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

Ethics and Morality

Why Is It Hard to Be Humble?

Sabrina B. Little, Ph.D. on May 13, 2025 in Considerations of Character

Humility helps us see and appreciate others, and it makes us teachable. It is certainly worth the effort to develop it

Humility helps us see and appreciate others, and it makes us teachable. It is certainly worth the effort to develop it

Adverse Childhood Experiences

Finding Your True Self After Childhood Trauma

Andrea Mathews LPC, NCC on May 13, 2025 in Traversing the Inner Terrain

The experience of childhood abuse has far-reaching effects on identity and self-image. Healing often involves connecting with the authentic self that never had a chance to emerge.

The experience of childhood abuse has far-reaching effects on identity and self-image. Healing often involves connecting with the authentic self that never had a chance to emerge.

Emotional Abuse

Criticism as Emotional Abuse

Leah Aguirre LCSW on May 13, 2025 in Modern Dating

Criticism isn’t constructive when it's persistent, targeted, and demeaning. Instead, it becomes a means of asserting power and control.

Criticism isn’t constructive when it's persistent, targeted, and demeaning. Instead, it becomes a means of asserting power and control.

Relationships

Self-Care as a Love Language

Yvonne Castañeda, LICSW, MSW on May 13, 2025 in The Power of Parallels

If you’ve ever felt guilty for choosing yourself, you’re not alone. Learn how to reframe self-care as a powerful, sustaining act of love.

If you’ve ever felt guilty for choosing yourself, you’re not alone. Learn how to reframe self-care as a powerful, sustaining act of love.

Leadership

The One Conversation Skill Every Cofounder Should Use

Matthew Jones Psy.D. on May 13, 2025 in Scaling Connection

When founders clash, it’s often not the topic—it’s the lack of structure. Discover the one tool that turns scattered talks into clear, focused conversations.

When founders clash, it’s often not the topic—it’s the lack of structure. Discover the one tool that turns scattered talks into clear, focused conversations.

Anxiety

Why Corporations Should Embrace Anxiety, Not Eliminate It

David H. Rosmarin Ph.D., ABPP on May 13, 2025 in Thriving With Anxiety

Anxiety shouldn't be a corporate problem to fix. It can be a tool for better leadership, culture, and performance. Here’s why embracing anxiety can drive lasting change.

Anxiety shouldn't be a corporate problem to fix. It can be a tool for better leadership, culture, and performance. Here’s why embracing anxiety can drive lasting change.

Relationships

One Simple Question That Will Improve Your Relationship

Avrum Weiss, Ph.D. on May 13, 2025 in From Fear to Intimacy

Learn a simple new habit that can head off conflict in your relationship.

Learn a simple new habit that can head off conflict in your relationship.

Play

Play Builds Physical, Verbal, and Social Strength

Scott G. Eberle Ph.D. on May 13, 2025 in Play in Mind

Over our lifetimes, play makes us stronger, more interesting, and more understanding.

Over our lifetimes, play makes us stronger, more interesting, and more understanding.

Health

When Your Mind and Body Speak Different Languages

Wayne Jonas M.D. on May 13, 2025 in How Healing Works

When symptoms don't match test results, the mind-body connection may hold answers. Explore how mental health shapes (and is shaped by) our physical wellbeing.

When symptoms don't match test results, the mind-body connection may hold answers. Explore how mental health shapes (and is shaped by) our physical wellbeing.

Neurodiversity

De-Escalation Techniques for Children

Amy Marschall, Psy.D. on May 13, 2025 in Neurodiversity-Affirming Therapy

Supporting kids' needs when they are escalated can feel impossible. Use these tips to foster self-regulation from a neurodiversity-affirming lens.

Supporting kids' needs when they are escalated can feel impossible. Use these tips to foster self-regulation from a neurodiversity-affirming lens.

Attention

Seeing the Many Different Faces of Attention

Marion Marshall, M.S. on May 13, 2025 in Bridging Ethics and Practice

ADHD is still widely misunderstood, and to give students the support they need, we must better understand their unique strengths and challenges.

ADHD is still widely misunderstood, and to give students the support they need, we must better understand their unique strengths and challenges.

Therapy

The Benefits of Pet-Related Discussions in Therapy and Beyond

Renata Roma Ph.D. on May 13, 2025 in Rethinking the Human-Animal Bond

Pet-related conversations can deepen therapy by validating emotional bonds, building trust, and offering insight into clients’ relational worlds.

Pet-related conversations can deepen therapy by validating emotional bonds, building trust, and offering insight into clients’ relational worlds.

Anxiety

Science-Backed Ways Improv Transforms Your Mental Health

Michael Alcee Ph.D. on May 13, 2025 in Live Life Creatively

Want to boost your mental health? Make the improv connection.

Want to boost your mental health? Make the improv connection.

Artificial Intelligence

Escaping Grief With AI Surrogates

Ewan Morrison on May 13, 2025 in Word-Less

AI chatbots and avatars are now being used to help us cope with loss, but do they trap us in denial?

AI chatbots and avatars are now being used to help us cope with loss, but do they trap us in denial?

Friends

How to Help a Friend: 6 Steps for College Students

Mia Nosanow MA, LP on May 13, 2025 in College Mental Health

College students often feel ill-equipped to help friends who may be dealing with emotional pain or mental health issues. These strategies can help them reach out.

College students often feel ill-equipped to help friends who may be dealing with emotional pain or mental health issues. These strategies can help them reach out.

