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

Attention

Stop Measuring and Start Living!

Mel Schwartz L.C.S.W. on April 24, 2025 in A Shift of Mind

Our compulsion to measure and rank keeps us from being present for ourselves and others.—and, often, from doing our best.

Our compulsion to measure and rank keeps us from being present for ourselves and others.—and, often, from doing our best.

Suicide

What Happens When a 10-Year-Old Dies by Suicide?

JoAnn Stevelos, MS, MPH on April 24, 2025 in Children at the Table

A 10-year-old’s suicide is not just a tragedy—it’s a call to change how we teach, care for, and protect our children. Let’s refuse to look away.

A 10-year-old’s suicide is not just a tragedy—it’s a call to change how we teach, care for, and protect our children. Let’s refuse to look away.

Child Development

Is AI Ruining Your Kid's Critical Thinking?

Ali Shehab on April 24, 2025 in The Human Algorithm

AI tools provide easy answers, potentially hindering kids' critical analysis and problem-solving skills. Learn how to guide them to use AI wisely and build crucial thinking skills.

AI tools provide easy answers, potentially hindering kids' critical analysis and problem-solving skills. Learn how to guide them to use AI wisely and build crucial thinking skills.

Memory

Why You Forget So Much of What You Just Learned

Ruth Gotian Ed.D., M.S. on April 24, 2025 in Optimizing Success

We forget up to 90 percent of what we learn within a week. But it doesn’t have to be that way. You can beat the forgetting curve and make your learning stick—for good.

We forget up to 90 percent of what we learn within a week. But it doesn’t have to be that way. You can beat the forgetting curve and make your learning stick—for good.

Resilience

8 Surprising Strategies for Boosting Your Resilience

Georgia Witkin Ph.D. on April 24, 2025 in The Chronicles of Infertility

Discover eight science-backed resilience techniques to help transform stress and hardship into growth.

Discover eight science-backed resilience techniques to help transform stress and hardship into growth.

Resilience

How to Grow Kids Into Happy, Resilient Adults

Jer Clifton Ph.D. on April 24, 2025 in Primal World Beliefs Unpacked

A study in eight countries suggests steps any parent can take to help shape their children into resilient adults who see the world as a positive place.

A study in eight countries suggests steps any parent can take to help shape their children into resilient adults who see the world as a positive place.

Cognition

The Dangers of Magical Thinking

Leon F Seltzer PhD on April 24, 2025 in Evolution of the Self

However arbitrarily, we often believe that our knowledge of how life operates offers us power over it—that we can defend ourselves against any adversity that might arise.

However arbitrarily, we often believe that our knowledge of how life operates offers us power over it—that we can defend ourselves against any adversity that might arise.

Motivation

How to Build Hope in Troubled Times

Diane E Dreher Ph.D. on April 24, 2025 in Your Personal Renaissance

If today's distressing news is dragging you down, you can increase your positivity by building hope.

If today's distressing news is dragging you down, you can increase your positivity by building hope.

Stress

A Tool for Self-Treating Psychological Paper Cuts

Alice Boyes Ph.D. on April 24, 2025 in In Practice

This simple strategy gets a little boost from AI to help you deal with everyday emotional scrapes that sting.

This simple strategy gets a little boost from AI to help you deal with everyday emotional scrapes that sting.

Highly Sensitive Person

How to Ease Pain by Expanding and Contracting Our Awareness

Elaine N. Aron Ph.D. on April 24, 2025 in The Highly Sensitive Person

Maintain emotional balance by learning to move between contracted states (like intense focus or emotional pain) and expansive states that offer relaxation and perspective.

Maintain emotional balance by learning to move between contracted states (like intense focus or emotional pain) and expansive states that offer relaxation and perspective.

Media

How Local News Can Deliver an Essential Defense of Science

Susan A. Nolan, Ph.D., and Michael Kimball on April 24, 2025 in Misinformation Desk

By supporting local news and promoting the value of their work, researchers and students can bolster a tool for defending science.

By supporting local news and promoting the value of their work, researchers and students can bolster a tool for defending science.

Personality

The Introvert-Extravert Flip-Flop

Ronald E. Riggio Ph.D. on April 24, 2025 in Cutting-Edge Leadership

Why are we sometimes introverted and sometimes extraverted?

Why are we sometimes introverted and sometimes extraverted?

Family Dynamics

2 Hidden Factors That Contribute to Family Estrangement

Fern Schumer Chapman on April 24, 2025 in Brothers, Sisters, Strangers

Abuse, mental illness, spousal pressure, and divorce can be factors that contribute to estrangement, but two other key drivers should also be acknowledged.

Abuse, mental illness, spousal pressure, and divorce can be factors that contribute to estrangement, but two other key drivers should also be acknowledged.

Therapy

Straight A’s Don’t Matter if Your Child Is Suffering

Jeffrey Bernstein Ph.D. on April 24, 2025 in Liking the Child You Love

A+ grades won’t save a struggling mind—therapy can.

A+ grades won’t save a struggling mind—therapy can.

Cross-Cultural Psychology

Talking With Your Asian Child About Mental Health

Eugene Beresin M.D., M.A. on April 24, 2025 in Inside Out, Outside In

Every culture has different views and approaches to mental health. We consider Asian American families and advise on how to address barriers preventing talking with kids.

