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

Serial Killers

Serial Killers and the Inner Dinosaur

Matthew J. Sharps Ph.D. on February 3, 2025 in The Forensic View

An understanding of brain evolution may prove useful in the development of research in forensic psychology, including research on the behavior of serial killers.

An understanding of brain evolution may prove useful in the development of research in forensic psychology, including research on the behavior of serial killers.

Relationships

4 Ways to Stay Close When Growing in Different Directions

Rachel Glik Ed.D., LPC on February 3, 2025 in Creating Soulful Connections

One of the most effective ways to handle big changes you're experiencing in your relationship is to lean into the 4 C's: consciousness, communication, commitment and common ground.

One of the most effective ways to handle big changes you're experiencing in your relationship is to lean into the 4 C's: consciousness, communication, commitment and common ground.

Law and Crime

Imprinted for Violence? How Biology and Beliefs Mold Killers

Tahir Rahman M.D. on February 3, 2025 in Clinical and Forensic Dimensions of Psychiatry

Humans are biologically programmed for violence. Lorenz’s ethology reveals how imprinting, instincts, and group aggression shape radicalization, school shooters, and terrorists.

Humans are biologically programmed for violence. Lorenz’s ethology reveals how imprinting, instincts, and group aggression shape radicalization, school shooters, and terrorists.

OCD

6 Tips for Navigating Resistance to ERP

Danielle Henderson, Psy.D., LPC and Meghin Lisi, LMFT on February 3, 2025 in From Uncertainty to Expertise

When a client says ERP isn’t working, it can leave therapists feeling stuck. Roll with resistance and learn six strategies to overcome barriers and instill hope.

When a client says ERP isn’t working, it can leave therapists feeling stuck. Roll with resistance and learn six strategies to overcome barriers and instill hope.

Therapy

Therapy Wins You Might Be Missing

Yvonne Castañeda, LICSW, MSW on February 3, 2025 in The Power of Parallels

Think therapy progress means feeling better right away? Think again. Discover the hidden signs of growth.

Think therapy progress means feeling better right away? Think again. Discover the hidden signs of growth.

Online Therapy

Understanding the DEA’s Proposed 50/50 Telehealth Rule

Joel L. Young M.D. on February 3, 2025 in When Your Adult Child Breaks Your Heart

The DEA’s proposed 50/50 telehealth rule undermines the accessibility and effectiveness of psychiatric care by imposing unnecessary in-person visit requirements. Here's how.

The DEA’s proposed 50/50 telehealth rule undermines the accessibility and effectiveness of psychiatric care by imposing unnecessary in-person visit requirements. Here's how.

Anxiety

The Rise of Anxiety Among Women

Nahid Fattahi on February 3, 2025 in Multicultural Mental Health

From the pressures of career and family to the silent burden of perfectionism, anxiety is becoming an overwhelming reality for many women.

From the pressures of career and family to the silent burden of perfectionism, anxiety is becoming an overwhelming reality for many women.

Stress

How a Therapist Copes With Stress (And You Can, Too)

Sharon Martin, DSW, LCSW on February 3, 2025 in Conquering Codependency

Struggling with stress and uncertainty? Discover simple, effective ways to stay grounded and mentally healthy when life feels unpredictable.

Struggling with stress and uncertainty? Discover simple, effective ways to stay grounded and mentally healthy when life feels unpredictable.

Artificial Intelligence

AI Can Help Improve Patient-Clinician Interactions

John Nosta on February 3, 2025 in The Digital Self

A new paper offers vital insights into patient communication; LLMs can personalize and scale patient discussions when clinicians lack time.

A new paper offers vital insights into patient communication; LLMs can personalize and scale patient discussions when clinicians lack time.

Aging

Losing Your Looks

Gregg Levoy on February 3, 2025 in Passion!

Personal Perspective: If you hate losing your looks, you’re going to hate looking at yourself in the mirror, which is going to make it harder to grow old gracefully.

Personal Perspective: If you hate losing your looks, you’re going to hate looking at yourself in the mirror, which is going to make it harder to grow old gracefully.

CBD

Why Cannabis Use Disorder is on the Rise

Kenneth R. Weinberg M.D. on February 3, 2025 in Bedside Manners

As more people use cannabis, reported cases of CUD have increased. What can be done to address it?

As more people use cannabis, reported cases of CUD have increased. What can be done to address it?

Relationships

The Formula for a Successful Relationship Check-In

Amy Smith Ph.D., LMFT, CFLE on February 3, 2025 in Healthy Communication in Hard Situations

The check-in is great for relationships but they can feel awkward. Here is a formula for an effective relationship check-in, one that will feel good.

The check-in is great for relationships but they can feel awkward. Here is a formula for an effective relationship check-in, one that will feel good.

Divorce

When You Forget to Be a Co-Parent

Jeanette Blackstone Psy.D. on February 3, 2025 in Bonus Families

Learn how to build co-parenting bridges, not walls.

Learn how to build co-parenting bridges, not walls.

Decision-Making

Decisions Shape Culture; Culture Shapes Decisions

Dan Dworkis M.D., Ph.D. on February 3, 2025 in The Emergency Mind

The best teams don’t just make great decisions—they build a culture that fuels them. Learn how decision-making and culture shape each other to drive performance under pressure.

The best teams don’t just make great decisions—they build a culture that fuels them. Learn how decision-making and culture shape each other to drive performance under pressure.

