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

Media

Hollywood Is Dead: We Must Fight to Save the True Magic

Mike Brooks Ph.D. on March 14, 2026 in Tech Happy Life

Personal Perspective: In 1977, I saw "Star Wars" in a packed theater, where our collective jaws dropped. AI just killed what made that possible, but we can fight to save the magic.

Personal Perspective: In 1977, I saw "Star Wars" in a packed theater, where our collective jaws dropped. AI just killed what made that possible, but we can fight to save the magic.

Perfectionism

'Inside the Manosphere' Reveals the Turmoil of Self-Esteem

Leon Garber LMHC on March 14, 2026 in Perfectionism

A new documentary highlights the dangers of fixating on self-esteem and social ranking, revealing the contradictions, delusions, and emotional struggles inherent in their pursuit.

A new documentary highlights the dangers of fixating on self-esteem and social ranking, revealing the contradictions, delusions, and emotional struggles inherent in their pursuit.

Family Dynamics

A Conversation With Eamon Dolan on 'The Power of Parting'

Duygu Balan LPCC on March 14, 2026 in Un-Numb

Finding peace and freedom through family estrangement.

Finding peace and freedom through family estrangement.

Boundaries

Why Setting Boundaries Triggers Guilt and Anxiety

Jennifer Guttman Psy.D. on March 14, 2026 in Sustainable Life Satisfaction

Many people avoid setting boundaries because they fear rejection. In reality, clear limits often lead to stronger, healthier relationships.

Many people avoid setting boundaries because they fear rejection. In reality, clear limits often lead to stronger, healthier relationships.

Ethics and Morality

What Should You Say to Anti-Vaxxers to Keep Us All Healthy?

Robert Klitzman M.D. on March 14, 2026 in Am I My Genes?

By fighting vaccine policies, anti-vaxxers are causing outbreaks of disease, endangering countless people. Here is what you can do to help our nation's health.

By fighting vaccine policies, anti-vaxxers are causing outbreaks of disease, endangering countless people. Here is what you can do to help our nation's health.

Emotions

Emotions Are Facts: Why Therapy Requires Talking About Them

Daniel Marston Ph.D. on March 14, 2026 in Comparatively Speaking

You cannot expect therapy to work while avoiding emotions. Therapy begins with the facts of how you think and feel, and then helps you decide what to do with those facts.

You cannot expect therapy to work while avoiding emotions. Therapy begins with the facts of how you think and feel, and then helps you decide what to do with those facts.

Health

Rest and Chronic Illness

Katie Willard Virant MSW, JD, LCSW on March 14, 2026 in Chronically Me

Managing chronic illness fatigue requires maximizing rest. Learn more about how to improve the quality of your rest.

Managing chronic illness fatigue requires maximizing rest. Learn more about how to improve the quality of your rest.

Depression

The Atheist's Guide to Surviving End Times

Ira Israel LMFT on March 14, 2026 in Authenticity 101

Personal Perspective: A chaotic world does not relieve us of responsibility; instead, it makes our small, local responsibilities more impactful and important.

Personal Perspective: A chaotic world does not relieve us of responsibility; instead, it makes our small, local responsibilities more impactful and important.

Intelligence

The Evolution of Brain and Intelligence

Joachim I. Krueger Ph.D. on March 14, 2026 in One Among Many

Over evolutionary time, humans had to find food and social connection. Both shaped brain and mind.

Over evolutionary time, humans had to find food and social connection. Both shaped brain and mind.

Child Development

When Shame Becomes the Seed of Violence

Sigifredo Castell Britton Ph.D. on March 14, 2026 in Emotional Origins of Violence

Behind a child’s aggression, there is often humiliation and silent struggle. One boy’s story shows how early attention can change a life.

Behind a child’s aggression, there is often humiliation and silent struggle. One boy’s story shows how early attention can change a life.

Wisdom

May Confusion Dawn As Wisdom

Maggie Rowe on March 14, 2026 in Bodhisattva Wannabe

I've chanted the Buddhist aspiration "May confusion dawn as wisdom" for many years. Now, I think I'm starting to understand it.

I've chanted the Buddhist aspiration "May confusion dawn as wisdom" for many years. Now, I think I'm starting to understand it.

Growth Mindset

Creating Our Own Luck: 4 Ideas for Taking Decisive Action

Sandra Wartski Psy.D. on March 14, 2026 in Mindful Metaphors

Rather than over-relying on "luck" and happenstance, choosing to take decisive action in directing our lives is what will ultimately assist in success.

Rather than over-relying on "luck" and happenstance, choosing to take decisive action in directing our lives is what will ultimately assist in success.

Wisdom

Ideas We Aren’t Ready to Understand—Yet

Michiko Kimura Bruno M.D. on March 13, 2026 in Breaking Good

Not understanding is not a weakness. It is an opportunity. Instead of cataloguing what you understood, start collecting what you didn’t. In time, lightning may strike you.

Not understanding is not a weakness. It is an opportunity. Instead of cataloguing what you understood, start collecting what you didn’t. In time, lightning may strike you.

Anxiety

When Anxiety Comes Out as Irritability

Santiago Delboy MBA, LCSW on March 13, 2026 in Relationships Healing Relationships

When anxiety hides behind irritability, anger becomes a mask for fear, need, and vulnerability. Therapy helps trace these signals back to their emotional roots.

When anxiety hides behind irritability, anger becomes a mask for fear, need, and vulnerability. Therapy helps trace these signals back to their emotional roots.

