Teens and technology seem to be an inseparable couple. In fact, it seems nearly impossible to find a teen anywhere willing to digitally disconnect for very long. Yet, while it can be alarming to see how pervasive the internet and social media have become, the key is to look at your son or daughter’s life in …Read the rest…

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Skills Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is a type of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) treatment developed by Marsha Linehan. Research has shown that DBT is effective in treating a wide range of disorders and issues, including depression, substance use, eating disorders, and PTSD. DBT includes skills in four modules: mindfulness, distress tolerance, interpersonal …Read the rest…

We found some helpful workbooks that are great for understanding how you create relationships with your family, partner, and others. These workbooks will help you think like a therapist to get at the root of how you create relationships. They can also assist in creating deeper bonds with the people you love: The Break Your …Read the rest…

Eating disorders in adolescents are complex and serious mental illnesses. Unfortunately, stereotypes and misinformation make teen eating disorders misunderstood. If you have a teen who’s suffering from an eating disorder, gain insight into the facts rather than succumbing to the lies. Disregard these common myths about eating disorders in order to help your teen in …Read the rest…

Children are curious by nature and as parents, it’s our job to help them comprehend their environment. However, it’s not always an easy task. Some topics are easier than others to discuss. Conversations surrounding children’s mental health are transforming from taboo to acceptable, but with stigma and judgment attached to it, it can be difficult …Read the rest…

Maintaining your composure during an argument requires a great deal of self-control. Especially an argument with an intimate partner. Since you’re reading this, you’ve likely made the effort to have a fair fight. That is, you’ve committed to surrendering your unhelpful fighting habits to adopt new communication skills. However, you may have discovered that, instead …Read the rest…

Have you ever felt as though your emotions are at a breaking point? Have you ever been in an emotional crisis and did not know how to handle the situation? Do you ever think “I wish I had some way to help manage my emotions”? Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) skills can enhance your mental, emotional, …Read the rest…

There are many misconceptions about eating disorders and it’s hard to separate the facts from fiction. Earlier this year Yassmin Eldouh wrote a blog article describing myths about eating disorders and their truth.  Here’s a handy guide based on that article to learn some of the truths about how devastating an eating disorder can be. …Read the rest…

Family life can sometimes feel like you’re operating a daycare center or serving as a monitor in high school detention, especially in a city as busy as Houston. There are so many responsibilities and personalities to factor in. All of them can seem to be in conflict. As a result, family disconnection is increasingly more …Read the rest…

We’ve been told from a young age just how important it is to get enough sleep. As children, we were forced to nap, much to our young dismay, because our bodies needed it. But somewhere along the line, maybe in college, possibly even earlier, we began to see sleep as an interruption to our productivity. We …Read the rest…

I’m Alexandra Marshall, a DBT trained Therapist in Houston. I help people develop skills to manage emotional reactions better and to start building healthy and connected relationships. I find that frequently, people come to me saying they want to stop overreacting when they get emotional. Or they want to start feeling heard and feeling more …Read the rest…

It’s not uncommon to hear someone say that they’ve been “bad” for having had a breakfast doughnut or a bowl of ice cream for a snack. Others may pat their bellies after a big meal and note that they’ll have to hit the gym for an extra hour the following day. Although those kinds of remarks are often …Read the rest…

After marriage, you go from leading somewhat separate lives, to coming together in a true union. Whether you already live together or will be moving in together for the first time, one way you will come together is through building a life in a new space. There are so many ways to personalize your space …Read the rest…