William Gardner, PsyD

Clinical Psychologist

William Gardner, Psy.D. is a Clinical Psychologist in private practice located in San Francisco, CA’s financial district. With over 10 years of clinical experience, Dr. Gardner provides individually tailored psychotherapy for adults using cognitive behavioral techniques, to reduce symptoms and improve overall functioning. Dr. Gardner earned his PsyD from Stanford University in 2009, specializing in evidence-based practices. He then completed a post-doc fellowship at Kaiser Permanente.

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Q&A Comments (67)

How do you honor a deceased person?
There's no right or wrong way to honor a loved one you've lost. Everyone goes through the stages of grief differently, so don't be hard on yourself if you find yourself jumping around from emotion to emotion. Every culture has a different way of honoring the deceased. In Judaism, for example, you do an unveiling of the tombstone after one year, and that's the end of official grieving. You could do something like that, or you could just share your favorite memories with your other loved ones. There's no rule book when it comes to this kind of thing.
How long does it take to grieve the loss of a loved one?
Different people experience grief differently, so there aren't any hard rules when it comes to this kind of thing. For some people, it may take a month to get over a loss, but it may take others much longer to process what they're feeling. There's also a big difference for most people between losing an older parent and the experience of losing a child or something similar. So it really depends on a variety of different things.
How long does it take to grieve a breakup?
It really depends on the nature of the relationship and how you personally process your emotions. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to this kind of thing. Some people may grieve for a few days, while others may grieve for months. There's also a big difference between breaking up with someone you dated for a few days and someone you were married to for decades. It all depends. Just keep in mind that it's completely normal to be upset and grieve.
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Co-authored Articles (37)

How to

Be Normal

Normality changes over time and based on where you are. There is no one set of principles that make you normal. However, there are ways to work on fitting in with your surroundings if you have trouble with that. Focus fi...

How to

Kill Spiders when You Have Arachnophobia

Arachnophobia is a common phobia, which affects approximately 50% of women and 18% of men. Though scientists don’t really understand what causes phobias, many scientists believe phobias could be a learned behavior, rel...

How to

Deal with Puppy Deaths During Birth

When a dog delivers a litter of puppies, it is common for some of the pups to be stillborn or die shortly after birth. In order to deal with the death of puppies during birth, you will need to give the mother some time w...

170+ Messages & Quotes to Say Sorry to a Friend

Learn how to give a sincere apology & rebuild your friendship When you’ve messed up and hurt a friend, it can be hard to know how to make things right again. But making a genuine apology can go a long way toward repair...

How to

Deal With Rude People

You will inevitably have to deal with mean or rude people throughout your life. Whether it’s a complete stranger at the grocery store, your roommate, or a coworker, there will always be someone who gets on your nerves....

How to

Have a Normal Life

Having a normal life may sound like a simple goal, but it's actually a complex concept. What's normal for one person may not be normal for another, especially in a different culture or society. At the same time, the idea...

Why Do I Hate My Birthday?

Learn the reasons behind the birthday blues & how to overcome themSome people spend all year looking forward to their next birthday. Others dread their birthdays and can’t wait for them to be over. If you get the birth...

How to

Cope With Having a Dog Put Down

Having your dog put down can be a difficult and heart-breaking decision. Discuss with your veterinarian about the treatment options available, the costs involved, and their impact to your dog's quality of life. Coping ...

How to

Deal with Adult Sibling Bullying

Children siblings that fight with each other is often par for the course when growing up. Often, the fighting stops when they become adults, but that isn’t always the case. Sometimes, the bullying continues and can bec...

How to

Stop Being Upset at Your Boyfriend

Do you often find yourself snapping at your boyfriend or getting upset at him, seemingly for no reason? We all get angry at our partner from time to time, but frustration and conflict can start to impact your overall rel...

How to

Stop Biting Your Lips and Cheeks

Biting your lips and cheeks can be a frustrating habit because it likely leaves you with chapped lips and mouth sores. Typically, biting your lips and cheeks is a way to deal with stress or anxiety, but it could also jus...

How to

Be a Good Big Sibling

Being a good big brother or sister can make a big difference to your sibling. Though parents can act as good role models, the relationship between siblings is also a key aspect of developing into a responsible and succes...

How to Get Over the Death of a Fictional Character

Express your grief and find new feels to obsess over The death of a fictional character can feel shockingly upsetting and real. Even though the character isn’t a real person, you still can feel incredibly close to them...

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Be a Good Brother

Learn how to set a good example and bond with your siblingsDo you want to learn how to set a good example or improve your relationship with your siblings? Are you about to become a brother for the first time? Keep readin...

How to

Overcome the Death of a Fish

Have you come home and found your favorite fish dead in its tank? Did one of your fish die recently and you can’t stop thinking about it? Getting over the loss of any pet can be hard, but with the time you can move on....

How to Respond Professionally to a Rude Email

Use these sample responses to rude emails with your boss, colleague, or client Receiving a rude email at work can be a difficult situation to navigate. Rude emails can range from passive-aggressive messages that leave ou...

How to

Connect to a Sibling Who Ignores You

In some cases, siblings remain best pals throughout their lives. In other cases, sibling relationships are tumultuous and distant. For instance, if your sister or brother tends to ignore you, it can really bruise your eg...

How to Get Along with Your Little Sister

Becoming the best older sibling you can be It's not always easy, but it’s always worth it to be nice to your little sister. It may not seem like it now, but your relationship with her is one of the most important relat...

How to

Not Be Rude

Advice from a psychologist on how to stop being meanPoliteness is key in many social interactions. Whether you're meeting someone for the first time, or are cultivating a lifelong relation with a friend, there's little t...

How to Behave Like a Typical Teenager

What does "normal" mean, anyway?When you're a teenager, there is not one way to be normal. It depends on your interests, likes, and dislikes.. 25 July 2019. All teens experience a range of different emotions and experien...
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