Psychology Today: Health, Help, Happiness + Find a Therapist

Bias

Words Matter—What Are Yours Saying?

Diane N Solomon Ph.D. on July 30, 2024 in The Narrative Nurse Practitioner

We know words matter and that language can be sexist, racist, bigoted, or just plain mean. Does your language say something you may not be aware of?

We know words matter and that language can be sexist, racist, bigoted, or just plain mean. Does your language say something you may not be aware of?

Confidence

How to Create a Meaningful Interaction on a First Date

Randi Gunther Ph.D. on July 30, 2024 in Rediscovering Love

There are many questions you can ask to get to know a person more deeply in a short period of time without violating boundaries.

There are many questions you can ask to get to know a person more deeply in a short period of time without violating boundaries.

Parenting

Mom Brain: Myth or Real?

Corinne Masur Psy.D. on July 30, 2024 in Parenting Matters

"Mom Brain" has a negative connotation, but recent research suggests that pregnant women and new mothers actually have more flexible, competent, and resilient brains.

"Mom Brain" has a negative connotation, but recent research suggests that pregnant women and new mothers actually have more flexible, competent, and resilient brains.

Sex

Not Tonight, Dear

Emily Jamea Ph.D., LMFT, LPC on July 30, 2024 in Extraordinary Relationships

Desire discrepancy remains one of the most common and complex issues that sex and couples therapists treat. New research sheds light on how sexual rejection styles play a role.

Desire discrepancy remains one of the most common and complex issues that sex and couples therapists treat. New research sheds light on how sexual rejection styles play a role.

Resilience

Back to School: Strategies for Starting Strong

Maureen Healy on July 30, 2024 in Creative Development

Are your children ready to start school strong? Help them develop skills that will enhance their resilience.

Are your children ready to start school strong? Help them develop skills that will enhance their resilience.

Relationships

Ledgers, Balances, and Unseen Labor

Elizabeth Earnshaw, MA, LMFT, CGT on July 30, 2024 in The Relationship Realist

Whether it’s the mental load or the financial burden, when labor is perceived as unappreciated and perceived as unfair, people start tallying up everything they do.

Whether it’s the mental load or the financial burden, when labor is perceived as unappreciated and perceived as unfair, people start tallying up everything they do.

Family Dynamics

Family Stories Are Embodied in Cherished Possessions

Robyn Fivush Ph.D. on July 30, 2024 in The Stories of Our Lives

Through our most cherished family possessions, we come to know our families and ourselves.

Through our most cherished family possessions, we come to know our families and ourselves.

Authenticity

Change Isn't Always Good for You

Leon Garber LMHC on July 30, 2024 in Perfectionism

Despite popular belief, patients resist change not only because they fear it, but also because they wish to remain authentic.

Despite popular belief, patients resist change not only because they fear it, but also because they wish to remain authentic.

Autism

How to Find Your Sensory Goldilocks: Achieving the "Just Right" Fit

Megan A Neff Psy.D. on July 30, 2024 in The Neurodivergent Psychologist

A Personal Perspective: Discover how to balance sensory needs and create your own Goldilocks moments with practical strategies.

A Personal Perspective: Discover how to balance sensory needs and create your own Goldilocks moments with practical strategies.

Fear

Are You Afraid Your Efforts Can't Make a Difference?

Diane E Dreher Ph.D. on July 30, 2024 in Your Personal Renaissance

If you've been feeling your efforts don't make a difference, here are brain-based strategies for regaining your sense of agency.

If you've been feeling your efforts don't make a difference, here are brain-based strategies for regaining your sense of agency.

Replication Crisis

The Importance of Research to the Practice of Counseling

Dan Bates, PhD, LPCC-S, NCC, BC-TMH on July 30, 2024 in Mental Health Nerd

The replication crisis, publication bias, and careerism undermine scientific rigor and ethical responsibility in counseling to provide effective and safe care for clients.

The replication crisis, publication bias, and careerism undermine scientific rigor and ethical responsibility in counseling to provide effective and safe care for clients.

Depression

Is This Depression or Burnout?

Gregory Chasson Ph.D., ABPP on July 30, 2024 in Flawed

It can be difficult to tell the difference between depression and burnout. Let me break it down.

It can be difficult to tell the difference between depression and burnout. Let me break it down.

Philosophy

Why Science Will Never Explain Consciousness

Sharon Hewitt Rawlette Ph.D. on July 30, 2024 in Mysteries of Consciousness

A physical explanation for consciousness isn’t just a hard nut to crack. It’s a conceptual impossibility.

A physical explanation for consciousness isn’t just a hard nut to crack. It’s a conceptual impossibility.

Leadership

From Athlete to CEO: Coincidence or Blueprint?

Jonathan Rhodes Ph.D. on July 30, 2024 in Imagery Coaching

Do 95 percent of top CEOs come from college sports? No. We examine the data to find the real link between athletics, passion, and CEO success.

Do 95 percent of top CEOs come from college sports? No. We examine the data to find the real link between athletics, passion, and CEO success.

Animal Behavior

Good Dog, Bad Dog, Happy Dog, Sad Dog: The Limits of Labels

Marc Bekoff Ph.D. on July 30, 2024 in Animal Emotions

We may think calling a dog aggressive, vicious, alpha, stubborn, or abnormal helps us understand what they're feeling, but stereotyping isn't always accurate. Context is key.

