PSYCHOLOGY

Depression

We know that mental health plays an important role in our physical and cognitive health in the present, but it also may impact us later in life. Depre...

4 February 2022

Experiencing a stroke is a major life event. A stroke may cause someone to lose cognitive and physical abilities, such as not being able to communicat...

18 August 2021

Professor Seligman has been teaching and studying psychology for many years. This Ted-talk is insightful and informative to anyone who wants to involv...

22 March 2021

Mindfulness practices are those that help you find yourself within a present moment, experiencing the moment without judgment. Some people describe pr...

17 March 2021

Did you know that education may protect against memory impairment related to depression in older women? One study in Korea by Lee, Park, & Chey (20...

12 March 2021

When people are depressed, many seek psychotherapy to work on the emotional symptoms and ailments from their depression. However, people with depressi...

8 March 2021

Depression impacts individuals not only emotionally, but cognitively. Research has shown that people living with depression experience cognitive defic...

5 March 2021

Over the last decade, positive psychology has been given more attention for its practices that may be therapeutically beneficial in ameliorating depre...

3 March 2021

Cognitive remediation therapy is a form of therapy that combines the practice of cognitive skills using digital cognitive therapy tools with hands-on ...

19 February 2021

Social connection is a human need. Many people struggle with social connection and are at risk of isolation. Social connection can decrease anxiety an...

15 February 2021

Many children and adolescents experience depression. Symptoms of depression in children and adolescents include behavioral problems in school, changes...

12 February 2021

Both men and women will experience depression at some point in their lifetime, but men experience depression differently than what is included in the ...

10 February 2021

Depression during the cold winter months is common for northern countries, particularly in the northern United States and Canada. Clinically, low vita...

8 February 2021

Depression impacts cognitive function. Studies show that patients suffering from depression exhibit have difficulties with making, using, and storing ...

10 July 2020

Mental illness sucks. Even The New York Times  says so. Depression, anxiety and other psychiatric disorders can greatly impact someone's ability t...

13 September 2019

Have you ever wanted to learn how to better tackle depression?  Two articles entitled "What can you do when you're flattened by depression? plan for ...

6 September 2019

Brain-injury causes not only cognitive and physical disturbance, but emotional. Many patients suffer from depression, with a report of approximately 4...

25 July 2019

Telehealth

Natalie Mackenize has been working in Cognitive Rehabilitation since 2004. She holds a master's degree in Cognitive Neuropsychology, is a certified brain injury specialist, accredited Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapist, a Hypnotherapist, and is the only Certifed Brain Injury Specialist Trainer in the UK. Her wealth of information and training is evident in her practice at BIS Services. You're going to watch anything today, this interview should be it! Natalie works with people with TBIs and helps to reintroduce them to readjust to life after a brain injury. Her insight and expertise has lead her to be one of the leading businesswomen of Kent. In fact, Natalie was a shortlisted Finalist for Kent Businesswoman of the Year 2018 and Winner of the Professional Achievement award. See the coverage here http://thebiss.co.uk/2018/03/12/winners/

26 May 2021

Dustin and Natalie met right before the shutdown. Since then, Natalie started to use HappyNeuron, and her clients are thrilled about it. In this snippet, she explains how they felt and their reactions when they were introduced to HappyNeuron Pro.

3 May 2021

Looking for good cognitive worksheets for children? Look no further! Here are the 5 best HappyNeuron Pro worksheets to use with children.

19 April 2021

Brain injuries are complex injuries. Heather Condello and her team of occupational therapists, including Ayushi Dhingra, understand that. Heather and Ayushi discuss how they approach brain injury and redefine occupational therapy to help their clients get back on track and resume the occupations that bring them joy. Learn about how Heather and Ayushi provide cognitive rehabilitation and occupational therapy services for their clients living with brain injury virtually.

4 April 2021

It may feel bleak to enter 2021 still with social distancing rules and regulations occurring. Many people have been feeling the effects of social isolation as they try and stay safe following local guidelines. To help stimulate your client’s brain, here are some creative ways to help your client not feel so isolated with remote cognitive activities.

15 January 2021

Yes, you can! This blog post will tell you why. Telehealth and remote therapy options are becoming increasingly popular as the COVID-19 crisis continues. Seniors are among the most vulnerable people that could face fatal consequences of contracting the virus. Telehealth has been shown to be effective in managing chronic health conditions for elderly people while keeping them out of harm’s way. In this blog post, we show the research supporting and explaining how telehealth can be used to effectively manage chronic health conditions in elderly people.

30 November 2020

Humans need regular social interaction. With older populations, the risk of isolation increases as older adults tend to develop physical disabilities and cognitive impairment. Not being able to have regular social interactions can cause older adults to experience sadness, depression, anxiety and anhedonia. Therapists across the world have recognized this increasing concern and some have adapted new telehealth technologies to combat it.

20 November 2020

Aging is a natural physiological part of life that starts the moment that we are born! As we age, our cognitive functioning naturally declines. However, cognitive decline can occur due to preventable causes.

9 October 2020

Providing remote cognitive rehabilitation therapy may seem difficult, but can be made easy with the right materials. In this blog post, we share with you 5 things that you need to help you provide cognitive rehabilitation therapy for your clients from home.

30 September 2020

If you answered no, then you may want to consider doing so to help you and your patient with aphasia get the most out of therapy. Why? It has been scientifically proven that treatment intensity and duration are the key ingredients to improving cognitive function, especially language for people with aphasia. Physical medicine and rehabilitation therapists apply these same principles to occupational and physical therapy for stroke patients. telepractice therapy for aphasia is successful because it increases the accessibility for both the therapist and patient. This is important because many patients with aphasia also have physical limitations as a result of their stroke, which limits their ability to travel on-site for aphasia therapy.

