Psychologist, Author, Teacher of Mindfulness and Compassion

Articles and Posts Featuring Dr. Susan Pollak

Compassion During Quarantine
The other day I was standing in line at the pharmacy, waiting to pick up a prescription. It was a long line and it was moving slowly. People were getting irritable. Suddenly, a man ahead of me turned started yelling at everyone behind him: "There isn’t enough distance. There needs to be at least six...
The Surprising Power of Self-Compassion
"Compassion has horrible PR! People equate it with indulgence or wimpiness," says Susan Pollak, Ed.D., cofounder of the Center for Mindfulness and Compassion at Harvard University and author of "Self-Compassion for Parents." But compassion, and especially self-compassion is exactly...
Help Me Shake Off My Angry Edge!
"While men tend to feel guilt after an angry episode, women often feel profound shame," says anger expert Russell Kolts, Ph.D. "But shame prevents us from investigating what made us vulnerable to anger." Instead of blaming yourself ask questions like When does my angry edge...
Why Parents Need a Little Self-Compassion
"I don’t have any time for self-care. I know I need it, but I feel like I'm a bad mother if I take time for myself," said Michelle, a participant in my Self-Compassion for Parents workshop. "I simply don't have time to practice!" This is a common complaint of the parents I see in my role...
Mindful Hacks for Holiday Happiness
If the tiny sounds of Christmas music trigger PTSD of holidays past, you are not alone. Many people dread spending time with family. So, if you are starting to feel anxious and not sleeping well, let me share my favorite tips for becoming more resilient and managing holiday...
The Ultimate Survival Guide for Mentally Coping During the Holidays
For all the cheer the holidays bring, they can also be a time of stress. From having to attend numerous social events to interacting with multiple family members to feeling the loss of a loved one, there are many things that can be triggering during...
News and Tools For Happiness, Love, and Wisdom; Self-Compassion in Daily Life
It was one of those mornings. The baby hadn’t slept, Amy’s husband was out of town, and three-year-old Sophie insisted on wearing her new tutu to nursery school as snowflakes began to pile up on the New England January morning. Plus they...
Self-Compassion for Parents
Recently I was helping some cousins with preparations at a family wedding in the countryside. One of them was a mom who had three young kids, including a newborn. We began to talk about parenting."“So, how am I doing?" Emma asked me point-blank, looking anxious. I'm the last...
An Eight-Step Practice for Parents
"I'm so distressed," Stephanie said, immediately reaching for the box of tissues in our first session. "I've never felt this much sadness in my entire life. The last few months have been hell. I'm having trouble sleeping.  I feel like my life has fallen apart. Can you help me not be...
The Unlived Lives of Parents
Lionel and Kyra's son, Tyrone, had significant developmental delays from his premature birth. Now seven years old, he's playing Little League, but he can't run as fast as the other kids, doesn’t have good hand-eye coordination , and rarely connects with the ball. "He likes being...
Mindfulness for Parents and Children: New Parenting Books 2019
The abundance of parenting styles and fads—tiger moms, helicopter parents, and cat dads, not to mention free-range parenting, baby-led parenting, and attachment parenting—is enough to make any new parent's head spin. As a possible antidote, several forthcoming titles...