Dr. Mike
By Michael Oberschneider, Psy.D. Dr. Mike, My 49-year-old wife and I have been married for 24 years, and we have three great kids and a great relationship. She was beautiful when I met her, and I think she’s even more beautiful today. The problem is, she doesn’t seem to think so. Over the past 7…
By Michael Oberschneider, Psy.D. Urge surfing is a mindfulness-based technique designed to help individuals navigate the discomfort of cravings or impulses without succumbing to them. This powerful tool, first introduced by Dr. Alan Marlatt, a pioneer in addiction research, provides a practical and effective way to manage urges associated with bad habits that are difficult…
By Michael Oberschneider, Psy.D. Humility comes from the Latin word humilis, which literally means low. But as a virtue, humility is often misperceived as being something that is undesirable or unattainable. How is appearing small or insignificant or worthless in relation to others an attractive quality? To the contrary, truly humble people are strong in that…
By Michael Oberschneider, Psy.D. The holiday season is often seen as a time to reconnect with family and to celebrate traditions. However, family gatherings can also bring challenges. For some, these moments are opportunities to create joyful memories; for others, they may feel like navigating a social minefield. Understanding the pros and cons of holiday…
By Michael Oberschneider, Psy.D. Once upon a time, in a certain forest, there lived a Black Goat and a White Goat. One day, as fate would have it, they both needed to cross a narrow bridge. Unfortunately, the bridge was so narrow that it only had enough space for one goat to cross at a…
By Michael Oberschneider, Psy.D. Dr. Mike, Our 18-year-old daughter went off to JMU for freshman year this fall. She’s doing well academically and socially, but she’s upset with us for being “controlling” and for “micromanaging” her. My husband and I told her that we would be keeping Life360 on her phone to monitor her whereabouts…
By Michael Oberschneider, Psy.D. As another presidential election approaches, political conversations seem to be everywhere. These discussions can quickly become heated, often leading to frustration, misunderstandings, and, strained or even terminated relationships. But what if the way we vote is influenced more by the biology of our brains than by our rational, conscious thoughts?…
By Michael Oberschneider, Psy.D. With technology being so present in our lives these days, it can be tempting to turn our friends into virtual therapists when we are in a bad place or need help. And while it’s perfectly fine to reach out to friends on-line for general support, it’s entirely another thing to seek…
By Michael Oberschneider, Psy.D. “Sharenting,” which is a portmanteau of the words “parenting” and “sharing,” is a relatively new pop psychology term that involves the act of a parent excessively posting pictures, videos, updates and stories about their child or teen’s life. And while a lot of pop psychology terms aren’t very helpful, I think…
By Michael Oberschneider The teenage years are a critical period of emotional development. During this time, teenagers experience rapid changes in their bodies, brains, and social environments. These changes can often lead to emotional turbulence, confusion and poor choices/behaviors. As a parent, understanding the developmental challenges faced by your teen is the first step to…