Dr. Lena Agree logo featuring her name and title as a licensed psychologist, emphasizing professional psychological services.Dr. Lena Agree, JD, PsyD – Licensed Psychologist and Associates

Unlock Personal Growth with Dr. Lena Agree’s Psychological Coaching

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Psychological Coaching Strategies to Drive Success in High AchieversStrategies for Success: Psychological Coaching to Help High Achievers Reach Their Goals

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For driven professionals, success depends on clear goal architecture, a resilient mindset, and coaching grounded in psychological science that turns ambition into lasting results. This article presents evidence-based strategies for getting things done, coaching methods that remove mental barriers, and practical tools to build emotional intelligence and resilience. You’ll see how SMART and values-aligned goals work in practice, how attachment- and mentalization-informed coaching reduces self-sabotage, and how personality assessment shapes individualized plans for peak performance. Each section pairs the mechanism (why it works) with concrete steps and short exercises so you can start applying these techniques right away. We also map assessment-informed workflows and offer concise comparisons of approaches and tools for measurable progress. Expect actionable guidance on managing imposter…

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Person practicing self-kindness through mindful breathing in a cozy room with meditation cushions, a plant, and soft lighting.

Strategies for Treating Yourself with Kindness: How to Cultivate Self-Compassion and Emotional Well-Being

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Self-kindness is an intentional practice of treating yourself with care, understanding, and patience when you struggle, fail, or feel uncertain. It operates by shifting patterns of self-criticism into soothing, corrective responses that reduce stress and increase emotional resilience; practicing self-compassion improves mood, motivation, and relational safety. This article explains what self-kindness is, why it matters, evidence-based self-compassion techniques, and practical steps to master self-acceptance while addressing common barriers like the inner critic. You will find concise definitions, step-by-step exercises (including mindful breathing and compassionate imagery), clinical perspectives on attachment and mentalization, and guidance on when to seek professional help. The sections map definitions and benefits, six top techniques, self-acceptance practices, inner-critic strategies, mindfulness routines, personalized self-care, and clear indicators for…

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Prioritizing Your Mental and Emotional Well-being: Essential Strategies and Expert Guidance

Prioritizing Your Mental and Emotional Well-being: Essential Strategies and Expert Guidance

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Mental and emotional well-being refers to the capacity to manage emotions, maintain meaningful relationships, and function effectively in daily life, and recent studies show these capacities are foundational for productivity, health, and fulfillment. This article explains why prioritizing mental and emotional health matters, how core pillars like emotional regulation, self-care, and resilience work together, and which practical strategies produce measurable improvements in mood, stress response, and interpersonal functioning. Many high-functioning professionals and parents feel persistent emotional strain despite good external functioning; evidence-based approaches such as mentalization, attachment-focused interventions, and structured self-care can reduce suffering and improve long-term outcomes. You will find clear definitions, step-by-step daily practices, comparisons of stress-reduction techniques, and guidance on when to seek professional care. The guide…

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How to Change into the Person You Wish You Were

How to Change into the Person You Wish You Were

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Written by Jodi Leib Coden, MA When you envision your life five, 10, or even 25 years into the future – who’s standing there waiting for you? Most of us immediately picture others: a loving partner, playful children, colleagues and friends, and maybe even a loyal pet. You may imagine achievements such as winning an award, having a happy and healthy marriage, or building your dream house. But the most powerful aspect of that vision isn’t what’s around you – it’s who you’re becoming. Not just a richer or more successful you, but a wiser, more grounded, more fully embodied version of yourself. The you who’s walked through the chaos of today and emerged on the other side – radiant,…

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How a Diagnosis Can Prevent You from Getting Better

How a Diagnosis Can Prevent You from Getting Better

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If you’ve been struggling with symptoms of anxiety, depression, or other mental health concerns, you may have tried to diagnose yourself in an effort to understand what’s going on. This can be helpful, but it doesn’t help you understand why you feel this way. In the realm of mental health, a diagnosis fails to provide enough information and can even be misleading. Psychiatric diagnoses are labels determined by a list of symptoms that are mostly behavioral, meaning, they describe things you’re doing or not doing (like sleeping, or eating). Most diagnoses require a threshold number of symptoms, such as four out of nine. This means a single diagnosis can encompass many – even dozens – of different experiences (American Psychiatric…

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The False Promise of Forgiveness

The False Promise of Forgiveness

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People often come to my office wishing to forgive someone, but feeling unsettled because despite their efforts, it hasn’t happened, and they are frustrated and confused. Their distress over forgiveness often brings to mind my favorite quote on the subject: My frame of mind is most peaceful. My wishes are: a modest hut, a thatched roof, but a good bed, good food, milk and butter – very fresh, flowers in front of my window, beautiful trees outside my door and if the good Lord wishes to make me completely happy, he lets me have the joy of seeing hanged on those trees about six or seven of my enemies. Deeply moved, I shall forgive them before they die, all the…

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