James's Corner

James Marston

Nov 8

Certainty & Self-Diagnosis

I work with people who have varying degrees of mental illness. I spend a lot of time thinking about what it means to be "mentally ill."

James Marston

Jul 13

James's Corner

Motivation and Self-talk

Motivation can be built through intentional choices about how we think about ourselves, the task, and the outcomes of the task.

James Marston

Jun 21

James's Corner

A Therapist’s Thoughts on Social Media and Children - Please Like and Subscribe! (Social Media Series, part 5 of 5)

Like anything, there’s a healthy way to engage with social media and there are risks we have to mitigate.

TikTok, Fortnight, and a Variable Ratio Of Positive Reinforcement (Social Media Series, Part 4 of 5)

James Marston

Jun 10

James's Corner

TikTok, Fortnight, and a Variable Ratio Of Positive Reinforcement (Social Media Series, Part 4 of 5)

I said in an earlier post that digital media is designed to offer on-demand stimulation to minds, and I wanted to say a little more about th

How We Police Social Media Use: Be Part of the Conversation (Social Media Series, Part 3 of 5)

James Marston

May 24

James's Corner

How We Police Social Media Use: Be Part of the Conversation (Social Media Series, Part 3 of 5)

I went to a training once that described many children as “digital natives.” The idea was that kids who grew up with access to technology...

The Complicated Business of Health Technology Use in Families (Social Media Series, Part 2 of 5)

James Marston

May 11

James's Corner

The Complicated Business of Health Technology Use in Families (Social Media Series, Part 2 of 5)

Technology is a tool that has many uses. Determining what uses we’re okay with and which are unhealthy will guide us in determining what...

Technology and Socials and Screens, Oh My! (Social Media Series, pt. 1of 5)

James Marston

Apr 16

James's Corner

Technology and Socials and Screens, Oh My! (Social Media Series, pt. 1of 5)

A topic I get asked about a lot is social media use for children. It’s a big topic, and one that I try to be realistic about. First, I...

James Marston

Mar 29

James's Corner

Our Bodies Remember

I was recently watching a show on Netflix called Resident Alien. It’s a sci-fi comedy starring Alan Tudyk and Sara Tomko. It’s cute and...

James Marston

Mar 15

James's Corner

You Are Not Your Thoughts

We cannot control our brains. They are complex organs that operate quickly and autonomously, processing information, coming to...

"Just Think Positive Thoughts" & Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

James Marston

Feb 19

James's Corner

"Just Think Positive Thoughts" & Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Telling someone who is depressed, “Just think positive thoughts,” is about as helpful as telling an angry person to, “Calm down.” As well...

Feedback-Loops' Effect on Mental & Physical Health

James Marston

Feb 8

James's Corner

Feedback-Loops' Effect on Mental & Physical Health

I think a lot about fitness influencers. They sell this message that the way they stay fit will work for anyone, and then hold themselves...

James Marston

Jan 22

James's Corner

Self-Esteem in Kids

Self-concept is the image we have of ourselves in our heads. It includes our values, strengths, weaknesses, beliefs, and abilities....

James Marston

Jan 5

James's Corner

Self-Talk: Feelings & Language

I used to work with a psychiatrist who said that with kids, thoughts were as good as feelings. He suggested that kids may not be able to...

James Marston

Dec 16, 2023

James's Corner

Falling Skies?

How do we know the sky ISN’T falling? Anxiety is tricky. At a certain level, anxiety is a good thing–it’s a healthy byproduct of being...

James Marston

Nov 4, 2023

James's Corner

Recognizing Anxiety

In school, I had to write a “comprehensive theory of mental illness.” It was an academic exercise, intended to help a student with little...

James Marston

Oct 24, 2023

James's Corner

Attention, Memory, & Development

The ways children learn and retain information develops as they mature and grow. Learning and retaining information involves a few...

James Marston

Jul 24, 2023

James's Corner

Recognizing Anxiety

In school, I had to write a “comprehensive theory of mental illness.” It was an academic exercise, intended to help a student with little...

James Marston

May 22, 2023

James's Corner

Active Listening

There’s this scene in movies and tv where the psychotherapist has their client lying on a couch, staring at the wall, talking. Meanwhile,...

Privacy and Confidentiality in Online Therapy

James Marston

Apr 29, 2023

James's Corner

Privacy and Confidentiality in Online Therapy

Confidentiality and privacy are essential to mental health treatment. The confidence that you can be yourself and allow yourself to be...

James Marston

Apr 1, 2023

James's Corner

Trauma and PTSD

Almost every person I’ve ever treated for PTSD has compared their experience to someone else’s in a way that played down their own...