Guilt

From Malibu: The Dangers of Survivor’s Guilt

Terri Cheney on February 3, 2025 in The Bipolar Lens

Personal Perspective: It’s common to feel survivor guilt after a natural disaster if one didn’t experience the worst possible outcome. Those feelings need to be discussed.

Personal Perspective: It’s common to feel survivor guilt after a natural disaster if one didn’t experience the worst possible outcome. Those feelings need to be discussed.

Near-Death Experiences

Children’s Exceptional Experiences Out of Time and Self

Marc Wittmann Ph.D. on February 3, 2025 in Sense of Time

Recent studies by Donna Thomas have shown how children commonly have extra-sensory experiences that go beyond our typical notions of self, time, and space.

Recent studies by Donna Thomas have shown how children commonly have extra-sensory experiences that go beyond our typical notions of self, time, and space.

Adolescence

Adolescence and the Loss of Parental Authority

Carl E Pickhardt Ph.D. on February 3, 2025 in Surviving (Your Child's) Adolescence

Parents must provide responsible adult authority on which the child can depend; as adolescence proceeds, they must teach the teenager to assume more responsible self-ruling power.

Parents must provide responsible adult authority on which the child can depend; as adolescence proceeds, they must teach the teenager to assume more responsible self-ruling power.

Spirituality

Spiritual Abuse Harms Your Sexual and Mental Health

Steven Ing MFT on February 3, 2025 in Sexual Futurist

What all spiritual abuse has in common is a profound belief in—and a defense of—the notion that the institution is more important than the people the institution is meant to serve.

What all spiritual abuse has in common is a profound belief in—and a defense of—the notion that the institution is more important than the people the institution is meant to serve.

Relationships

How to Expand Our Relationships

Kenneth Silvestri Ed.D. on February 3, 2025 in A Wider Lens

Expanding our relationships offers a sustainable path to a more extensive definition of mutuality and interdependence through understanding that much is hidden but not unspoken.

Expanding our relationships offers a sustainable path to a more extensive definition of mutuality and interdependence through understanding that much is hidden but not unspoken.

Relationships

The Essential Question to Ask Your Spouse

Rachel Diamond Ph.D. on February 3, 2025 in Preparing for Parenthood

A.R.E. you there for me? Accessibility, responsiveness, and emotional engagement are the building blocks of a secure attachment bond with your partner.

A.R.E. you there for me? Accessibility, responsiveness, and emotional engagement are the building blocks of a secure attachment bond with your partner.

Sex

Sexual Myths That Undermine Relationships

Kari Rusnak, MA, LPC,CMHC on February 3, 2025 in Happy Healthy Relationships

When it comes to sex and relationships, myths can quietly undermine intimacy, trust, and satisfaction—often in ways we don’t realize.

When it comes to sex and relationships, myths can quietly undermine intimacy, trust, and satisfaction—often in ways we don’t realize.

Trauma

The Hidden Key to Crushing Chronic Stress

Judy Ho Ph.D., ABPP, ABPdN on February 3, 2025 in Unlock Your True Motivation

Tired of feeling overwhelmed? Discover how body-based techniques can release trauma, reset your system, and bring you lasting calm.

Tired of feeling overwhelmed? Discover how body-based techniques can release trauma, reset your system, and bring you lasting calm.

Grief

How to Connect With Loved Ones After They Die

Larry Carlat on February 3, 2025 in A Space in the Heart

Personal Perspective: You loved them in life, you love them in death, you love them until the end of time. You need to tell them that. Every day. Tell them, tell them, tell them.

Personal Perspective: You loved them in life, you love them in death, you love them until the end of time. You need to tell them that. Every day. Tell them, tell them, tell them.

Identity

Is Healthcare Moving Away From "Person-First" Language?

Kaytee Gillis, LCSW on February 3, 2025 in Invisible Bruises

As we include more insight from those with lived experience, the medical and mental health fields are slowly moving away from person-first language. Read on to learn more about why.

As we include more insight from those with lived experience, the medical and mental health fields are slowly moving away from person-first language. Read on to learn more about why.

Sport and Competition

The 2025 Australian Open's Bold and Biological Experiment

Michael Allison on February 3, 2025 in The Pressure Paradox

The placement of support teams highlights the impact of coregulation on player performance. Winners benefited from close support, while others experienced disruption or detachment.

The placement of support teams highlights the impact of coregulation on player performance. Winners benefited from close support, while others experienced disruption or detachment.

Motivation

Your Key to Fulfillment

Nauman Naeem M.D. on February 3, 2025 in The Universe Within

Many people set out to achieve their goals but lose their way because they have not defined their core values, which are key to being in alignment.

Many people set out to achieve their goals but lose their way because they have not defined their core values, which are key to being in alignment.

Social Life

A Third-Party Ultimatum Game

Joachim I. Krueger Ph.D. on February 3, 2025 in One Among Many

When the terms of a proposed transaction get worse, can we pull out even if this harms a third party who is not at fault?

When the terms of a proposed transaction get worse, can we pull out even if this harms a third party who is not at fault?

Cognition

How One Man Powerfully Shaped English and Our Thought

Richard Gunderman MD, Ph.D. on February 3, 2025 in Fully Human

Perhaps the most influential figure in the history of the English language is unknown to most.

Perhaps the most influential figure in the history of the English language is unknown to most.

Sex

Communibiology of Sexual Arousal

Stephen A Furlich, Ph.D. on February 3, 2025 in What Others Are Not Saying

What communibiological differences are there between men and women regarding sexual arousal?

What communibiological differences are there between men and women regarding sexual arousal?