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

Fear

We'll Do Anything to Avoid Conflict, Even Lose Friends

Nancy Colier LCSW, Rev. on May 14, 2025 in Inviting a Monkey to Tea

Personal Perspective: We're afraid of conflict, and so we avoid the hard conversations, but it doesn't help.

Personal Perspective: We're afraid of conflict, and so we avoid the hard conversations, but it doesn't help.

Workplace Dynamics

How Different Thinking Styles Drive Unbeatable Resilience

Ed Thompson on May 14, 2025 in A Hidden Force

Embracing cognitive diversity transforms crisis response and helps organizations detect threats earlier, overcome groupthink, and successfully meet complex challenges.

Embracing cognitive diversity transforms crisis response and helps organizations detect threats earlier, overcome groupthink, and successfully meet complex challenges.

Habit Formation

The Myth of Maintenance

Kyle Emanuel Brown on May 14, 2025 in Total Self-Trust

There’s no such thing as standing still. Discover why “maintenance” is a myth, and how to stay energized, aligned, and evolving before silent erosion takes over.

There’s no such thing as standing still. Discover why “maintenance” is a myth, and how to stay energized, aligned, and evolving before silent erosion takes over.

Social Media

TikTok Therapy? The Pros and Cons of Social Media Psychology

Adi Jaffe Ph.D. on May 14, 2025 in All About Addiction

Social media therapy is booming—but while TikTok and Instagram offer accessible mental health tips, they also risk spreading misinformation and promoting self-diagnosis.

Social media therapy is booming—but while TikTok and Instagram offer accessible mental health tips, they also risk spreading misinformation and promoting self-diagnosis.

Imposter Syndrome

How Envy and Perfectionism Help Sustain Imposter Syndrome

Leon Garber LMHC on May 14, 2025 in Perfectionism

Imposter syndrome is often based on idealization and envy, believing that others in an important group are perfect while you're far from it.

Imposter syndrome is often based on idealization and envy, believing that others in an important group are perfect while you're far from it.

Workplace Dynamics

Speak Up: Respectful Rebels Welcome

Deborah Grayson Riegel MSW, PCC on May 14, 2025 in Speak Easy

Disagreement, when done right, can be your secret weapon for better decisions and stronger relationships.

Disagreement, when done right, can be your secret weapon for better decisions and stronger relationships.

Career

Should I Do a Gap Year?

Gary R Simonds MD MS FAANS on May 14, 2025 in Rich Encounters

Personal Perspective: "Gap years" afford students a chance to bolster their resilience and wellness prior to facing the demands of professional training and careers.

Personal Perspective: "Gap years" afford students a chance to bolster their resilience and wellness prior to facing the demands of professional training and careers.

Education

The Letter Every Mentor Hopes to Receive

Deborah Heiser Ph.D. on May 14, 2025 in The Right Side of 40

Personal Perspective: A former student’s heartfelt letter reveals how mentorship shapes not just the mentee’s path but the mentor’s legacy, purpose, and sense of lasting impact.

Personal Perspective: A former student’s heartfelt letter reveals how mentorship shapes not just the mentee’s path but the mentor’s legacy, purpose, and sense of lasting impact.

Forgiveness

Which Protects You Better: Anger or Forgiveness?

Robert Enright Ph.D. on May 14, 2025 in The Forgiving Life

When treated unfairly by others, we sometimes get angry and sometimes forgive. Given that both anger and forgiveness can benefit the one mistreated, which should we choose?

When treated unfairly by others, we sometimes get angry and sometimes forgive. Given that both anger and forgiveness can benefit the one mistreated, which should we choose?

Marriage

3 Dangers of the One-Way-Mirror Mindset in Marriage

Mark Travers Ph.D. on May 14, 2025 in Social Instincts

The line between privacy and emotional unavailability in marriage is very fine.

The line between privacy and emotional unavailability in marriage is very fine.

Relationships

The Key to Strong Relationships (It’s Not What You Think)

Kyle Davies BSc MPhil CPsychol on May 14, 2025 in The Mind-Body Link

You can't connect deeply with others if you’re disconnected from yourself. Here's the surprising truth about what strong relationships are really built on.

You can't connect deeply with others if you’re disconnected from yourself. Here's the surprising truth about what strong relationships are really built on.

Workplace Dynamics

How Workers and Bosses View Performance Differently

Victor Lipman MBA on May 14, 2025 in Mind of the Manager

Management usually feels its operations are considerably more effective than employees do.

Management usually feels its operations are considerably more effective than employees do.

Autism

The Identity Arc Behind Our Neurodivergent Responses

Megan A. Neff Psy.D. on May 14, 2025 in The Neurodivergent Psychologist

Ever wonder why neurodivergent people respond so differently to harm—even within the community? Here's a framework for understanding those responses with compassion.

Ever wonder why neurodivergent people respond so differently to harm—even within the community? Here's a framework for understanding those responses with compassion.

Burnout

Why High Achievers Miss the Warning Signs of Burnout

Marlynn Wei M.D., J.D. on May 14, 2025 in Urban Survival

Most high-achieving professionals do not recognize they are burned out until it is too late. Here are the warning signs of burnout and how therapy can help.

Most high-achieving professionals do not recognize they are burned out until it is too late. Here are the warning signs of burnout and how therapy can help.

Relationships

The Huge Red Flag That No One Talks About

Isabelle Morley Psy.D. on May 14, 2025 in Love Them or Leave Them

Red flags aren’t always deal-breakers. Sometimes, they’re just signs of where growth begins.

