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

Resilience

My Grandmother Hummed and It May Have Saved Her Life

Arletha D. Lizana Ph.D., MPH, MBA on September 9, 2026 in Honoring Ancestral Wisdom

My grandmother hummed all day long. She was saving her own life. Old medicine, new science.

My grandmother hummed all day long. She was saving her own life. Old medicine, new science.

Caregiving

Managing Caregiver Grief

Julia L. Mayer, Psy.D., and Barry J. Jacobs, Psy.D. on September 9, 2026 in Caregiver Intel

Caregivers can struggle with complex, hidden grief that leads to overwhelming feelings. Processing the feelings helps them to feel better and closer to their care receiver.

Caregivers can struggle with complex, hidden grief that leads to overwhelming feelings. Processing the feelings helps them to feel better and closer to their care receiver.

Chronic Illness

The Power of Empathy in Medicine and Self-Care

John Tsilimparis MFT on September 9, 2026 in The Magic in the Tragic

Treating yourself with care is critical when navigating the isolation of chronic illness.

Treating yourself with care is critical when navigating the isolation of chronic illness.

Relationships

Do You Distance Regulate in Your Relationships?

Chris Tompkins LMFT on September 9, 2026 in LGBTQ Affirmative Psychology

Distance isn't always a sign that something is wrong. For some people, creating distance is a way of managing intimacy, vulnerability, and emotions.

Distance isn't always a sign that something is wrong. For some people, creating distance is a way of managing intimacy, vulnerability, and emotions.

Gender

The Unseen Aspects of the Female Archetypes of "The Odyssey"

Gillian O'Shea Brown LCSW, DSW on September 9, 2026 in Psyche's Awakening

While the film "The Odyssey" attempts to capture the grand scale of Greek mythology, it significantly flattens the psychological depth of its female characters.

While the film "The Odyssey" attempts to capture the grand scale of Greek mythology, it significantly flattens the psychological depth of its female characters.

Child Development

When Defiance Began to Mean Something Else

Sigifredo Castell Britton Ph.D. on September 9, 2026 in Emotional Origins of Violence

One former student challenged my understanding of ODD and changed the questions I ask when evaluating difficult behavior.

One former student challenged my understanding of ODD and changed the questions I ask when evaluating difficult behavior.

Mindfulness

You Won’t Know It Was the Last Time

Itai Ivtzan Ph.D. on September 9, 2026 in Mindfulness for Wellbeing

Personal Perspective: The ordinary moments with your child that you believe will happen again are often the ones you miss most. Learn how to notice them now.

Personal Perspective: The ordinary moments with your child that you believe will happen again are often the ones you miss most. Learn how to notice them now.

Artificial Intelligence

Psychology Is Preparing for Yesterday's AI

Marianne Brandon Ph.D. on September 9, 2026 in The Future of Intimacy

Personal Perspective: Therapists are beginning to talk about chatbots. I'm afraid we're already behind.

Personal Perspective: Therapists are beginning to talk about chatbots. I'm afraid we're already behind.

Happiness

Your Phone, On Purpose

Mark Bertin M.D. on September 9, 2026 in Child Development Central

Everyone seems to know they’d be happier if they were less attached to their phones, yet most of us struggle to make that happen. Here's why.

Everyone seems to know they’d be happier if they were less attached to their phones, yet most of us struggle to make that happen. Here's why.

Happiness

Are You Happy Being You?

Robert Taibbi L.C.S.W. on September 9, 2026 in Fixing Families

Time to step back and assess the state of you: Are you happy being you? If not, here are four common sources and their antidotes.

Time to step back and assess the state of you: Are you happy being you? If not, here are four common sources and their antidotes.

Emotion Regulation

A Simple Way to Get Over Disappointment Faster

Guy Winch Ph.D. on September 9, 2026 in The Squeaky Wheel

Disappointment can stay with you longer than it should. This mental time-travel exercise can help you get unstuck.

Disappointment can stay with you longer than it should. This mental time-travel exercise can help you get unstuck.

Artificial Intelligence

Can AI Have Conscious Experiences?

Joseph E LeDoux Ph.D. on September 9, 2026 in I Got a Mind to Tell You

AI is the hottest game in town, but it is not new. The big question is "can it be programmed to be conscious?" That logic misunderstands both the brain and consciousness.

AI is the hottest game in town, but it is not new. The big question is "can it be programmed to be conscious?" That logic misunderstands both the brain and consciousness.

Mind Reading

Why "Mind Reading" Is Coming for Psychedelic Neuroscience

Conor H. Murray Ph.D. on September 9, 2026 in Psychedelic Neuroscience

An inner space race: Reconstructing altered states of consciousness using psychedelics and other consciousness-modifying techniques to study the mind.

An inner space race: Reconstructing altered states of consciousness using psychedelics and other consciousness-modifying techniques to study the mind.

Near-Death Experiences

Near-Death Experiences and the Grief No One Names

Mark Shelvock, RP, MACP, MA on September 9, 2026 in Navigating the Serpentine Path

This is why coming back changed from a near-death experience can mean losing a shared reality.

This is why coming back changed from a near-death experience can mean losing a shared reality.

Happiness

What Happiness Frameworks Keep Getting Wrong

Laura Bilbao Broch MSc on September 9, 2026 in Cell on the Self

Freud tells you why. CBT tells you how. Buddhism tells you to let go. But none, one expert argues, tell you whether what you’re doing right now will make you happier later.

Freud tells you why. CBT tells you how. Buddhism tells you to let go. But none, one expert argues, tell you whether what you’re doing right now will make you happier later.