7 August 2020

With a variety of tools, video conferencing has been simplified. However, many organizations require that all telehealth platforms be HIPAA compliant. There are many HIPAA compliant video conferencing tools, such as Zoom, VSee, GoToMeeting, we explain that all here. But there are other factors to consider when selecting a video conferencing platform. It is important to examine the accessibility of the software, equipment needed to use it for both the clinician and patient and how your client’s internet connectivity affects their experience using the software

31 July 2020

New to telehealth? Here are 5 HIPAA compliant video conferencing platforms that you can use to provide telehealth services for your patients. Each platform has its own strengths and weaknesses. It is important that you make sure that you investigate all of your options before choosing the tool that you will be using. As telehealth is becoming the new normal thing, you can learn how you can adapt it into your personal practice today.

27 July 2020

The internet has become a tool for occupational therapists to use to provide access to occupational therapy for a variety of different patient populations. While the internet is a powerful occupational therapy tool, many concerns need to be addressed to ensure that beneficial, ethical, and accessible online occupational therapy is delivered.

3 July 2020

Building a successful speech therapy telepractice sounds tough. In Grillo’s 2018 guide Building a Successful Voice Telepractice Program, we found 4 key factors to consider that relate to setting up a speech telepractice that we elaborate upon that can help a speech therapist achieve success when they wish to start providing telepractice speech therapy.

22 June 2020

If you search on the internet, you can find a wealth of information regarding the use and effectiveness of telepractice for a variety of medical conditions. Telepractice is of particular interest for people living with brain injury. A large number of people with brain injury face obstacles accessing adequate treatment. For kids living with brain injury, these obstacles present themselves extensively. A child may not receive the proper treatment because they are relying on parents for transportation to services, or they are trying to balance a school and other types of therapy schedules and still trying to be a child.

12 June 2020

Who Benefits From Telehealth Occupational Therapy? People who may have experienced injuries such as a stroke, a brain injury, feeding disorders, upper extremity limb loss, and other neurological conditions have seen positive results from telehealth.  Literature suggests that telehealth interventions are proven to be more effective than traditional in-person therapy sessions for mental health and substance abuse populations (Kinley et al., 2012).   Lastly, telehealth services have shown efficacy for adults with autism living in assisted living facilities to be able to perform household activities more independently (Taber-Doughty, Shurr, Brewer, and Kubik, 2010). 

15 May 2020

The short answer is yes. But why?  Telepractice is the practice of therapeutic services via telephone and or internet communication devices. Worldwide, speech and language pathologists have begun to see the benefits of adapting telepractice services to their treatment plans. Through the integration of numerous forms of technology, a speech therapist can appropriately meet the needs of individual patients regardless of where they are located. Widener & Lowman (2020) conducted a literature review on the efficacy of adult-focused speech-language pathologist services and found the results to be promising. In their review, 31 studies were identified with numerous elements that provide evidence that telepractice delivered speech therapy is an effective intervention option for adult-focused speech-language pathologists.  In this post, we focus on three key findings from Widener & Lowman’s (2020) review while addressing a key concern many speech-language pathologists have regarding telepractice delivered speech therapy. 

11 May 2020

An eHelper is a person who serves as a facilitator for telepractice delivered therapy. The eHelper serves to eliminate the barriers that inhibit a student from receiving therapy by facilitating the connection between a student and a therapist.  eHelpers  serve as assistants to the remote therapist by providing the following services: Explaining how telepractice therapy works. Answering any of the student’s concerns regarding their therapy. Setting up equipment and providing technical assistance. Aiding the telepractice therapist with the use of other materials. Provide cueing or physical assistants.

7 May 2020

Many obstacles exist for people who need cognitive rehabilitation services. Mobility issues, the need to travel long distances to see a provider, not having access to transportation and comorbid medical conditions are just a few. To overcome these barriers, therapists can provide remote cognitive rehabilitation therapy services over the internet. Meeting platforms with secure services allow therapists to provide face-to-face interaction that is needed to maintain the therapist-patient connection. In addition, therapists may select a cognitive rehabilitation tool that allows for home access for both the therapist and client alike. Providing rehabilitation services over the internet and e-therapy is growing in popularity.

13 March 2020

Group Therapy

Group therapy sessions have a positive impact on people’s lives. Kyra takes that theory and brings it into a child’s healing process. Kyra explains how she uses group therapy within her practice. We hope you can see how other therapists conduct sessions so you can better do yours!

28 August 2020

While exercising regularly promotes physical health, exercising may also provide cognitive benefits. Specifically, attention has been drawn to the potential clinical implications of moderate-intensity exercise for rehabilitation, physical, and mental health. In this blog post, we discuss and elaborate upon the clinically studied benefits of exercise and why clinicians should encourage their clients to perform aerobic exercise routines in their daily lives.

24 August 2020

Brain Health

Learning how to deal with stress is an integral part of everyday life. Stress occurs at all stages of life and can come in several forms. During the duration of the past few years, the pandemic has been a source of stress for many individuals globally. By working on healthy coping mechanisms for stress, you will become more resilient in dealing with problems, and can help yourself and those around you.

