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Embracing the Dark Side

Discerning the positive aspects of sadness, bereavement, and other negative feelings.

Personality
Psychologists and their mental illnesses

Jenna Baddeley on June 24, 2011

Marsha Linehan's disclosure of her mental illness is an inspiration for psychologists.

Marsha Linehan's disclosure of her mental illness is an inspiration for psychologists.

Depression
The Therapists of Christmas Past, Present, and Future

Jenna Baddeley on December 24, 2009

Scrooge is often taken as a symbol of miserliness, but more primary is his self-imposed isolation and disconnection from other humans. Helping people soften their self-imposed barriers to connection is one of the ends to which therapy is best suited. In n the course of one long night before Christmas, Scrooge is fortunate enough to receive the equivalent of years of therapy - delivered by one ghost and three spirits.

Scrooge is often taken as a symbol of miserliness, but more primary is his self-imposed isolation and disconnection from other humans. Helping people soften their self-imposed barriers to connection is one of the ends to which therapy is best suited. In n the course of one long night before Christmas, Scrooge is fortunate enough to receive the equivalent of years of therapy - delivered by one ghost and three spirits.

Anger
Relationship break-ups: truths, distortions, and negative emotions

Jenna Baddeley on November 5, 2009

Breakups raise primal negative feelings: guilt, sadness, anger, and fear. When people try to manage these bad emotions, they try to figure out what caused them, and often - erroneously - they blame themselves or their partner.

Breakups raise primal negative feelings: guilt, sadness, anger, and fear. When people try to manage these bad emotions, they try to figure out what caused them, and often - erroneously - they blame themselves or their partner.

Self-Help
Everything I Need to Know, I Learned from Improv

Jenna Baddeley on August 21, 2009

Improv provides valuable counter-conditioning to help people face life's pressures. Here are some of the lessons every improvisor is taught, and every person should know.

Improv provides valuable counter-conditioning to help people face life's pressures. Here are some of the lessons every improvisor is taught, and every person should know.

Self-Help
Self-esteem: a zero-sum game?

Jenna Baddeley on August 5, 2009

A. H. Maslow took self-esteem as synonymous with (self-perceived) dominance. If you believe that self-esteem is basically the same thing as dominance, you would have to agree that it would be just as impossible for everyone to have high self-esteem just as it would be for everyone to have social dominance.

A. H. Maslow took self-esteem as synonymous with (self-perceived) dominance. If you believe that self-esteem is basically the same thing as dominance, you would have to agree that it would be just as impossible for everyone to have high self-esteem just as it would be for everyone to have social dominance.

Depression
How to Help a Depressed Friend (and When to Stop Trying): Part 2

Jenna Baddeley on June 27, 2009

Even if your friend is depressed, it's important to expect reciprocity. Otherwise, your friendship can become more like a therapeutic or caregiving relationship.

Even if your friend is depressed, it's important to expect reciprocity. Otherwise, your friendship can become more like a therapeutic or caregiving relationship.

Depression
How to help a depressed friend (and when to stop trying): part 1

Jenna Baddeley on May 16, 2009

It is perfectly apparent to us that our depressed friend's life isn't completely hopeless, but when we try to tell him that he has reasons for hope, he feels invalidated and frustrated. Is it possible for both him and us to feel heard?

It is perfectly apparent to us that our depressed friend's life isn't completely hopeless, but when we try to tell him that he has reasons for hope, he feels invalidated and frustrated. Is it possible for both him and us to feel heard?

Depression
Valentines from the ones who’ve hurt us: a matter of pain or hope?

Jenna Baddeley on May 4, 2009

A single woman in her mid to late thirties has always cherished the goals of being a wife and mother. Her first date in ten years virtually stopped communicating with her, but sent her a valentines card, which brought her renewed pain, but also hope.

A single woman in her mid to late thirties has always cherished the goals of being a wife and mother. Her first date in ten years virtually stopped communicating with her, but sent her a valentines card, which brought her renewed pain, but also hope.