Board of Behavioral Sciences

Study: Engaging with surroundings while out and about makes a positive difference A just-published study by the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), finds that engaging with surroundings while on walks, instead of focusing on thoughts, made a positive difference in study participants’ well-being. As outlined in the journal Emotion,…

Contact a licensed mental health professional for assistance Feeling anxious or depressed these days? You are far from alone, according to a new study from San Diego State and Florida State universities. As published in the journal Depression & Anxiety, researchers compared nationally representative samples of U.S. adults from the…

The world can be a very scary, unkind place. If you were gone, would anyone notice? Would anyone miss you? You bet they would. And there are people who have been to that dark place and have come back and who fight to stay out of it. Every day. And…

In March, Nintendo released Animal Crossing: New Horizons, the fifth title in the popular video game series. In the game, you, the buyer of a vacation getaway package, have just set up your tent on a natural resource-rich deserted island. With you on your adventure are a few cute anthropomorphic…

Change can be stressful—and there’s been a lot of that lately. The restlessness caused by change can manifest as poor sleep—but there are ways to get back on track. Staying indoors all day may affect your sleep cycle—particularly if you’re working from home for the first time. Getting outside during…

DCA Director Waives Requirements for Veterinary Telemedicine and Prescription Refills The Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) issued new waivers regarding the veterinarian-client-patient relationship to give pet owners more options when seeking treatment for their pets during the COVID-19 pandemic. The waivers authorize veterinarians to diagnose and treat new or different…

The Coronavirus pandemic has drastically altered our lives. The uncertainty of these challenging times can cause stress, fear, anger, isolation, and ultimately impact our overall health and well-being. For people who already suffer from anxiety, depression and other mental disorders,  these emotions can become even more pronounced during a crisis…

Social distancing, flattening the curve and shelter-in-place are catchphrases for many of us, that less than two months ago, weren’t part of our vocabulary. However, that was before the global Coronavirus pandemic gripped the world, upended our lives and now has us wondering if they’ll ever be the same again.…

It starts innocently enough by posting a picture of a sonogram and suddenly – months before he or she is even born – your child has an established presence on social media. Welcome to the digital world, little one. Soon there’s a post announcing your child’s birth, and consistent updates…

In May 2018, the United States Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, a 1992 federal law that prohibited states from sanctioning sports betting. That doesn’t mean the sportsbook is open now, but California voters may soon get the chance to place their bets. In June of…