28 September 2022

For years, researchers and medical professionals have studied the outcomes of brain injury care in order to identify critical factors that influence a patient’s recovery. Two such factors that have been examined to contribute to this include race and culture. Previous studies have shown that race may influence treatment outcomes post-injury. This can be caused by service quality and quantity disparities, comprehension of injury and treatment processes, cultural expectation discrepancies, and differing perspectives about the impact of a health condition and its impact on an individual. In many studies, American Indian and Alaska Native populations are excluded or grouped into other racial categories, causing little to be known about the impact of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in these communities. Because of this, these populations have not been able to receive the same level of care as other groups. 

23 September 2022

You may be looking at adding a digital cognitive therapy tool to your practice. You may have downloaded some of HappyNeuron Pro’s cognitive worksheets, tried HappyNeuron Pro’s sample workout, are in the process of completing, or have previously completed a free trial of HappyNeuron Pro, but have not yet taken the final plunge into adding HappyNeuron Pro into your therapy toolbox. You may be asking yourself, “what are the advantages of using HappyNeuron Pro?”.  

22 July 2022

When a woman reaches her late 40s or 50s, a natural decline in reproductive hormones begins the cycle of menopause. After 12 months without a menstrual cycle, a woman is officially in the state of menopause. During this uncomfortable time many experience hot flashes, sleep disturbances, and even anxiety or depression. A new study from the University of Rochester Medical Center recently found that menopause can affect one’s memory. Along with ample evidence that women suffer memory decline, they uncovered four different profiles of cognitive function which helped researchers to try and understand why some women face memory decline and others do not. With the help of this research, we can understand how to treat or help with this memory loss. Miriam Weber, associate professor of Neurology and Obstetrics and Gynecology, who helped begin this study, explains how important it is to understand the cognitive changes that cause memory changes during menopause.

20 July 2022

For years, researchers and medical professionals have studied the outcomes of brain injury care in order to identify critical factors that influence a patient’s recovery. Two such factors that have been examined to contribute to this include race and culture. Previous studies have shown that race may influence treatment outcomes post injury. This can be caused by service quality and quantity disparities, comprehension of injury and treatment processes, cultural expectation discrepancies, and differing perspectives about the impact of a health condition and its impact on an individual. In many studies, American Indian and Alaska Native populations are excluded or grouped into other racial categories, causing little to be known about the impact of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in these communities. Because of this, these populations have not been able to receive the same level of care as other groups.

13 July 2022

Sleep is one of the most important parts of everyday life. It allows the brain to take a break and recharge, as well as preserve and consolidate one’s memory and any new information learned earlier in the day. However, sleep can be interrupted, thus disrupting the brain’s ability to reorganize, process, and preserve information. One such sleep disruption that can occur is sleep apnea. 

11 July 2022

While hearing loss limits one’s ability to hear sounds coming from the environment, it may also contribute to cognitive decline and auditory processing.

8 July 2022

Aphasia is a common disorder resulting from a stroke that impairs a person’s ability to produce and understand language. Speech therapists often work with a person on verbal fluency and verbal memory skills, which are needed for language. However, many people overlook the need to work on auditory processing skills with individuals that have aphasia. For people with aphasia, they may have difficulty with one or more cognitive areas, such as auditory processing. This includes cognitive functions such as processing speed, working memory, verbal memory, and semantic processing.

6 July 2022

When someone has a stroke on the left side of their brain, they may have difficulty producing speech. This condition is known as Broca's aphasia. Many people encounter those with Broca's aphasia but do not understand what it is. In this blog post, we answer the question of “what is Broca's aphasia?”.

4 July 2022

All around America, many individuals work through mental illness everyday. The National Institute of Mental Health stated that in 2019, around 20% of Americans dealt with mental illness. This equates to roughly 1 in 5 Americans, or 69.5 million people. Furthermore, there was shown to be a gender gap between seeking treatment. 50% of women with mental illnesses reported receiving treatment, but only 37% of men with mental illnesses said that they were receiving treatment.

15 June 2022

Childrens’ friendships impact not only their social development but also their cognitive development. In fact, researchers have found that there are differences between female-female, male-female, and male-male child friendships on cognition. In this blog post, we discuss how childrens’ friendships impact their cognition.

13 April 2022

Often when we think of cognitive dysfunction, we do not imagine our cute pets at home. However, our furry friends may suffer from canine cognitive dysfunction, or CCD, similar to dementia. Similar to dementia, there is no known cure; but there are ways to improve the quality of life for your dog. Here are six great tips to give your dog more happiness through their suffering.

8 April 2022

If you live in the northern hemisphere, you are probably familiar with the drastic change of seasons. With the switch from the summer to the fall comes not only cooler weather, but less daily sunlight. This may cause people to experience seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, which is a type of depression caused by the change of seasons and the decreasing daily sunlight available. Decreased daily sunlight is also linked to vitamin D deficiency, which can also contribute to decreased mood during the colder months. In this blog post, we discuss what seasonal affective disorder is and what you can do to stay well during the fall and winter seasons.

5 April 2022

Depending where you live, winter months may be filled with snow, ice, and sleet. With low temperatures and less daylight, the winter months can impact how we feel and how we think. What is less understood is how cold weather specifically affects mental and cognitive performance. In this blog post, we discuss how the cold impacts mental and cognitive performance.

18 March 2022

In everyday life, we experience changes in temperature and altitude. Depending on what jobs or hobbies we have, we may be exposed to extreme environmental conditions, such as high altitude. Depending on what environmental conditions we are exposed to, these conditions may impact our cognitive functioning. In this blog post, we discuss how different environmental conditions impact cognition.

