Live Better. Love Better. Work Better.

Matthew Cuddeback

Categories

They Really Were on A Break: Couples Therapy with Ross and Rachel

February 15, 2021

Matthew Cuddeback LCSW            It can be fun to discuss the ways in which mental health is portrayed in pop-culture, but it can also provide insight into the national psyche as well as lift up positive and healthy portrayals of mental health issues and knock down those that are not. One such interesting example worth exploring is the relationship between Ross and Rachel, two of the main cast of characters on the hit 90’s sitcom Friends. While…

Read More

Understanding How Attachment Affects Our Relationships

January 19, 2021

Matthew Cuddeback LCSW Warning: we will be discussing some lite psychological theory, something that can be considered by those who are not psychology-nerds, boring. Hopefully, you find that an interesting prospect, but even if you don’t, I assure you that we are really talking about why you have the relationships you have, and hopefully that is more interesting to you. Attachment theory which originated with John Bowlby in the 1960s refers to the ways in which our…

Read More

Why You Should Cook with Your Partner

May 30, 2020

Matthew Cuddeback, LCSW There are many things that couples can do together to strengthen their relationship, but one I often recommend and have found to be highly helpful is cooking together. Cooking together can help bring people closer together and help them better understand and appreciate each other. Below are a few reasons why it is worth a try: Teamwork: One of the key reasons cooking together can be so useful is because you are working together.…

Read More

Disorganization and Anxiety

May 28, 2020

Matthew Cuddeback, LCSW A common cause of anxiety for many of us is when we are juggling too many things at a time. We are thinking about all the things we have to do and it weighs us down. This act of trying to keep all the many disparate pieces of our thoughts, feelings, and things we need to do often leads to mental disorganization causes us to lose sight of what is most important and can…

Read More

Embracing Imperfection

April 1, 2020

Matthew Cuddeback, LCSW There are many things we need to be more attuned to in these difficult times that we face right now. A key piece of this self-care that keeps coming to mind is the importance of the ability to embrace imperfection. The better we are able to get comfortable with the unknown and by extension, imperfection, the better we will be able to get through these difficult times in a healthier way. I am about…

Read More

Staying Hopeful in Difficult Times

April 1, 2020

Matthew Cuddeback, LCSW There are times in our lives in which the sad, frustrating, hurtful, and disturbing seems to increase around us. It can be difficult to maintain a healthy, positive attitude when this happens. It is important to have a good balance of self-care and staying attuned to some of these difficult issues because it is important to stay informed and prepare. Below are a few tips for how to maintain this balance and stay hopeful…

Read More

How to Maintain Your Mental Health When Social Distancing

April 1, 2020

Matthew Cuddeback, LCSW Much of the world is shutting down around us to manage the difficult public health issue we have been experiencing. Many of us all around the world are experiencing massive shifts in how we are going about our daily lives in many large and small ways. One key piece of curbing the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) is something we have all become quite acutely aware of, Social Distancing. Below are a few key tips…

Read More

Recognizing Underlying Themes in Our Lives

February 28, 2020

Matthew Cuddeback, LCSW When therapists are meeting with a client for the first time one of the questions we ask, in some form, is what the client feels they need to work on, what brought them in. It is intended to provoke a few things, ultimately, therapists look at everything as information and without judgement. So, I am listening for information that tells me where the client is focused, but also how they think about their life…

Read More

The Power of Boundaries

February 16, 2020

Matthew Cuddeback, LCSW For many of us a time will come in our lives in which we realize that someone is taking up too much of our emotional real estate. Whether it is a family member, friend, co-worker, or someone else you interact with often, it is important to remember that you get to choose how you interact with them. You have the power to implement more boundaries to better maintain your mental health if you choose.…

Read More

Natural Consequences

February 14, 2020

Matthew Cuddeback, LCSW One of the most powerful aspects of the decisions we make is when we experience the consequences of our actions. When we make a decision and feel that weight whether the result is good or bad, it helps us better understand the world around us and helps us assess whether we are acting in a way that is healthy for us or not. Consequences are incredibly important to understand, but sometimes we need help…

Read More