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

Hypnosis

Hypnosis for the Treatment of Emetophobia

Ran D. Anbar M.D. on December 13, 2024 in Understanding Hypnosis

Specific hypnotic techniques with the aid of subconscious resources can help patients improve or resolve their emetophobia (fear of throwing up).

Specific hypnotic techniques with the aid of subconscious resources can help patients improve or resolve their emetophobia (fear of throwing up).

Mental Health Stigma

Is Mental Health Stigma Impacting Our Ability to Heal?

Sheilah M. Gauch on December 13, 2024 in The Whole Child

Mental health stigma creates many barriers. Is it making it harder to find healing in this mental health crisis?

Mental health stigma creates many barriers. Is it making it harder to find healing in this mental health crisis?

Relationships

What Kind of Person Do You Want Your Child to Become?

Dona Matthews Ph.D. on December 13, 2024 in Going Beyond Intelligence

While it's important to love your child just the way they are, it's also important to help them gain the tools to become the best possible adult they're in the process of becoming.

While it's important to love your child just the way they are, it's also important to help them gain the tools to become the best possible adult they're in the process of becoming.

Relationships

The One Show We Couldn't Stop Thinking About This Year

Robin Stern Ph.D. on December 13, 2024 in Power in Relationships

"Baby Reindeer" is a powerful — and eerily relatable — exploration of the complexities of empathy, trauma, guilt, and shame in modern relationships.

"Baby Reindeer" is a powerful — and eerily relatable — exploration of the complexities of empathy, trauma, guilt, and shame in modern relationships.

Motivation

7 Strategies to Make Change Stick

Joanna Hardis LISW-S on December 13, 2024 in Stop Worrying, Start Living

Despite what influencers promise, there are no quick fixes when it comes to sustainable behavioral change. These 7 tips can help jumpstart your goals for the months ahead.

Despite what influencers promise, there are no quick fixes when it comes to sustainable behavioral change. These 7 tips can help jumpstart your goals for the months ahead.

Dementia

Dementia's Tragic Promise

Matthew Clemente, Ph.D. and David Goodman, Ph.D. on December 13, 2024 in Our Human Condition

Personal Perspective: Watching another descend into dementia is torturous. Such experiences, however, can give rise to vital reflections.

Personal Perspective: Watching another descend into dementia is torturous. Such experiences, however, can give rise to vital reflections.

Resilience

Pets: Guardians of Our Well-Being

S. Fenella Das Gupta Ph.D., MFT on December 13, 2024 in Creating 2 Pink Lines

Discover how pets do more than keep us company—they actively participate in our emotional health through profound neurological and biochemical processes.

Discover how pets do more than keep us company—they actively participate in our emotional health through profound neurological and biochemical processes.

Bias

The Impacts of Anti-Black Racism in Psychology

The Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues on December 13, 2024 in Sound Science, Sound Policy

The field of psychology has a history of anti-Black racism that is sustained by Whiteness.

The field of psychology has a history of anti-Black racism that is sustained by Whiteness.

Cognition

How You Speak and What You Experience Are Related

Sally Augustin Ph.D. on December 13, 2024 in People, Places, and Things

There's more of a link between what you say and how you feel than you think.

There's more of a link between what you say and how you feel than you think.

Psychosis

Radical Acceptance Applied to Psychosis

Sarah Merritt Ryan on December 13, 2024 in Healing Mind

Personal Perspective: Psychosis and the collateral damage surrounding it make radical acceptance without judgment difficult. But it's possible.

Personal Perspective: Psychosis and the collateral damage surrounding it make radical acceptance without judgment difficult. But it's possible.

Environment

Human-Elephant Interaction in India

Ilan Kelman Ph.D. on December 13, 2024 in Disaster By Choice

Personal Perspective: A new podcast describes solastalgia, the adverse mental health impacts of a changing environment, on both humans and elephants in southern India.

Personal Perspective: A new podcast describes solastalgia, the adverse mental health impacts of a changing environment, on both humans and elephants in southern India.

Traumatic Brain Injury

From Bedridden to Walking to Running

Ragnar Purje Ph.D. on December 13, 2024 in Recovery From Brain Injury

Boxer John Famechon had been walking independently it was time to explore if he could run.

Boxer John Famechon had been walking independently it was time to explore if he could run.

Anxiety

When Anxiety Feeds on Itself

Carolyn Karoll LCSW-C, CEDS-C on December 13, 2024 in Eating Disorder Recovery

Feeling anxious about feeling anxious? Learn why this happens, how it affects you, and simple strategies to break free from the cycle.

Feeling anxious about feeling anxious? Learn why this happens, how it affects you, and simple strategies to break free from the cycle.

Self-Help

Do Some People Bring Out the Worst in You?

Steven Stosny, Ph.D. on December 13, 2024 in Anger in the Age of Entitlement

It’s hard not to be emotionally reactive in our polarized world. Reactivity lets that which we despise live rent-free in our heads.

It’s hard not to be emotionally reactive in our polarized world. Reactivity lets that which we despise live rent-free in our heads.