4 March 2022

Movies are often used as an escape from reality. They let us slip away for an hour or two, forgetting about the rest of the world around us. But what if movies teach us valuable lessons about our brain and the way humans think? This can be true for many movies and shows available today. Lots of them touch upon cognition in unique ways, giving us cinematic examples of the mental process of acquiring knowledge, and understanding this knowledge with thought, experience, and our senses. Take a look at this list of six movies that teach us a thing or two about cognition.

18 February 2022

What is the difference between a child who reads for pleasure at home and a child who doesn’t? Recent studies have shown that those who read for pleasure have an increased rate of learning. The British Cohort Study, which followed more than 17,000 people born in a single week in the 1970s, found evidence that reading helps learning rates improve. The ongoing study interviews participants every few years, tracking different aspects of their lives. Researchers can see how reading impacts development over time by looking at factors such as education, employment, and physical and mental health.

16 February 2022

We have all experienced depression at some point in our lives. Depression is the “common cold” of mental illnesses, as many people experience depression for various reasons. Depression can be caused by experiencing challenging situations inherited through genes, or from a brain injury or stroke. Sometimes depression can linger, causing people to withdraw from friends and family, oversleep or experience insomnia, have little or no energy, experience physical pain, and to be short-tempered. These symptoms of depression have been likened to turning into a burrito - where one may be hiding from the outside world as ingredients or symptoms of depression surround them. This blog post discusses how depression can turn you into a burrito and how you can unwrap yourself from a depressive episode. 

11 February 2022

Many people have known someone who has or has personally experienced a concussion. Concussions are prevalent, but people often do not know what exactly they are. In this blog post, we discuss what concussions are and what can be done about them.

2 February 2022

We’ve all experienced a headache at some point in our lives. Other than experiencing headaches when we are sick, some people may have a medical condition that causes them to have chronic headaches. Headaches may also result from experiencing a stroke or brain injury as the brain recovers. Headaches can be disruptive: we may not be able to focus, move, or think because we are experiencing intense pain. Headaches may also disrupt cognitive functioning. In this blog post, we discuss the effects of headache on clinical measures of neurocognitive function.

28 January 2022

Psychosis is a debilitating psychological condition that causes an individual to experience psychotic thinking patterns, sense things that are not in their present environment, and experience cognitive complications. Many factors are suspected of contributing to someone developing psychosis, but no one single element has been shown to cause someone to become psychotic exclusively. In this blog post, we discuss some of the factors that have been researched that are considered to cause someone to develop psychosis.

24 January 2022

Youth with psychological disorders may rely on the internet for social interaction. For clinical populations of youth, the internet may provide a safe haven for social interaction as youth with psychological disorders may be subject to scrutiny and poor relations with peers. On the internet, there are avenues to interact with other people without having face-to-face contact. For example, teens may interact with peers through online fantasy games where users can be represented by characters rather than themselves. While these avenues of social interaction are popular among youth with and without psychological disorders, research has demonstrated that youth who have online friendships or relationships report higher rates of depression, conflict, and poor communication with peers and parents in the real world. Youth with psychological disorders may spend more time on the internet than peers without and may exacerbate their conditions’ symptoms. One study examined this in teens with schizotypal personality disorder. In this blog post, we discuss how elevated social internet use impacts teens with schizotypal personality disorder.

21 January 2022

You have probably heard the phrase “the proof is in the pudding”, but what if the proof literally IS the pudding? What we eat can shape not only our brains, but how we think and feel. Nutritionists have proved that our diet affects brain health and functioning, but in what ways can we use this knowledge to our advantage? Martha Clare Morris, a nutritional epidemiologist, began a study that not only found foods, but a diet plan that can lower the risk of cognitive decline and reduce the risk of Alzhiemer’s disease. This revolutionary diet plan is known as the MIND diet. 

5 January 2022

We look at thousands of faces everyday, either in real life, through the internet, or on apps such as Instagram. Faces are special, in that we process them differently than we do everyday objects. Facial recognition allows us to identify people that we know, those we do not know, and interpret facial expressions to learn emotions. In this blog post, we discuss how we recognize faces.

29 December 2021

If you live in the northern hemisphere, you are probably familiar with the drastic change of seasons. With the switch from the summer to the fall comes not only cooler weather, but less daily sunlight. This may cause people to experience seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, which is a type of depression caused by the change of seasons and the decreasing daily sunlight available. Decreased daily sunlight is also linked to vitamin D deficiency, which can also contribute to decreased mood during the colder months. In this blog post, we discuss what seasonal affective disorder is and what you can do to stay well during the fall and winter seasons.

27 December 2021

Mindfulness has been shown to help improve mood, eating behaviors, and sleep patterns in people. This fascination with mindfulness evolved from the need to help people thrive in everyday life while utilizing human strengths. In this blog post, we discuss five activities you can use to practice mindfulness.

13 December 2021

In October 2010, a new social media app was launched that allowed users to connect by sharing photos. Fast forward to 2021, with roughly one billion users, Instagram has taken over the internet. The influence of social media has become a large part of modern-day society, which in turn has impacted how we feel. In this blog post, we discuss how using Instagram affects mood.

10 December 2021

If you live in the northern hemisphere, you are probably familiar with the drastic change of seasons. With the switch from the summer to the fall comes not only cooler weather, but less daily sunlight. This may cause people to experience seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, which is a type of depression caused by the change of seasons and the decreasing daily sunlight available. Decreased daily sunlight is also linked to vitamin D deficiency, which can also contribute to decreased mood during the colder months. In this blog post, we discuss what seasonal affective disorder is and what you can do to stay well during the fall and winter seasons.