We may think calling a dog aggressive, vicious, alpha, stubborn, or abnormal helps us understand what they're feeling, but stereotyping isn't always accurate. Context is key.

Personal Perspectives

The Great Migration: White Fright and White Flight

Roseann Foley Henry on July 30, 2024 in The Big, and Little, Questions

Personal Perspective: Today’s mass migration of people brings to mind an earlier one, and the fears that came with it

Personal Perspective: Today’s mass migration of people brings to mind an earlier one, and the fears that came with it

Psychology

The Fascinating World of the Normal Curve

Jessica Koehler Ph.D. on July 30, 2024 in Beyond School Walls

Discover how the normal curve reveals patterns in everything from everyday decisions to psychological phenomena.

Discover how the normal curve reveals patterns in everything from everyday decisions to psychological phenomena.

Gender

Creating Opportunities for Men to Be More Involved With Their Children

Avrum Weiss, Ph.D. on July 30, 2024 in From Fear to Intimacy

A simple exercise to help balance gender roles in your family.

A simple exercise to help balance gender roles in your family.

Relationships

Don’t Stare Into One Another’s Eyes

Matt Wotton, MBA and Graham Johnston, MBA on July 30, 2024 in Get Some Help!

While well-meaning exercises aim to nurture intimacy, many are impractical and shallow. Instead, relationships thrive on consistent, small acts of kindness and understanding.

While well-meaning exercises aim to nurture intimacy, many are impractical and shallow. Instead, relationships thrive on consistent, small acts of kindness and understanding.

Depression

Sensory Foraging and Mental Wellness

Cheralyn Leeby Ph.D., LMFT on July 30, 2024 in Consciously Creating Your Soul Life

Sensory foraging is a holistic approach to combat depression relapse by engaging and exploring the senses in a mindful way. This simple process elevates mood and cognition.

Sensory foraging is a holistic approach to combat depression relapse by engaging and exploring the senses in a mindful way. This simple process elevates mood and cognition.

Relationships

The Art of Listening: Improve Communication With Your Partner

Cara Gardenswartz Ph.D. on July 30, 2024 in The Discomfort Zone

Communication techniques like active listening, using “I” statements, and non-verbal cues help couples connect and understand each other better.

Communication techniques like active listening, using “I” statements, and non-verbal cues help couples connect and understand each other better.

Fantasies

Storytelling as Medicine

Patricia Prijatel on July 30, 2024 in All Is Well

"The Covenant of Water," a multigenerational epic set in India's lush Kerala region, merges traditional and Western medicine and is a model of narrative medicine.

"The Covenant of Water," a multigenerational epic set in India's lush Kerala region, merges traditional and Western medicine and is a model of narrative medicine.

Loneliness

Loneliness Epidemic: How to Heal and Reconnect

Leslie Becker-Phelps Ph.D. on July 30, 2024 in Making Change

Feeling lonely? Discover how connection can heal and transform your life. Learn practical steps to raise awareness, embrace acceptance, and cultivate empathy and compassion.

Feeling lonely? Discover how connection can heal and transform your life. Learn practical steps to raise awareness, embrace acceptance, and cultivate empathy and compassion.

Leadership

Are You an Overfunctioning Leader? How to Tell and Fix It

Susan Biali Haas M.D. on July 30, 2024 in Prescriptions for Life

Are you burning yourself out doing tasks that aren't yours? Do you step in too often to "help" your team? Overfunctioning harms you and your people. Learn to spot it, and stop it.

Are you burning yourself out doing tasks that aren't yours? Do you step in too often to "help" your team? Overfunctioning harms you and your people. Learn to spot it, and stop it.

Memory

Can You Trust Your Memories?

Gina Vild on July 30, 2024 in A Buoyant Life

How your emotions, imagination, social circle, and media influence and alter your memories—and strategies to preserve them.

How your emotions, imagination, social circle, and media influence and alter your memories—and strategies to preserve them.

Career

Styles of Personhood: Which One Is Yours?

Thomas Henricks Ph.D. on July 30, 2024 in The Pathways of Experience

Each style of personhood can be a trap as well as a form of expression. Consider those benefits and challenges.

Each style of personhood can be a trap as well as a form of expression. Consider those benefits and challenges.

Bias

Disabled People Still Have to Fight for Access

Alison Escalante M.D. on July 30, 2024 in Shouldstorm

Excluded from 22 school events due to lack of an accessible entrance, a Colorado mother of three has filed a federal disability discrimination lawsuit.

Excluded from 22 school events due to lack of an accessible entrance, a Colorado mother of three has filed a federal disability discrimination lawsuit.

Cognition

3 Ways to Spot a Bad Friend From How They Speak to You

Mark Travers Ph.D. on July 30, 2024 in Social Instincts

Here's how language can reflect the need to create psychological distance.

Here's how language can reflect the need to create psychological distance.

Creativity

The Untold Secret to a More Creative Life

Anthony D. Fredericks Ed.D. on July 30, 2024 in Creative Insights

We often have the mistaken idea that creativity is an occasional event. True creativity is a habit...a daily habit.

We often have the mistaken idea that creativity is an occasional event. True creativity is a habit...a daily habit.