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A Jump-Start Guide to Overcoming Low Motivation, Depression, or Just Feeling Stuck 

Activating Happiness

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Book cover, Activing Happiness

Dr. Rachel hershenberg

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Dr. Hershenberg discusses the psychological effects of sharing experiences with an experiential design firm. - September, 2017

In the media

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Dr. Hershenberg discusses tips for cultivating empathy that will help you deal with the annoyances of the holiday season. - December, 2017

Dr. Hershenberg discusses non-offensive gift Ideas to nudge someone toward healthy behaviors. Activating Happiness makes the list as a health book with broad appeal. -December, 2017

Dr. Hershenberg discusses tips to motivate yourself to exercise when you're depressed. -December, 2017

Sirius XM, Doctor Radio

Dr. Hershenberg discusses Activating Happiness with host Dr. Marina Kurian on Doctor Radio. -December, 2017

Dr. Hershenberg discusses disconnecting from technology before bedtime in an article about lifestyle changes that can make you healthier.  -December, 2017

Press

“Rachel Hershenberg has decoded the latest science to uncover a secret that’s easy to miss: to beat depression, it’s not enough just to control negative emotions—you have to instill positive emotions as well. In Activating Happiness, Hershenberg walks you through several simple and doable strategies that just may be the step you’ve been missing in your battle with depression, low motivation, apathy, or other negative mood states. Take her advice to heart; your emotions will thank you for it.”


David F. Tolin, PhD, ABPP, author of Face Your Fears and Doing CBT

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Rachel Hershenberg, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in the research and treatment of depression. She is Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Emory University where she conducts clinical research and is the Director of Psychotherapy in the Treatment Resistant Depression Program.

Dr. Hershenberg is committed to bridging academic science with clinical practice. She wrote Activating Happiness to bring the study of depression, low motivation, and how to treat it to the hands of everyday consumers who are looking to kick-start their own behavioral changes or want a guide to use alongside therapy.

 

Her research focuses on how individuals experiencing depression create and respond to opportunities for positive emotions such as joy, accomplishment, and feelings of closeness with others. Despite intuitively knowing that taking the effort to engage in a “positive” behavior might be useful – like showing up to an event that is social or following through on a goal that is consistent with ones values –people who are depressed often struggle very seriously to motivate themselves to follow through on those behaviors, getting trapped in a vicious cycle. As a treatment provider, she specializes in Behavioral Activation, a depression treatment designed to target behaviors that maintain sad mood, fatigue, and low motivation and increase behaviors that facilitate contact with positive and rewarding aspects of daily life.

 

After obtaining her bachelor’s in psychology from Emory University, Dr. Hershenberg graduated from Stony Brook University with a PhD in clinical psychology and completed her clinical internship at the Charleston Consortium. Prior to joining the faculty at Emory, she completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Mental Health Research at the Michael J. Crescenz Philadelphia VA Medical Center and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.

About Dr. hershenberg

Dr. Hershenberg guest blogs about letting go of your imaginary audience during the holiday season. -December, 2017

Dr. Hershenberg guest blogs about dealing with resentment when you take on the lions' share of holiday preparations. -December, 2017

Dr. Hershenberg guest blogs about combatting food related holiday guilt. -December, 2017

Dr. Hershenberg guest blogs about 3 ways to end holiday resentment -December, 2017

Peoples' RX Radio on KGAC-AM (Austin,TX)

Dr. Hershenberg discusses her new book, Activating Happiness 

Dr. Hershenberg discusses how to accomplish your goals in 2018. -January, 2018

Activating Happiness makes the list of "Self-help books to help you live your best life in 2018"

Activating Happiness makes the list of "Self-help books to help you live your best life in 2018" - January, 2018

Activating Happiness makes the list of 72 of 2017’s Best Books to Make You Successful - January, 2018

Dr. Hershenberg discusses her new book, Activating Happiness -January 2018 

Dr. Hershenberg shares tips on making plans to be good to yourself on Valentine's Day - February, 2018

Dr. Hershenberg provides tips for celebrating the small victories along the way - February, 2018

Dr. Hershenberg shares tips for getting the most out of positive events with the 50+ community - February, 2018

Centennial Health

Dr. Hershenberg helps you break your patterns of procrastination- February, 2018

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