OCD

Swipe, Spiral, Repeat: OCD and Dating

Melissa Jermann Ph.D. on May 13, 2025 in Obsessively Imperfect

OCD doesn’t wait for commitment—it can appear early in dating. Learn how to spot it and respond skillfully so you can show up as your authentic self without OCD calling the shots.

OCD doesn’t wait for commitment—it can appear early in dating. Learn how to spot it and respond skillfully so you can show up as your authentic self without OCD calling the shots.

Caregiving

Dealing With Siblings in Denial About Parental Care

Julia L. Mayer, Psy.D., and Barry J. Jacobs, Psy.D. on May 13, 2025 in Caregiver Intel

Try these strategies for improving communication and cooperation when siblings don't agree about an aging parent's caregiving needs.

Try these strategies for improving communication and cooperation when siblings don't agree about an aging parent's caregiving needs.

Career

The Power of Positive Words

Karen Teller, M.B.A., and Elaine Lyerly on May 13, 2025 in Words at Work

Women can change the perception of their leadership strengths with slight changes in the words they choose to use at work.

Women can change the perception of their leadership strengths with slight changes in the words they choose to use at work.

Resilience

The Art of Flexibility, Resilience, and Adaptability

Padraic Gibson D.Psych on May 13, 2025 in Escaping Our Mental Traps

Discover how understanding and supporting your body’s natural balance of homeostasis can boost mood, resilience, and overall health—plus simple strategies to maintain it.

Discover how understanding and supporting your body’s natural balance of homeostasis can boost mood, resilience, and overall health—plus simple strategies to maintain it.

Family Dynamics

Siblings and Their Lasting Impact

Ilene Strauss Cohen Ph.D. on May 13, 2025 in Your Emotional Meter

Discover how sibling dynamics shape our personalities and relationships through the lens of Bowen Family Systems Theory.

Discover how sibling dynamics shape our personalities and relationships through the lens of Bowen Family Systems Theory.

Play

How Play Therapy Benefits Your Child's Emotional Well-Being

Azmaira H. Maker Ph.D. on May 13, 2025 in Helping Kids Cope

Play therapy is a unique form of therapy that is better suited and perhaps more effective than traditional talk therapy for young children coping with stressors.

Play therapy is a unique form of therapy that is better suited and perhaps more effective than traditional talk therapy for young children coping with stressors.

Artificial Intelligence

Can Psychology Really Fix Your Broken Chatbot?

John Nosta on May 13, 2025 in The Digital Self

AI's flaw isn’t always in the algorithm, it’s in the misalignment with human psychology.

AI's flaw isn’t always in the algorithm, it’s in the misalignment with human psychology.

Depression

How Cellular Aging Steals Desires and Joys

Hamid Zand Ph.D. on May 13, 2025 in The Behavioral Microbiome

Aging cells become "zombie cells," leaking inflammatory chemicals that reach the brain. This disrupts dopamine, serotonin, and reward circuits, causing depression.

Aging cells become "zombie cells," leaking inflammatory chemicals that reach the brain. This disrupts dopamine, serotonin, and reward circuits, causing depression.

Parenting

When to Seek Mental Health Support for Your Child or Teen

Liz Nissim Ph.D. on May 13, 2025 in Special Matters

Is your child struggling emotionally, acting out, or dreading school—and you're not sure what to do next?

Is your child struggling emotionally, acting out, or dreading school—and you're not sure what to do next?

Fear

The Myth of Fearlessness

Alicia H. Clark Psy.D. on May 13, 2025 in Hack Your Anxiety

What if courage isn’t about being fearless? Learn how anxiety can fuel action and growth—drawing on Lincoln’s wisdom, neuroscience, and real-life psychological tools.

What if courage isn’t about being fearless? Learn how anxiety can fuel action and growth—drawing on Lincoln’s wisdom, neuroscience, and real-life psychological tools.

Positive Psychology

When Joy Feels Like a Threat

MaryCatherine McDonald Ph.D. on May 13, 2025 in The Hope Circuit

What if joy doesn’t feel safe? A therapeutic rupture led me to rethink how we approach healing and how to build a bridge between trauma and joy.

What if joy doesn’t feel safe? A therapeutic rupture led me to rethink how we approach healing and how to build a bridge between trauma and joy.

Race and Ethnicity

From Drapetomania to Disparities: Freedom as a Diagnosis

Brianna A. Baker M.Phil. on May 13, 2025 in Black Mindscapes

Discover how a racist 1851 diagnosis still haunts Black mental health care today and why reclaiming our minds is a radical act of resistance and liberation.

Discover how a racist 1851 diagnosis still haunts Black mental health care today and why reclaiming our minds is a radical act of resistance and liberation.

Relationships

Being “Difficult” Might Just Save Your Life

Tonya Lester LCSW on May 13, 2025 in Staying Sane Inside Insanity

Tired of being “easy” to be around but hard on yourself? Here’s why being a little “difficult” might be the most freeing thing you ever do.

Tired of being “easy” to be around but hard on yourself? Here’s why being a little “difficult” might be the most freeing thing you ever do.

Deception

How to Protect Yourself From Truth-Twisting Manipulators

Bill Knaus Ed.D. on May 13, 2025 in Science and Sensibility

Manipulators twist truth and shift blame to escape detection. Uncover their tactics and learn 7 powerful strategies to take charge.

Manipulators twist truth and shift blame to escape detection. Uncover their tactics and learn 7 powerful strategies to take charge.