Numerous psychologists have talked about adult development as having an ultimate goal or stage. Abraham Maslow expressed this ideal as self-actualization; Carl Jung called it individuation of the Self. Psychologists recognize that most adults do not achieve this level of development. This level of development requires conscious commitment and ongoing effort. Dr. Kroin is committed to an ongoing exploration of this process and helping others refine and enhance their connection to this level of development.

Stress Management You do not have to have a full-blown anxiety disorder to benefit from help with stress management! With the ever-increasing complexity of our world and the normal events of life that require us to adapt and change, we experience stress every day. It is important to make sure that you have the resiliency to cope well so that you thrive, not just survive. If the stress in your life is affecting your over-all well-being and lifestyle then Dr. Kroin can help! She can help you develop a personalized stress management plan using breathing and relaxation exercises, specific yoga positions, meditation, hypnotherapy, dream analysis, and cognitive restructuring of negative thoughts that interfere with your sense of well-being. Dr. Kroin will make sure that you optimize your ability to set realistic goals that are achievable with support to carry out the steps. She will help you improve your self-esteem and confidence in your strengths and improve your communication skills and problem solving ability. Dr. Kroin can also help you learn to manage strong feelings and impulses so that your behavior remains in alignment with your overall values. These are the keys to optimizing your personal growth and leading a positive, fulfilling life.

Assertiveness and Self-Esteem

It is critical that as adults we speak with an authentic, clear voice about our feelings, beliefs, and desires. You must have a self before you can speak with this authentic voice. Having a sense of self means being clear about your beliefs, emotions, likes, dislikes, values and goals. We must be assertive enough to share our truth in all situations rather than act as a chameleon, responding with what others want to hear. This must occur even in difficult situations where others might be disappointed, angry or hurt. The Self, according to Jung, is realized as the product of individuation, which is defined as the process of integrating one's personality. The ego is the center of conscious identity, whereas the Self is the center of the total personality—including consciousness, the unconscious, and the ego.

Co-dependent Relationships

Codependency describes behaviors, thoughts and feelings that go beyond normal kinds of self-sacrifice or caretaking in a relationship. People who are codependent often take on the role as a martyr; they constantly put the needs of others before their own and forget to take care of themselves. This creates a sense that they are "needed." These individuals cannot stand the thought of being alone and no one needing them. Codependent people are in search of acceptance. Codependent people try to avoid arguments and often set themselves up as the "victim" in the relationship. When they do stand up for themselves, they feel guilty.

Codependency does not refer to all caring behavior or feelings, but only those that are excessive to an unhealthy degree.

Life Transitions

Periods of transition in one's life can be exciting and challenging but also highly stressful. Examples of life transitions are: Career Change, Marriage, Separation and Divorce, Starting a Family, Children entering School, Infertility, Adjustment to Empty Nest, Retirement, and Caring for Aging Parents. While many of these transitions are "normal" parts of life, they can produce intense feelings that can be difficult to manage. Sometimes seeking the help of a trained professional for a short period of time while one goes through a major life transition can be enormously helpful.

Enhancing CreativityCreativity can be defined as the process of producing something that is both original and worthwhile. Personality traits such as independence of judgment, self-confidence, attraction to complexity, aesthetic orientation and risk-taking are used as measures of the creativity of individuals. Creative people tend to be more open to new experiences, less conventional, conscientious, more self-confident, self-accepting, driven, ambitious, dominant, and impulsive.

Highly creative people who excel at creative innovation tend to differ from others in three ways: they have a high level of specialized knowledge, they are capable of divergent thinking, and they are able to modulate neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine in their frontal lobe.