Dr. Mary Pat Kelly

Imposter Syndrome isn't a medical diagnosis, but many psychologists consider it to be a useful term. It is often driven by perfectionism.

Freeing Yourself From the Imposter Within Do you often find yourself feeling like a fraud in the workplace?

Anger is a natural feeling, but a lot of us don't know how to deal with it in a healthy way. We can make anger less of a problem in our relationships by cultivating self-awareness and perspective-taking. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-freedom-change/202211/how-deal-anger-in-relationships

How to Deal With Anger in Relationships Stop being angry and start getting what you want out of your relationships.

High functioning anxiety isn't a diagnosis, but some people consider it to be a useful concept. A person who is experiencing anxiety may still be able to achieve their goals, but with a lot of unneeded suffering. https://www.healthgrades.com/right-care/anxiety-disorders/high-functioning-anxiety

Coping with High Functioning Anxiety Characteristics Learn how to cope with high functioning anxiety. This guide also includes information about treatments, causes, and symptoms.

Anxiety fatigues us in a way that makes it much harder for us to make decisions, resulting in more anxiety. However, there are often changes we can make to our lifestyle to feel more rested, and break free of the anxiety-fatigue cycle. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/psychiatry-and-sleep/202212/how-anxiety-and-fatigue-can-have-us-walking-in-circles

How Anxiety and Fatigue Can Have Us ‘Walking in Circles’ Examining the relationship between anxiety and fatigue.

Becoming more aware of unhelpful thought patterns helps us to take control of them. This requires us to practice asking ourselves questions until it becomes a habit. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/being-your-best-self/202211/8-key-questions-help-ease-your-anxiety-or-depression

8 Key Questions to Help Ease Your Anxiety or Depression 8. How will you choose to act now?

Our relationships as children inform what we seek in partners. Becoming more aware of these dynamics will help us ensure we get what we need. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/understanding-ptsd/202212/3-unmet-basic-needs-and-their-effects-on-relationships

3 Unmet Basic Needs and Their Effects on Relationships 1. The need for safety.

Even when we feel overwhelmed by worry, there's a need that's driving it. Figuring out what that need is will allow us to handle anxiety in a manner that makes us feel better. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/liberate-yourself/202206/5-reasons-why-we-worry

5 Reasons Why We Worry You can make changes by taking a step back from your worries.

Social anxiety may feel overwhelming, but we can improve our self-confidence by cultivating a different mindset. We'll help you practice reframing your contributions as vital. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/social-instincts/202302/2-tips-to-help-you-overcome-social-anxiety

2 Ways to Begin Overcoming Social Anxiety Remember that self-disclosure makes you more likeable, not less.

Anxiety distorts our thinking to make us underestimate ourselves. To get into the habit of recognizing distorted thoughts and rejecting them, it may help to start by taking small risks. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/think-act-be/202205/how-free-yourself-the-control-anxiety

3 Steps to Get Free From Anxiety Shifting your thoughts to start thinking more realistically.

Depression is a varied disease, and different forms of it can last for a long time. However, chronic depression can still be manageable. https://www.verywellmind.com/chronic-depression-symptoms-causes-and-treatment-5410277

What Is Chronic Depression? This article explores the symptoms, causes, and diagnosis of chronic depression, as well as some treatment options and coping strategies that may be helpful.

Some anxiety is helpful, but when it's being triggered in the wrong situations or constantly, the mechanism regulating it needs to be repaired. There are several ways of doing this that calm both body and mind. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/pathological-anxiety-definition-causes-and-symptoms

Pathological anxiety: Definition, causes, and symptoms Pathological anxiety is an intense form of anxiety, where a person may have irrational anxious reactions to certain situations that would not normally warrant anxiety. Learn more.

Every family has its own culture, and romantic relationships are meetings between different cultures. Sometimes, that means there will be clear misunderstandings, but other times, it might take more digging to determine where the disconnect is. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/fixing-families/202211/3-reasons-why-you-each-see-your-relationship-differently

3 Reasons Why You Each See Your Relationship Differently Feel like you and your partner live in different realities? You probably do.

Anxiety is a normal emotion, but an anxiety disorder is something else. It causes physical as well as mental stress. https://www.verywellhealth.com/generalized-anxiety-disorder-5092814

What Is Generalized Anxiety Disorder? Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) involves persistent and excessive worrying that is disproportionate to actual risk. Learn more about GAD.