26 November 2021

What exactly are memories? We all have them, but do we really know what memories truly are? This question has led to works of art, literature, and research in order to understand these illusive phenomenons. In everyday life, memories allow us to remember how to get from our house to a friend’s, recall the lyrics to a favorite song, and reflect upon past experiences to make decisions. In this blog post, we discuss what memories are for.

22 November 2021

Clinical professionals and researchers alike recognize the role of nutrition on the brain and mental health. One nutrient that is still mysterious is fiber, a necessary carbohydrate that helps us feel full and stimulates digestion. Fiber is obtained from eating whole fruits and vegetables, as well as consuming whole grains such as brown rice, quinoa, and farro. In this blog post, we discuss how fiber affects the brain and why you should try to get more fiber in your diet.

13 November 2021

The importance of cognitive flexibility is that it can help adapt our behaviors and thought processes. The COVID-19 pandemic has been hard on everyone, a time that has come with much uncertainty and change. When people face obstacles, cognitive flexibility can help them adapt to new situations. Through practice and education, people can improve their cognitive flexibility to help them adjust to shifts in their environment. By working on these skills, people are able to grow cognitively, psychologically, and socially in an ever-changing world.

10 November 2021

It is that time of the year again, leaves start to fall, the air gets crisper, and kids buzz around the excitement of October 31st. There are many fun activities surrounding Halloween that gives families a chance to bond with their children. Traditionally pumpkin carving, costume creating and cozying up to Halloween movies. This year, try our Spooky Scavenger hunt as a new creative way to prepare for the holiday while teaching your kids about different senses! This easy hunt can take place with a few simple instructions.

24 October 2021

Many factors can affect a good night's sleep. Things like work, medication, or mental health disorders such as depression have been known factors to decline sleep in the human body. But what factors actually improve sleep? One might be surprised to hear that sharing a bed with a loved one or partner can actually improve sleep in both individuals. There are many beneficial effects of sleep like memory functioning and mental health. Creating an environment in which one can get the best night's sleep is ideal. An easy way to improve sleep might be easier for most than originally thought. In this blog article, we are going to share what recent research experts in Germany have discovered.

11 October 2021

Matt Walker, sleep scientist, breaks down why the brain needs sleep for both before and after learning. Proven through a scientific research study, Walker explains that during sleep our brain begins to replay, and why sleep is critical for this action. Put into his own words we need to “sleep on a problem.”

8 October 2021

Diabetes is a group of diseases that result in too much sugar in the blood (high blood glucose). Many often think it only affects blood sugar levels, however recent studies are showing that diabetes can also lead to cognitive impairments. Jose A. Luchsinger, MD of Columbia University Irving Medical Center has been studying and teaching about the influence of diabetes on cognitive impairment. In this blog article, we are going to share Dr. Luchsinger’s insight on the relationship between diabetes and cognitive impairment and how health care professionals can adapt treatments to assist their patients.

4 October 2021

Poor sleep habits can be linked to diseases such as Alzheimer's and Diabetes, but how does sleep affect our mental state? Dan Gartenberg explains how sleep deprivation impacts our health and well-being. His research focuses on deep sleep and how it is a significant part of our biological youth. In his talk, he unfolds the importance of deep sleep and how it can create a significant positive impact.

1 October 2021

It is no surprise that vision loss is a part of aging. Years of evidence show that with growing age, the brain works harder to see. Recent evidence suggests that along with a decline in vision comes a decline in other cognitive functions such as language, memory, and attention. While the loss of brain health affects our body’s well-being in multiple ways, it especially affects our vision and the functions that rely on this sense. Where exactly does vision play a role? Recent studies have observed the link between vision loss and other negative effects.

29 September 2021

Have you ever heard the phrase “sleep on it” and wondered to yourself will sleep truly help? In Shai Marcus TedTalk original lesson, he explains the scientific evidence that sleeping on it really works. Through a good night's sleep, memory consolidation can be improved tremendously. Marcu explains that cutting down on sleep actually damages our ability to retain information.

27 September 2021

Therapists must often make important decisions regarding how they spend therapy hours with their clients. This involves choosing the kinds of activities their clients will do and the complexity of the activities. Research has shown that performing complex tasks may lead to improvements in the performance of unpracticed simple tasks. This blog post discusses a study that studied this hypothesis and what the results mean for you. 

16 August 2021

Going barefoot has many benefits for physical and mental health. In particular, barefoot contact with the ground (in a safe and clean environment) may even be beneficial in helping someone combat anxiety. This practice, called grounding, allows a person to think about the textures of the ground they are experiencing as they move their feet along the ground and think about the present moment. In this blog post, we discuss why you may want to think about going barefoot in your backyard or at the beach this summer.

21 June 2021

Time and time again, we are reminded it is important to take time to get outside. Not only is spending time good for maintaining physical health, but it is highly beneficial for cognitive health. The great news is that these benefits of connecting with nature can be harnessed in many free or low cost ways. In this blog post, we discuss the cognitive benefits of interacting with nature and share some ways that you and your client can connect with nature individually or together.

16 June 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about new challenges across all components of the medical field. Clinical providers are learning about how COVID-19 has impacted the brain in survivors. Severe cases of COVID-19 have resulted in neuropsychological impairments. A study by Jawant et. al (2021) studied 57 recovered patients from a New York City hospital. In this blog post, we elaborate on the study and what researchers have uncovered in regards to the impact of COVID-19 on cognitive functioning.

