Dr. Chris Marrero

Let’s talk about stigma, specifically the stigma against people living with mental health conditions and seeing a mental health professional. We may have come a long way from lobotomies and belief that women are unstable due to a “wandering womb” (i.e., the original meaning behind the word “hysteria”), but these unnecessary barriers to greater health and wellness are still with us today. Consider physical health: when a person is sick with a sore throat, it’s typically accept

People commonly asked about the difference between biofeedback and neurofeedback. They may have heard both words but the difference is a mystery. ​ Simply speaking, biofeedback an umbrella term for all body-focused feedback training modalities-- including neurofeedback. It's much like the umbrella term "doctor." All psychologists are doctors, but not all doctors are psychologists-- some are physicians and some are art historians! ​ Neurofeedback focuses solely on the brain an

Teaching mindfulness is one of the top things I'm asked to do- especially for parents and their children. For those that have been following this ToolBox, you will be familiar with the LovingKindness Meditations I've created. (If not, click here) I'm doing another presentation tonight for my favorite SMMUSD school. At this point, most people have heard of the health benefits of mindfulness, but many people don't realize that kids can learn mindfulness practices at very young

The other day, I was watching a Ted Talk about fears. This man, Tim Ferriss, outlined this beautiful strategy that he has used over the years to help him manage self-paralysis and poor decision making in the face of tough choices. He called it Fear Setting. As I watched, I realized this is exactly what I do with my clients. Not only do we define goals and how to get there, but we brainstorm inevitable obstacles and how to get through them. This is a lovely example of a Cognit

Have you been thinking about setting a resolution on January 1st? New Year's Resolutions are something most of us consider and half of us do. Keep reading to learn more about what people want to change in their lives and how to make that happen! Rank Top New Years resolutions for 2017 Lose Weight / Healthier Eating 21.4% Life / Self Improvements 12.3% Better Financial Decisions 8.5% Quit Smoking 7.1% Do more exciting things 6.3% Spend More Time with Family / Friends 6.2

Although the holidays look magical and peaceful in the movies, the holidays are rarely stress-free for everyone. These times can bring up past hurts, anxiety about finances, grief for loved-ones lost, and a sense of being frazzled and overwhelmed with all the additional duties and obligations that come with endless holiday parties and another year of desperately searching for a meaningful yet reasonably-priced gift for your mother-in-law. If you feel this way, know that you a

'Tis the season for holiday shopping. Between all the endless ads for toys, scarves, and other predictable gift ideas, it's often hard to find something special for the people we love. Instead of the same-old stuff, consider some of these unique ideas instead. Each of them will promote wellness and show that you really care. 1. Accelerate biofeedback results using this Stress Thermometer. Available at Tools for Wellness for $21.95. 2. Soothe your mind and enjoy a good chuckle

Lovingkindness Meditations are a gentle and calming way of building more love and compassion for yourself and people around you. For many people, it's easier to feel love and compassion for others when they are acting in ways we want them do. But many of us find it more challenging to feel the same love and compassion when we are faced with poor behavior choices of ourselves and others. As mentioned in the previous post (Building Compassion-- click here), these practices are

So many people struggle with compassion for ourselves and for others. Maybe we haven't seen it modeled much in this world of lightening fast judgments and over stimulation. Maybe we've grown tired and our ability to love has been weighed down by deadlines, bills, and doubt. Whatever the reason, know that we are built to love and be loved. We are wired to connect, and we thrive when we feel felt by others. Like any other skill, compassion is one we can practice. Whether you st

Intrigued by the idea of biofeedback, but not sure what it is? Maybe you've heard it's amazing for stress, anxiety, and even headaches, but you don't know why. Join Dr. Marrero-Howieson and team for a FREE biofeedback seminar at Marrero Psychology and online. Each seminar will introduce you to biofeedback and answer your questions. In each seminar, you will: 1.Learn the basic science behind biofeedback 2.Discover the conditions biofeedback treats 3.Learn about the people that