Habit Formation

Why It's So Hard to Change

Frank Spinelli M.D. on September 9, 2026 in Decoding Shame

Change, even when it's necessary or good for us, rarely feels that way in the moment. Our brains perceive uncertainty as a threat, which activates the fight-or-flight response.

Change, even when it's necessary or good for us, rarely feels that way in the moment. Our brains perceive uncertainty as a threat, which activates the fight-or-flight response.

Divorce

Supporting Your Parents Through Divorce as an Adult

Elise Buie Esq. on September 9, 2026 in The Heart of the Matter

As an adult, your parents’ divorce can change your role in the family. There are ways to support them without becoming their therapist, mediator, or emotional safety net.

As an adult, your parents’ divorce can change your role in the family. There are ways to support them without becoming their therapist, mediator, or emotional safety net.

Parenting

Parent Guilt: Finding a Part to Play Without Feeling Blamed

Jenny Brown, Ph.D. on September 9, 2026 in The Paradoxical Path of Parental Differentiation

Parents don’t need more guilt. But neither do they need to be positioned as having no part to play to help. A family systems lens offers a pathway from blame to agency and hope.

Parents don’t need more guilt. But neither do they need to be positioned as having no part to play to help. A family systems lens offers a pathway from blame to agency and hope.

Addiction

Knowing What You Are Up Against in Your Own Self

Peg O'Connor Ph.D. on September 9, 2026 in Philosophy Stirred, Not Shaken

When we look deep inside ourselves, we often encounter fun house mirrors. Self-knowledge is in part seeing the distortions they cause.

When we look deep inside ourselves, we often encounter fun house mirrors. Self-knowledge is in part seeing the distortions they cause.

Consumer Behavior

Ambience Is a Key to the Perfect Shopping Experience

Cathrine V. Jansson-Boyd Ph.D. on September 9, 2026 in Consumer Psychology

Many shoppers prefer store ambience, and it can alter consumer behaviour.

Many shoppers prefer store ambience, and it can alter consumer behaviour.

Child Development

Support or Rescue: What Does the Nervous System Need?

Claire Lerner LCSW-C on September 9, 2026 in Zero to Six

The question isn’t “Does this child have a diagnosis?” but “What can they handle right now?” Confusing the two can lead parents of neurodivergent kids to over-accommodate.

The question isn’t “Does this child have a diagnosis?” but “What can they handle right now?” Confusing the two can lead parents of neurodivergent kids to over-accommodate.

Gratitude

Until It’s Gone: Escaping the Trap of Habituation

Karima Joy MSW, RSW, Ph.D. on September 8, 2026 in Permission to Be Human

Why does it take losing something to see it more clearly? One ancient Egyptian goddess got so tired of being overlooked that she left and took the rain with her.

Why does it take losing something to see it more clearly? One ancient Egyptian goddess got so tired of being overlooked that she left and took the rain with her.

Misophonia

Misophonia Has Its Own Neural Signature

Jennifer J. Brout Psy.D, LPC on September 8, 2026 in Noises Off

Dr. Hansen discusses her research, which supports the notion that misophonia is a stand-alone disorder with a unique neural signature.

Dr. Hansen discusses her research, which supports the notion that misophonia is a stand-alone disorder with a unique neural signature.

Midlife

Benzodiazepines, Kratom, and the Search for Relief in Midlife

Mountainside Treatment Center on September 8, 2026 in From Addiction to Recovery

What happens when treating anxiety becomes more about quieting symptoms than understanding what is driving them?

What happens when treating anxiety becomes more about quieting symptoms than understanding what is driving them?

Stress

Why Everything Feels Like Too Much

Melissa J. Perry Sc.D. on September 8, 2026 in The Mindful Epidemiologist

Overwhelm is not always about having too much to do. It may come from trying to carry too much of the world at once. Here’s how to make life feel smaller.

Overwhelm is not always about having too much to do. It may come from trying to carry too much of the world at once. Here’s how to make life feel smaller.

Education

Tuning In to Joy and Finding the Spark

Sara Leila Sherman, M.M., and Morton Sherman Ph.D. on September 8, 2026 in Resonant Minds

Engaging with drama, art, and music unlocks joy, expanding cognitive horizons and building lifelong resilience.

Engaging with drama, art, and music unlocks joy, expanding cognitive horizons and building lifelong resilience.

Suicide

"Black People Don't Hang Themselves" Is Both Right and Wrong

Isha W. Metzger Ph.D., LCP on September 8, 2026 in Black and Empowered

This Suicide Prevention Month, the truth is more nuanced and more urgent than the headlines and our response.

This Suicide Prevention Month, the truth is more nuanced and more urgent than the headlines and our response.

Relationships

Stuck in a Relationship Rut?

Cortney S. Warren PhD, ABPP on September 8, 2026 in Naked Truth

Feeling bored with your long-term mate? Asking questions that acknowledge the inevitability of growth and change may help spark connection and fun.

Feeling bored with your long-term mate? Asking questions that acknowledge the inevitability of growth and change may help spark connection and fun.

Relationships

Choosing Yourself Can Strengthen Bonds With Others

Paul J Dunion Ed.D. on September 8, 2026 in The Secular Mystic Path

We claim to appreciate freedom and the ability to choose, yet we often fail to choose ourselves. Attending to our own needs can improve our relationships with ourselves and others.

We claim to appreciate freedom and the ability to choose, yet we often fail to choose ourselves. Attending to our own needs can improve our relationships with ourselves and others.