14 June 2021

We know that aerobic exercise provides many physical and psychological health benefits. Some of these benefits are so valuable, that therapists working with patients that have cognitive impairment may want to consider encouraging their clients to exercise. Swimming, a well regarded aerobic exercise activity by young and older adults alike may support cognitive functioning during the aging process. In this blog post, we share how swimming may be a positive moderator of cognitive aging.

7 June 2021

Parents are often concerned about their child’s activity level, as many children do not get enough physical activity or playtime. Regular physical activity, particularly aerobic exercise, has been shown to promote neurogenesis in the brain which in turn improves cognitive functioning and psychosocial well-being. In this blog post, we discuss the effect of aerobic exercise on cognition, academic achievement, and psychosocial functioning in children.

1 June 2021

Natalie MacKenzie, MSc, CPCRT, CBIST, from BIS Services, talked with Dustin about how her patients feel about cognitive training and how it affects their moods. She also explains how she uses our digital tool in her practice to better understand what is happening with her patients. This small segment is just a glimpse of the wealth of information her full interview has! Make sure to check it out next week.

19 May 2021

Reading is a complex cognitive process that involves a network of connections throughout the entire brain. Oftentimes, educators overlook the neurobiology of cognitive skills required for activities such as reading. Understanding the neurobiology of reading will allow professionals to better determine what kinds of interventions may be most effective for a person struggling with reading. In this blog post, we discuss the neurobiology of reading and what it means for working with someone that has dyslexia.

17 May 2021

Our brains are made of billions of cells. During development, stem cells receive signals from the outside environment that determine which kind of cell it will become within our brains. Sometimes, stem cells develop into neurons through a process called neurogenesis. In this blog post, we describe what neurogenesis is and elaborate on its role on brain development and health.

5 May 2021

When we think of improving memory, we think of performing memorization exercises, digital cognitive therapy exercises, and working on memory worksheets for adults. However, there is more than practicing memorization strategies for improving memory, and researchers have found a fun way to improve both verbal and spatial memory in older adults.

29 March 2021

Over the last decade, positive psychology has been given more attention for its practices that may be therapeutically beneficial in ameliorating depression. One such practice is mindfulness. Mindfulness practices involve helping the client focus on the present moment in a non-judgmental way. Some ways people practice mindfulness include meditation, yoga, and body awareness exercises. More therapists are looking for effective non-pharmaceutical interventions like mindfulness programs that can help clients experiencing depression, as many adults prefer to avoid taking antidepressant medications.

3 March 2021

Nutrition is one of the most underlooked factors contributing to mental health well-being. Researchers are beginning to understand the role of the mind-gut connection, and how the food we eat affects our behavior. Nutrition interventions offer promise for successful remediation of psychological disorders.

1 March 2021

Social connection is a human need. Many people struggle with social connection and are at risk of isolation. Social connection can decrease anxiety and depression, as well as foster improved physical and mental health for people. Dr. Ruddock discusses the importance and the impact of healthy social connection among families, neighbors, friends, loved-ones, and on the individual.

15 February 2021

Depression during the cold winter months is common for northern countries, particularly in the northern United States and Canada. Clinically, low vitamin D levels have been linked to depression. Researchers have found that vitamin D supplementation may ameliorate the symptoms of depression, particularly in young adults. Since many people nowadays spend more time inside and not enough time outside, getting enough vitamin D is getting harder to do. Here are some ways to get more vitamin D daily to either help with your patient’s depression or your own seasonal blues.

8 February 2021

Daniel Kahneman explains how memories influence our future. He explains how our memory can influence how we perceive what is going on in the world around us over time. His examples from vacations to colonoscopies make this Tedtalk an enjoyable time.

5 February 2021

Dr. Nadine Burke Harris is a Canadian-American pediatrician who assumed the position of Surgeon General of California in 2019. Dr. Harris is known for her work linking adverse childhood experiences to health outcomes. Her work currently focuses on addressing and reforming the response to the effects of adverse childhood experiences on lifelong health across communities.

1 February 2021

The role of nutrition on brain health is a growing area of research. In elderly people, little research has been conducted on dietary patterns. But that doesn’t mean the dietary patterns from younger individuals cannot be implemented into older adults. There are two main types of dietary patterns, healthy and unhealthy. Healthy dietary patterns are those that consist of regular consumption of healthy fats, lean proteins, antioxidant rich foods, and fiber from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

18 January 2021

It may feel bleak to enter 2021 still with social distancing rules and regulations occurring. Many people have been feeling the effects of social isolation as they try and stay safe following local guidelines. To help stimulate your client’s brain, here are some creative ways to help your client not feel so isolated with remote cognitive activities.

15 January 2021

In the US, millions of Americans struggle with maintaining a healthy weight. In young adults, impulsivity and inefficient inhibitory control are key risk factors for engaging in unhealthy and uncontrolled eating habits. Impulse and inhibitory control are part of executive functioning which occurs in the frontal lobes of the brain with connections to other key brain regions, such as the limbic system. Training executive functioning in addition to helping your clients adapt to other healthy lifestyle behaviors such as exercising regularly, practicing good sleep hygiene, and not purchasing processed foods may be effective in helping your client lose weight.

8 January 2021

Dr. Angela Duckworth left a management consulting job to become a teacher in the New York City public school system. To answer this question, she became a doctoral student at the University of Pennsylvania where she is now a professor and has built the Character Lab which is devoted to the study of ‘grit’. Dr. Duckworth has studied grit in children through West Point Military Academy cadets. You can learn about her work on her lab webpage and by her publications available through Google Scholar. What Do Philadelphia’s NHL Mascot and a Clinical Psychologist Have in Common?