Every culture has different views and approaches to mental health. We consider Asian American families and advise on how to address barriers preventing talking with kids.

Cognition

The Hidden Cost of Overthinking

Kyle Davies BSc MPhil CPsychol on April 24, 2025 in The Mind-Body Link

Stuck in a thought spiral? It’s not about fixing your thoughts; it’s about feeling your way back to clarity. Here’s how.

Stuck in a thought spiral? It’s not about fixing your thoughts; it’s about feeling your way back to clarity. Here’s how.

Artificial Intelligence

Will AI Companions and Therapists Transform Psychotherapy?

Marianne Brandon Ph.D. on April 24, 2025 in The Future of Intimacy

Why the rise of AI companions and therapists is set to profoundly disrupt psychotherapy, even if most clients will always prefer a human therapist.

Why the rise of AI companions and therapists is set to profoundly disrupt psychotherapy, even if most clients will always prefer a human therapist.

Empathy

The Empathy-Compassion Gap

Jordan Quaglia Ph.D. on April 24, 2025 in Science-Backed Compassion

We often assume empathy is always good. But neuroscience tells a more nuanced—and potentially life-changing—story.

We often assume empathy is always good. But neuroscience tells a more nuanced—and potentially life-changing—story.

Parenting

I Started Doing Less as a Parent

Tiffany Moon M.D. on April 24, 2025

Personal Perspective: Doing less made me a better mom and leader.

Personal Perspective: Doing less made me a better mom and leader.

Relationships

How to Avoid Major Conflicts With Your Partner

Elizabeth Earnshaw, MA, LMFT, CGT on April 24, 2025 in The Relationship Realist

When a conversation gets heated, it's important to "keep it warm" instead. In this post, I show you how.

When a conversation gets heated, it's important to "keep it warm" instead. In this post, I show you how.

Workplace Dynamics

The Soft Skills Dilemma for Gen Z in the Workplace

Nathan Iverson Ph.D. on April 24, 2025 in The Evolving Workforce

Gen Z excels technically but may lack some crucial soft skills.

Gen Z excels technically but may lack some crucial soft skills.

Deception

When "Doing Something" Is Worse Than Doing Nothing

Krista K. Thomason Ph.D. on April 24, 2025 in Dancing With the Devil

In times of political instability, we're desperate to try to do something. But the urge to do something might just be a refusal to let ourselves feel powerless.

In times of political instability, we're desperate to try to do something. But the urge to do something might just be a refusal to let ourselves feel powerless.

Workplace Dynamics

A Surprising Link Between Better Teams and This Ancient Ritual

Ryan Jenkins CSP on April 24, 2025 in The Case for Connection

What if the secret to stronger teams isn’t in strategy, but in celebration? This ancient ritual holds the clue.

What if the secret to stronger teams isn’t in strategy, but in celebration? This ancient ritual holds the clue.

Education

How to Bolster Belonging in an Hour or Less

Kim Samuel on April 24, 2025 in The Power of Belonging

"Wise interventions" have been shown to help people quickly overcome feelings of social isolation. They could point a way forward in an age of DEI backlash.

"Wise interventions" have been shown to help people quickly overcome feelings of social isolation. They could point a way forward in an age of DEI backlash.

Relationships

How We're Losing Ourselves in a World of Shallow Perfection

Camille Preston Ph.D. on April 24, 2025 in Mental Health in the Workplace

In a world shaped by highlight reels and high-speed living, it’s easy to drift from what’s real. This is your invitation to return to depth, truth, and self.

In a world shaped by highlight reels and high-speed living, it’s easy to drift from what’s real. This is your invitation to return to depth, truth, and self.

Burnout

How to Navigate Burnout Without Burning It All Down

Megan Dalla-Camina on April 24, 2025 in Real Women

Feeling drained but still pushing through? Here's why burnout runs deeper than exhaustion—and how small shifts can help you reclaim your energy, clarity, and self.

Feeling drained but still pushing through? Here's why burnout runs deeper than exhaustion—and how small shifts can help you reclaim your energy, clarity, and self.

Relationships

3 Ways to Become a More Confident Partner

Mark Travers Ph.D. on April 24, 2025 in Social Instincts

Do you second-guess yourself in love? Here's how to build more self-assurance.

Do you second-guess yourself in love? Here's how to build more self-assurance.

Cognition

How to Prepare for High-Stakes Decision Making

Michael D. Matthews Ph.D. on April 24, 2025 in Head Strong

Effective decision making in high-stakes situations hinges on a blend of intuitive and deliberate thinking.

Effective decision making in high-stakes situations hinges on a blend of intuitive and deliberate thinking.

Autism

The Plan to Find the Causes of Autism Is Doomed to Fail

Sam Goldstein Ph.D. on April 24, 2025 in Common Sense Science

Kennedy's autism plan overlooks scientific evidence. Only population-wide, longitudinal studies can reveal the complex roots of autism. Simpler approaches lead to dead ends.

Kennedy's autism plan overlooks scientific evidence. Only population-wide, longitudinal studies can reveal the complex roots of autism. Simpler approaches lead to dead ends.