems ridiculous and implausible.…Read more »
Posted by in Blog Gauging progress in eating disorder recovery can be confusing, especially for those watching the process. One day, your loved one seems on track for healing. Then, what happened?! They appear “back to square one.” Parents, caregivers, or spouses (“carers”) tend to panic about that. The stages of change (Prochaska & DiClemente, 1983; Raihan & Cogburn, 2023)…Read more »
Posted by in Blog Many of us use self-talk to inspire and improve ourselves. Yet the typically harsh, punishing approach often backfires (for example, Loser!). Research has repeatedly linked self-criticism to various mental disorders and life stressors—ranging from social anxiety and depression to relationship difficulties (Werner and colleagues, 2019). An antidote to intense self-criticism may well be self-compassion (treating your suffering with humanity). For example, a…Read more »
Posted by in Blog While perusing my morning Google Alerts, “Selfitis and Body Image Satisfaction Among Undergraduates in a Nigerian Private University” (Olabisi et al., 2024) stood out. I started to feel nervous because I’m presenting on the intersection of social media and mental health soon. Yet I had never heard of the condition “selfitis.” I began reading the study published in the International…Read more »
Posted by in Blog Social media provides many benefits to teens, such as offering and receiving social support, experiencing a sense of community, and expanding one’s worldview. On the other hand, if you’re noticing troubling changes in your teen‘s mood or behavior, consider whether their social media could be the culprit or a contributor. Information about attitudes and behaviors related to…Read more »
Posted by in Blog A lot of people have strained relationships with this time of year. But it goes against the grain to publicly not love the happiest season of all. I know because I have a complicated relationship with this time of year. People often correct me or respond as if I offend them by not sharing their enthusiasm.…Read more »
Posted by in Blog Though the story behind Thanksgiving is multi-faceted (Cain and Hadden, 2022), millions will celebrate on the fourth Thursday in November. They’ll be dedicating a chunk of time to give thanks. However, their experiences may not match the research. Studies on gratitude A 2023 meta-analysis and review concluded that gratitude interventions can positively affect people. increasing feelings of…Read more »
Posted by in Blog When someone asks, “How are you feeling?” are you genuinely not sure? Maybe you come across as socially awkward. Or perhaps people have accused you of “withholding” your emotions. Any of those examples might indicate something called “alexithymia.” It’s a legitimate condition (with a fancy title). And about 13 percent of the population experiences it…Read more »
Posted by in Blog Taylor Swift’s influence has been with us for a long while now. And unlike others who gained fame in their youth but fell from a “State of Grace,” she is doing more than simply holding up. She and her Swifties are thriving. It’s a subculture, but I didn’t yet get it. So I went to “The…Read more »
Posted by in Blog “I might have a little disordered eating, but I don’t think it’s an eating disorder”(when it is an eating disorder). “I throw up sometimes to manage my weight, but it’s not a big deal.” These types of comments often come up in therapy and in common conversations. A 2023 review by Miskovic-Wheatley and colleagues synthesized a decade’s worth…Read more »