Red flags aren’t always deal-breakers. Sometimes, they’re just signs of where growth begins.

Executive Function

Wired for Success: Your Brain’s Executive Functioning

Damian Salas MBA on May 14, 2025 in Pioneering Perspectives on Workplace Mental Health

Beyond passion and persistence: An overlooked mental framework that determines business outcomes, and why nobody’s talking about it.

Beyond passion and persistence: An overlooked mental framework that determines business outcomes, and why nobody’s talking about it.

ADHD

Why ADHD Makes You Freeze Under Pressure

Ugochukwu Uche MS.,LPC on May 14, 2025 in Promoting Empathy With Your Teen

The ADHD freeze response makes starting tasks feel impossible. Learn why it happens and how small steps and support can help you get unstuck.

The ADHD freeze response makes starting tasks feel impossible. Learn why it happens and how small steps and support can help you get unstuck.

Self-Help

How Side Door Successes Shape Us

Alice Boyes Ph.D. on May 14, 2025 in In Practice

8 reflection questions to understand how persistence, chance, and curiosity have changed you.

8 reflection questions to understand how persistence, chance, and curiosity have changed you.

Emotional Abuse

When Love Hurts: Identifying Emotional Manipulation

Berit Brogaard D.M.Sci., Ph.D on May 14, 2025 in The Mysteries of Love

Discover the hidden moves—like silent celebrations and reverse gaslighting—that slowly erode self‑worth, and learn research‑backed steps to break free.

Discover the hidden moves—like silent celebrations and reverse gaslighting—that slowly erode self‑worth, and learn research‑backed steps to break free.

Education

How to Help High Schoolers Succeed in College Courses

Ross E O'Hara, Ph.D. on May 14, 2025 in Nudging Ahead

More high school students than ever are taking dual-enrolled college courses. Here are three mindsets they must adopt to succeed in their classes and earn a postsecondary degree.

More high school students than ever are taking dual-enrolled college courses. Here are three mindsets they must adopt to succeed in their classes and earn a postsecondary degree.

Personal Perspectives

Meeting People Where They Are At

Robert Castellano M.S. on May 14, 2025 in The Humanistic Explorer

Personal Perspective: Sometimes meeting a person where they're at when you don't necessarily agree can be easier said than done.

Personal Perspective: Sometimes meeting a person where they're at when you don't necessarily agree can be easier said than done.

Child Development

Why Some Kids Won’t Talk

Sam Goldstein Ph.D. on May 14, 2025 in Raising Resilient Children

Kids with DMDD don’t talk because they can’t predict or explain their outbursts. We must change how we listen.

Kids with DMDD don’t talk because they can’t predict or explain their outbursts. We must change how we listen.

Memory

Your Brain's Built-In LEAN System

Sharon Grossman, Ph.D. on May 14, 2025 in The Burnout Solution

What if you could optimize your productivity using tools you already have in your head? Here's how working memory acts like a built-in LEAN system.

What if you could optimize your productivity using tools you already have in your head? Here's how working memory acts like a built-in LEAN system.

Grief

The Dead Mother Complex

Santiago Delboy MBA, LCSW on May 14, 2025 in Relationships Healing Relationships

The absence of an emotionally absent maternal figure can impact our sense of self, relationships, and emotions, leading to loss, longing, and struggles in intimacy and identity.

The absence of an emotionally absent maternal figure can impact our sense of self, relationships, and emotions, leading to loss, longing, and struggles in intimacy and identity.

Animal Behavior

Canine Bliss: Creating Moments That Matter for Our Dogs

Jessica Pierce Ph.D. on May 14, 2025 in All Dogs Go to Heaven

Joy doesn’t need to be big or complicated. With small daily practices, you can bring more happiness into your dog’s life, starting today. Let’s make joy a habit.

Joy doesn’t need to be big or complicated. With small daily practices, you can bring more happiness into your dog’s life, starting today. Let’s make joy a habit.

Personal Perspectives

Childlessness Is Not Selfishness

Maggie Rowe on May 14, 2025 in Bodhisattva Wannabe

Personal Perspective: I've heard women say, "I'm too selfish to have kids." I chose not to have children, and not because I'm too selfish.

Personal Perspective: I've heard women say, "I'm too selfish to have kids." I chose not to have children, and not because I'm too selfish.

Relationships

How to Make Your Spouse Fall in Love With You

Wendy L. Patrick, J.D., M.Div., Ph.D. on May 14, 2025 in Why Bad Looks Good

Couples can recapture romance by refocusing their attention—on each other.

Couples can recapture romance by refocusing their attention—on each other.

Law and Crime

Anatomy of a Failed Insanity Plea

Joni E Johnston Psy.D. on May 14, 2025 in The Human Equation

Jurors are understandably skeptical of insanity pleas; so are true crime fans. But what about the psychologists who testify? How do they decide if a defendant is insane or acting?

Jurors are understandably skeptical of insanity pleas; so are true crime fans. But what about the psychologists who testify? How do they decide if a defendant is insane or acting?

Artificial Intelligence

Why Art Collectors Need Dataland

Shirley M. Mueller M.D. on May 14, 2025 in The Mind of a Collector

Dedicating a museum to AI-generated art forces us to confront a central psychological puzzle: What is creativity?

Dedicating a museum to AI-generated art forces us to confront a central psychological puzzle: What is creativity?