Consumer Behavior

The Psychological Drawbacks of Digital Comfort

Matt Johnson Ph.D. on December 13, 2024 in Mind, Brain, and Value

The digital world tends to conform to what we already enjoy. What are we missing when we avoid discomfort?

The digital world tends to conform to what we already enjoy. What are we missing when we avoid discomfort?

Alcoholism

The Power of Love in Alcohol Recovery

Greg O'Brien on December 13, 2024 in On Pluto

Alcohol abuse is among the leading cause of preventable death in the United States—more than opioids such as fentanyl.

Alcohol abuse is among the leading cause of preventable death in the United States—more than opioids such as fentanyl.

Career

Four Guidelines for Making Managerial Feedback Better

Bruce Tulgan, JD on December 13, 2024 in Navigating the New Workplace

What sets the best leaders apart from other managers is their ability to coach employees to improve performance. That means giving higher quality, actionable feedback.

What sets the best leaders apart from other managers is their ability to coach employees to improve performance. That means giving higher quality, actionable feedback.

Grief

Getting Through the Holidays After a Loss

Ken Druck Ph.D. on December 13, 2024 in How We Go On

Struggling through the holidays after a loss? Discover heartfelt insights and practical tips to find strength, compassion, and hope this season.

Struggling through the holidays after a loss? Discover heartfelt insights and practical tips to find strength, compassion, and hope this season.

Magical Thinking

Is Friday the 13th Really Unlucky?

Rafa Euba on December 13, 2024 in You Are Not Meant To Be Happy

It is sometimes difficult to accept the randomness of fortune. Here's why.

It is sometimes difficult to accept the randomness of fortune. Here's why.

Body Image

Body Image and Chronic Illness

Katie Willard Virant MSW, JD, LCSW on December 13, 2024 in Chronically Me

Chronic illness can negatively affect body image. Learn ways to work with these feelings, including a writing exercise designed to improve body image.

Chronic illness can negatively affect body image. Learn ways to work with these feelings, including a writing exercise designed to improve body image.

Cognition

Discover What’s Unique About Your Brain

Eric Haseltine Ph.D. on December 13, 2024 in Long Fuse, Big Bang

Learn how your inner world differs from that of other people

Learn how your inner world differs from that of other people

Relationships

2 Telltale Characteristics of a 'Lovebird' Relationship

Mark Travers Ph.D. on December 13, 2024 in Social Instincts

Are you and your partner just a couple, or are you true lovebirds? Here's how to tell.

Are you and your partner just a couple, or are you true lovebirds? Here's how to tell.

Friends

People Need People: We Are Communal Beings

Nick Morgan Ph.D. on December 13, 2024 in Communications That Matter

Humans need humans—and in some surprising ways. That’s the cumulative wisdom of many recent studies of our neurobiology.

Humans need humans—and in some surprising ways. That’s the cumulative wisdom of many recent studies of our neurobiology.

Philosophy

Mindedness Is to Psychology What Life Is to Biology

Gregg Henriques Ph.D. on December 13, 2024 in Theory of Knowledge

Psychological science has long struggled to effectively define its core subject matter. The concept of mindedness gives us a new, effective solution to this puzzle.

Psychological science has long struggled to effectively define its core subject matter. The concept of mindedness gives us a new, effective solution to this puzzle.

Domestic Violence

Women as Intimate Partner Violence Perpetrators

Anna Motz on December 13, 2024 in If Love Could Kill

Although women are generally viewed as victims of male aggression, they too can be the perpetrators of intimate partner violence. This challenges social stereotypes of women.

Although women are generally viewed as victims of male aggression, they too can be the perpetrators of intimate partner violence. This challenges social stereotypes of women.

Emotional Intelligence

The One Issue You’ll Spend Your Life On

Josh Gressel Ph.D. on December 13, 2024 in Putting Psyche Back Into Psychotherapy

There is one core issue we all grapple with that underlies all others. While we can improve it and lessen its effects, we will struggle with it throughout our lifetime.

There is one core issue we all grapple with that underlies all others. While we can improve it and lessen its effects, we will struggle with it throughout our lifetime.

Social Media

Is Social Media Making Us More Narcissistic?

Jennifer Gerlach LCSW on December 13, 2024 in Beyond Mental Health

Social media use can have tricky effects on self-esteem, narcissistic personality traits, and empathy. What can we do?

Social media use can have tricky effects on self-esteem, narcissistic personality traits, and empathy. What can we do?

Cross-Cultural Psychology

What People Say After Someone Dies

Judith Fein on December 13, 2024 in Life Is a Trip

A Personal Perspective: What people say at a funeral or memorial service may or may not be the whole truth.

A Personal Perspective: What people say at a funeral or memorial service may or may not be the whole truth.

Relationships

The Breakup Game

Joachim I. Krueger Ph.D. on December 12, 2024 in One Among Many

Rejecting a romantic breakup is fraught with risk and dysfunction. Game theory shows why.

Rejecting a romantic breakup is fraught with risk and dysfunction. Game theory shows why.