4 January 2021

Every year, people make New Year’s resolutions such as: going to the gym, eating better, hanging out with family more, spending more time exploring new ideas, or learning a new skill. While 2021 will be a new year for sure, but it doesn’t mean that people cannot set goals to improve their lives. While many people focus on their bodies, they forget about their brains. Here are some cognitive goals you can help your client work on in 2021 either in person or through telehealth.

30 December 2020

While we are entering 2021 in a much different way than we entered 2020, that does not mean that we cannot make goals to improve our daily lives. While your clients may be unsure of what they want to achieve in the new year, you can help them set reasonable and achievable goals. For goal setting, you want to encourage your clients to set SMART goals.

28 December 2020

The holidays mean it's time for some delicious holiday meals. However, many holiday favorites are loaded with extra sugar, fat, and carbohydrates that can leave us feeling sluggish. While food quantity choices rely on satiation, thirst, and hunger levels, there are cognitive skills that you can teach your client to make wiser food decisions and stay healthy over the holidays. In this blog post, we discuss some cognitive strategies to help your client achieve those goals.

18 December 2020

The holiday season can be very stressful for people with and without cognitive impairment alike. Luckily, there are some things that you can do to help your client make their holiday season manageable and enjoyable. In this blog post, we share with you three ways that you can help your client have a happy and healthy holiday season.

11 December 2020

Let’s face it, change can be scary. Children and adults alike have trouble accepting change. However, there are some ways you can make change less scary, and perhaps somewhat more exciting.

7 December 2020

Therapy never has to stop for your elderly clients. Bridging helps your clients connect their computerized cognitive training with their everyday lives. In this blog post, we share with you 3 bridging activities that you can do with your elderly clients to help them practice cognitive skills remotely.

28 October 2020

Lisa Mosconi is a neuroscientist, director of the Weill Cornell Women’s Brain Initiative, a neuro-nutrionist, and author of Brain Food and the XX Brain. Dr. Mosconi conducts extensive research on Alzheimer’s disease and women’s health, brain health and diet, and prevention medicine. She has published scientific papers since 2003, written several books, and has been featured in Psychology Today, Forbes, NBC, and CBS. 

14 October 2020

One of the greatest challenges in cognitive rehabilitation therapy is helping your client connect their practice of cognitive skills to their daily life. This is where bridging comes in. Bridging is the process by which therapists and clients work together to reflect upon a client’s cognitive processes and by using simulated real-world situations to apply learned cognitive skills. Some situations a therapist may simulate for their client to apply learned cognitive skills include planning a dinner party, making plans to attend a social event, and applying for a job.

25 September 2020

In 1996, Vialet launched Playworks with two schools in Berkeley, California. Currently, the organization brings play and physical activities to children across the country, with offices in 23 cities. With a staff of 700, this year Playworks will reach 900,000 students through on-site coaches, professional training, and consultative partnership, serving 1,800 schools and youth-serving organizations. This organization helps to make sure that students are given the chance to play. We love this TED talk because Jill covers the exact reason as to why playing needs to be an active part of every student and human's day.

7 September 2020

While exercising regularly promotes physical health, exercising may also provide cognitive benefits. Specifically, attention has been drawn to the potential clinical implications of moderate-intensity exercise for rehabilitation, physical, and mental health. In this blog post, we discuss and elaborate upon the clinically studied benefits of exercise and why clinicians should encourage their clients to perform aerobic exercise routines in their daily lives.

19 August 2020

Many people that experience a stroke, brain injury, or episode of psychosis have resulting cognitive complications. Many clients who have had a neurological accident or a psychotic episode can become unemployed and have trouble re-entering the workforce. Different kinds of clinicians can help their clients get back to work by providing cognitive remediation therapy and vocational support. In this blog post, we discuss how clinicians can help their clients get back to work by using cognitive remediation therapy

17 August 2020

Let’s face it, making friends can be super challenging for children and adults. When a person has cognitive impairment, connecting with others can feel like an almost impossible task. Fear not, it is possible to have friends even with cognitive impairment. Here are some ways therapists can help their clients make friends.

13 July 2020

Gregg's insight into how social goals and cognitive functioning are related is valuable to understanding the importance of social cognition within cognitive rehabilitation goals.

6 July 2020

Social cognition is the way that people think about themselves and how they relate to others. The term came about during the “cognitive revolution”. Social psychologists Albert Bandura, Stanley Millgram, and Philip Zimbardo wanted to change the way people thought about how they behave and interact with the world. They focused on the intricacy of the interplay between the individual and the social world. Through their research, they discovered that social cognition is comprised of three key ingredients: mentalism, process orientation, and cross-fertilization.

13 April 2020

For years, the Japanese have practiced forest bathing (“shirinyoku“). Today, Western culture is catching up with Eastern traditions as more people are looking for healthy and cost effective ways to promote relaxation. Here are some of the many benefits that can be gained from practicing “shirinyoku” and why you should starting bathing outside the tub.......

31 January 2020

Did you know that houseplants not only look pretty, but can remove harmful particles in the air and can make your space feel more calming? Like having a pet, plants are a responsibility. This in turn can provide a feeling of reward - having to care for something and watch it thrive, which in turn can be relieving for mild depression and anxiety.......