If you are a parent with depression, it's important for your children to feel reassured that you're getting help. This guide will help you explain things to them, and your therapist can tell you more. https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-talk-to-your-kids-about-depression-5090284

How to Talk to Your Kids About Depression Are you wondering how to talk to your kids about depression? Here are some tips no matter the age of your child.

Anxiety can't and shouldn't be completely eliminated. One of the keys to controlling it is to understand its purpose and whether it's achieving that in a particular moment. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/anger-in-the-age-entitlement/202205/how-regulate-anxiety

The Best Way to Manage Anxiety How to apply the anxiety formula in daily life.

The act of asking itself conveys information, which informs what kind of response we'll get. Being aware of this might not mean we always get the response we want, but it can keep our relationships healthy. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/fulfillment-any-age/202211/do-you-know-how-ask-questions-in-your-relationship

The Importance of Asking Your Partner the Right Questions Start with the assumption that their intentions are good.

It's easier to get into the habit of stress management when you work techniques into preexisting parts of your schedule. For example, your commute could be a good time to check in with yourself. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/navigating-the-new-workplace/202202/how-turn-positive-stress-management-habit

How to Turn Positive Stress Management Into a Habit Effectively managing stress at work requires daily practice.

An emotion is not a direct response to something external, but to how it is filtered through our perception. This is what gives us an opportunity to decide whether our emotions will lead us to an outcome we want. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/wander-woman/202201/how-manage-your-emotional-reactions

How to Manage Your Emotional Reactions 3 steps for creating positive mental habits.

If you feel anxious about public speaking, there are ways in which you can try calming yourself down. But something we can work with you on is turning that feeling into excitement, instead. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/communications-that-matter/202302/how-to-combat-public-speaking-anxiety

How to Combat Public Speaking Anxiety Strategies to help you prepare to speak confidently in front of an audience.

Anxiety is just an alert. It's how we respond to it that determines whether we actually suffer harm, and one of the first steps toward handling it well is recognizing that we're not wrong for feeling it. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/thriving-anxiety/202206/how-anxiety-gets-out-control

How to Keep Anxiety From Spiraling Out of Control Anxiety should not be something to fear.

Negative self-talk is not accountability; it is often wrong and encourages people to give up. Positive self-talk is often far more helpful. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/a-little-knowledge/202212/why-even-negative-self-talk-can-help-with-self-regulation

Why Even Negative Self-Talk Can Help with Self-Regulation How to turn negative self-talk to your advantage.

If you spend Sunday dreading Monday, there may be some things you can do to reduce your anxiety. Those may include anything from limiting email access to more seriously looking into different work. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/anxiety-in-high-achievers/202210/how-eliminate-work-related-anxiety-your-weekends

How to Eliminate Work-Related Anxiety From Your Weekends Don’t allow the Sunday 'scaries' to spoil your precious weekends.

Time gives us an opportunity to heal from trauma, but the process may not be totally passive. Sometimes, we have to make an effort to develop new ways of thinking. https://www.verywellmind.com/time-heals-all-wounds-is-there-any-truth-to-this-5189911

'Time Heals All Wounds:' Is There Any Truth to This? Time heals all wounds is a popular cliché, but is it actually true? We explain time's role in healing and why this saying is not entirely accurate.

Spiraling thoughts are often the result of distorted reasoning. Sometimes we lose track of the things that are affecting us or that may be affecting others. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/in-practice/202209/3-cognitive-errors-can-lead-rumination

3 Cognitive Errors That Can Lead to Rumination Calm your ruminating mind by understanding these common triggers.

Part of the reason people seek mental health services is so that they can gain a fuller understanding of their problems. You don't need to already have everything figured out to seek help. https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/reasons-for-therapy

Why You Don't Need a 'Big' Reason for Therapy There's a common misconception that people only go to therapy to deal with mental health conditions or major challenges, but that's just not true.

Welcome!

Dr. Mary Pat Kelly has been in the field of mental health for over 30 years. For the past 28 years she has seen private clients in her Laguna Beach practice.

Throughout her years of practice Dr. Kelly's clients have come mainly from word-of-mouth referrals from satisfied former clients,
colleagues, local medical and education professionals, university associates, and audiences who have heard her speak.

From children as young as 5 to seniors in their 80's, Dr. Kelly has helped clients with a wide range of challenges.

Call today for an appointment to begin making the improvements you seek.

https://www.drmpk.com/

Home: Therapist | Psychologist | Laguna Beach, CA 92651 Dr. Kelly provides therapy, counseling, consultation and coaching to individuals, couples and families in and around Laguna Beach, CA 92651.

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