Psychosis

Can a Ketogenic Diet "Cure" Schizophrenia?

Matthew M. Kurtz Ph.D. on March 13, 2026 in Novel Approaches

Can the right diet "cure" schizophrenia? Despite provocative case studies, research to date indicates we do not know.

Can the right diet "cure" schizophrenia? Despite provocative case studies, research to date indicates we do not know.

Consciousness

How Does the Brain Know Itself?

Grant Hilary Brenner MD, DFAPA on March 13, 2026 in ExperiMentations

The mechanisms of subjective experience—what we understand, what we don't, and why it matters more than ever.

The mechanisms of subjective experience—what we understand, what we don't, and why it matters more than ever.

Relationships

Are You Being Held In Your Relationship?

Keven Duffy LCSW on March 13, 2026 in The Subplot

D.W. Winnicott’s holding environment theory offers insights into enduring and secure adult relationships.

D.W. Winnicott’s holding environment theory offers insights into enduring and secure adult relationships.

Friends

How the In-Between Helps Men Make Friends

Jarie Bolander on March 13, 2026 in The Male Friendship Experience

Modern life has all but destroyed the one sure-fire way for men to make friends, and we need to save it.

Modern life has all but destroyed the one sure-fire way for men to make friends, and we need to save it.

Family Dynamics

When Your Body Pays the Price of Family Belonging

Annie Wright LMFT on March 13, 2026 in Making the Whole Beautiful

The loneliness of outgrowing your origins shows up in your body long before your mind catches up. Here's how to stop abandoning yourself to maintain connection.

The loneliness of outgrowing your origins shows up in your body long before your mind catches up. Here's how to stop abandoning yourself to maintain connection.

Career

Envisioning Retirement: Reinvention, Redefinition, Clarity

Gina Barreca Ph.D. on March 13, 2026 in Snow White Doesn't Live Here Anymore

How deeply is your identity rooted in your work? Will you work once you retire?

How deeply is your identity rooted in your work? Will you work once you retire?

Therapy

Why Men Need Therapists Who Aren’t Afraid of Them

Thomas W Jefferys Ph.D. on March 13, 2026 in The Long Way In

Many men avoid therapy not because they refuse to talk, but because they quickly sense when the therapist cannot handle the truth they carry.

Many men avoid therapy not because they refuse to talk, but because they quickly sense when the therapist cannot handle the truth they carry.

Forgiveness

The Trouble with Review Bombing

Moses Ma on March 13, 2026 in The Tao of Innovation

Why are shows like Starfleet Academy and Shrinking flooded with one-star reviews? The answer may reveal less about television—and more about the psychology of culture wars.

Why are shows like Starfleet Academy and Shrinking flooded with one-star reviews? The answer may reveal less about television—and more about the psychology of culture wars.

Mindfulness

Another Holiday Dinner, Another Political Meltdown?

Mark Horowitz Ph.D. on March 13, 2026 in Post-Tribal

Recognizing that our political “opponents” emote differently—that they are different people—helps build grounds for constructive dialogue or (at least) begrudging compromise.

Recognizing that our political “opponents” emote differently—that they are different people—helps build grounds for constructive dialogue or (at least) begrudging compromise.

Bullying

William Shatner Shows the Way for Name Ridicule

Izzy Kalman on March 13, 2026 in Resilience to Bullying

The funny Super Bowl commercial starring William Shatner is valuable for illustrating how to healthily embrace jokes about one's name.

The funny Super Bowl commercial starring William Shatner is valuable for illustrating how to healthily embrace jokes about one's name.

Motivation

Intrinsic Motivation Helped Alysa Liu Win Gold

Kelly Chen MD on March 13, 2026 in Strategy in Stride

Explore the psychology behind intrinsic motivation and how anyone can learn to recognize and cultivate sustainable motivation.

Explore the psychology behind intrinsic motivation and how anyone can learn to recognize and cultivate sustainable motivation.

Therapy

Has Therapy Felt Useless? You May Have Been Misunderstood

Karyn Hall Ph.D. on March 13, 2026 in Pieces of Mind

If you've been told to "open up more," and "show your feelings," you may be someone who is overcontrolled. That changes everything about what therapy works for you.

If you've been told to "open up more," and "show your feelings," you may be someone who is overcontrolled. That changes everything about what therapy works for you.

ADHD

Needed: Providers Who Can Diagnose and Treat Adult ADHD

Russell Ramsay, Ph.D., ABPP on March 13, 2026 in Rethinking Adult ADHD

Adult ADHD has been the second most common adult psychiatric diagnosis for many years. But it sure does not seem like adults with ADHD can find specialized care.

Adult ADHD has been the second most common adult psychiatric diagnosis for many years. But it sure does not seem like adults with ADHD can find specialized care.

Social Life

Gossip, Power, and the Stories We Tell

Jennifer Verdolin Ph.D. on March 13, 2026 in Wild Connections

Before dismissing gossip as harmful, consider how it helps humans track trust, reputation, and cooperation.

Before dismissing gossip as harmful, consider how it helps humans track trust, reputation, and cooperation.

Adverse Childhood Experiences

When Protection Becomes Punishment

Rupinder K. Legha M.D. on March 13, 2026 in Protective Care

Mandated reporter training often tells clinicians to report first and ask questions later. But support—not surveillance—is what actually keeps families safe.

Mandated reporter training often tells clinicians to report first and ask questions later. But support—not surveillance—is what actually keeps families safe.