24 January 2020

Every year, people make New Year's resolutions: go to the gym, eat better, try calling family members more often. However, few people make resolutions about doing more activities that keep them cognitively sharp. While physical activity and a healthy diet are important, cognitive health plays a large factor in our well-being.  Cognitive training and stimulation helps people regulate their emotions, move efficiently and remember skills needed for everyday life......

10 January 2020

Through television shows, memes, tweets and conversation, people are finding ways to make others laugh. With witty puns and tactful punchlines, people experience "AHA!" moments that then cause them to chuckle. Our brains are able to parse images, text, and auditory information for humorous content. A number of studies have been conducted on how the brain does this, as well as differences in understanding humor among different groups of people. Many studies have examined sex differences, as well as hemispheric contributions to humor....

13 December 2019

Your brain needs proteins, carbohydrates, fats and minerals in order to function properly. Medical professionals suggest eating fish such as salmon which contains omega-3 fatty acids for brain healthy protein and fat. Loading up on green vegetables such as spinach, kale and various lettuces contain an array of vitamins and minerals such as calcium, which brain cells need for firing. Lastly, walnuts are rich in healthy fats, vitamin E and melatonin.....

20 September 2019

Ghosting has been defined as "the practice of ending a personal relationship with someone by suddenly and without explanation withdrawing from all communication". Once a rare phenomena, ghosting has permeated the dating and social world. About 50% of men and women report being either the ghost or the "ghostee", according to an article on Psychology Today...

23 August 2019

New Articles

Society requires us to have adequate ability to perform mathematical calculations. Life events, such as buying a home or even comparing prices of item...

25 February 2022

We know that mental health plays an important role in our physical and cognitive health in the present, but it also may impact us later in life. Depre...

4 February 2022

Schizophrenia has negative symptoms that affect a person's ability to think, feel, and act. To clarify, negative symptoms do not automatically mean "b...

19 January 2022

Schizophrenia is a complex psychological disorder. People with schizophrenia may experience hallucinations, delusions, disorganized speech, abnormal m...

11 January 2022

In October 2010, a new social media app was launched that allowed users to connect by sharing photos. Fast forward to 2021, with roughly one billion u...

10 December 2021

The term “cognitive flexibility” is often said to be an important part of understanding our thoughts and emotions, but what does it even mean? Sim...

1 November 2021

One of the most spellbinding mysteries in psychology and neuroscience is the origin of fear. Fear is an essential emotion that is used to protect ours...

20 October 2021

With October 31st creeping up, we see more and more Halloween décor. Not only are people decorating with carved pumpkins and silly or spooky ghosts, ...

18 October 2021

Experiencing a stroke is a major life event. A stroke may cause someone to lose cognitive and physical abilities, such as not being able to communicat...

18 August 2021

Professor Seligman has been teaching and studying psychology for many years. This Ted-talk is insightful and informative to anyone who wants to involv...

22 March 2021

Mindfulness practices are those that help you find yourself within a present moment, experiencing the moment without judgment. Some people describe pr...

17 March 2021

Did you know that education may protect against memory impairment related to depression in older women? One study in Korea by Lee, Park, & Chey (20...

12 March 2021

When people are depressed, many seek psychotherapy to work on the emotional symptoms and ailments from their depression. However, people with depressi...

8 March 2021

Depression impacts individuals not only emotionally, but cognitively. Research has shown that people living with depression experience cognitive defic...

5 March 2021

Over the last decade, positive psychology has been given more attention for its practices that may be therapeutically beneficial in ameliorating depre...

3 March 2021

Nutrition is one of the most underlooked factors contributing to mental health well-being. Researchers are beginning to understand the role of the min...

1 March 2021

Cognitive remediation therapy is a form of therapy that combines the practice of cognitive skills using digital cognitive therapy tools with hands-on ...

19 February 2021

Social connection is a human need. Many people struggle with social connection and are at risk of isolation. Social connection can decrease anxiety an...

15 February 2021

Many children and adolescents experience depression. Symptoms of depression in children and adolescents include behavioral problems in school, changes...

12 February 2021

Both men and women will experience depression at some point in their lifetime, but men experience depression differently than what is included in the ...

10 February 2021

Depression during the cold winter months is common for northern countries, particularly in the northern United States and Canada. Clinically, low vita...

8 February 2021

Daniel Kahneman explains how memories influence our future. He explains how our memory can influence how we perceive what is going on in the world aro...

5 February 2021

Dr. Nadine Burke Harris is a Canadian-American pediatrician who assumed the position of Surgeon General of California in 2019. Dr. Harris is known for...

1 February 2021

Humans need regular social interaction. With older populations, the risk of isolation increases as older adults tend to develop physical disabilities ...

20 November 2020

Depression impacts cognitive function. Studies show that patients suffering from depression exhibit have difficulties with making, using, and storing ...

10 July 2020

Cognitive rehabilitation programs, such as the NEAR program are being used all around the world. Check out how Debra Bushong, at the University of Tex...

2 July 2020

As the program lead for research in the Department of Psychiatry at UT Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Deb has been studying psychosis for a while....

16 April 2020

Mental illness sucks. Even The New York Times  says so. Depression, anxiety and other psychiatric disorders can greatly impact someone's ability t...

13 September 2019

Have you ever wanted to learn how to better tackle depression?  Two articles entitled "What can you do when you're flattened by depression? plan for ...

6 September 2019

Ghosting has been defined as "the practice of ending a personal relationship with someone by suddenly and without explanation withdrawing from all com...

23 August 2019

Brain-injury causes not only cognitive and physical disturbance, but emotional. Many patients suffer from depression, with a report of approximately 4...

25 July 2019