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

Depression

Exercise Protects Against Clinical Depression

Shaili Jain M.D. on January 22, 2025 in The Aftermath of Trauma

Even light-intensity activities such as walking can reduce one’s risk for clinical depression. So, what are the most common barriers to exercise and how may we overcome them?

Even light-intensity activities such as walking can reduce one’s risk for clinical depression. So, what are the most common barriers to exercise and how may we overcome them?

Artificial Intelligence

Together in Solitude: How LLMs Redefine Being Alone

John Nosta on January 22, 2025 in The Digital Self

In our dialogues with AI, we’re realizing that solitude was never about being alone—it has always been about how we choose to connect.

In our dialogues with AI, we’re realizing that solitude was never about being alone—it has always been about how we choose to connect.

Borderline Personality Disorder

A New Approach May Benefit People With Borderline Personality

Jennifer Gerlach LCSW on January 22, 2025 in Beyond Mental Health

Mentalization-based therapy looks beyond the person in the room to their relationships.

Mentalization-based therapy looks beyond the person in the room to their relationships.

Self-Help

Treatment of Chronic Cough in Adults

Ran D. Anbar M.D. on January 22, 2025 in Understanding Hypnosis

How can a long-standing cough that does not produce phlegm, and stops as soon as you fall asleep, be cured by watching a video?

How can a long-standing cough that does not produce phlegm, and stops as soon as you fall asleep, be cured by watching a video?

Eating Disorders

Beyond the Plate

Carolyn Karoll LCSW-C, CEDS-C on January 22, 2025 in Eating Disorder Recovery

Fear of rejection and feelings of inadequacy often fuel disordered eating. Learn how unmet emotional needs drive these harmful cycles and offer a path to healing.

Fear of rejection and feelings of inadequacy often fuel disordered eating. Learn how unmet emotional needs drive these harmful cycles and offer a path to healing.

Persuasion

9 Things You Need to Know About Destructive Cults

Steven A Hassan PhD on January 22, 2025 in Freedom of Mind

Are cult members truly brainwashed? Common myths about cults can be dangerous to those you care about.

Are cult members truly brainwashed? Common myths about cults can be dangerous to those you care about.

Self-Help

For Self-Improvement, Defeat the Overthinker's Paradox

Alice Boyes Ph.D. on January 22, 2025 in In Practice

Failure isn't what you should be most worried about, overthinking is.

Failure isn't what you should be most worried about, overthinking is.

Family Dynamics

The Lifelong Benefits of a Close Sibling Relationship

Corinna Jenkins Tucker, Ph.D., C.F.L.E., and Tanya Rouleau Whitworth, Ph.D. on January 22, 2025 in The Science of Siblings

Support from a sibling promotes well-being and relationship health across the lifespan.

Support from a sibling promotes well-being and relationship health across the lifespan.

Pareidolia

Do You See What I See?: The Possibilities of Pareidolia Research

International Arts + Mind Lab on January 22, 2025 in The Art Effect

How might pareidolia—seeing faces in nature or hearing distinct sounds emerge from ambient noise—benefit our creativity, cognitive flexibility, and neural activity?

How might pareidolia—seeing faces in nature or hearing distinct sounds emerge from ambient noise—benefit our creativity, cognitive flexibility, and neural activity?

Aging

The Need for a Meaningful Life as an Elder: A Modest Proposal

Alice LoCicero Ph.D. on January 22, 2025 in Paradigm Shift

Elders need more than social gatherings, entertainment, and education. They need help establishing a path toward maintaining a meaningful life in the face of adversity.

Elders need more than social gatherings, entertainment, and education. They need help establishing a path toward maintaining a meaningful life in the face of adversity.

Forgiveness

Can’t Forgive? Try Embracing Unforgiveness

Amanda Ann Gregory, LCPC on January 22, 2025 in Simplifying Complex Trauma

Forcing forgiveness rarely works. Instead, embracing unforgiveness as a valuable experience can be the first step forward.

Forcing forgiveness rarely works. Instead, embracing unforgiveness as a valuable experience can be the first step forward.

Relationships

How to Stay Sane This Valentine’s Day

Janina Steinmetz Ph.D. on January 22, 2025 in The Social Consumer

Many couples split up around Valentine’s Day. Here’s how to avoid disappointment and find romance.

Many couples split up around Valentine’s Day. Here’s how to avoid disappointment and find romance.

Productivity

Why Doing “Nothing” Is Doing Something Good for Yourself

Robyne Hanley-Dafoe Ed.D. on January 22, 2025 in Everyday Resilience

Are you feeling overworked and under-rested? Learn why giving yourself permission to do “nothing” from time to time is the ultimate act of self-care.

Are you feeling overworked and under-rested? Learn why giving yourself permission to do “nothing” from time to time is the ultimate act of self-care.

Career

4 Times When You Should Consider Changing Jobs

Ronald E. Riggio Ph.D. on January 22, 2025 in Cutting-Edge Leadership

These are the most common reasons people leave their jobs, the warning signs, and what to do about it.

These are the most common reasons people leave their jobs, the warning signs, and what to do about it.

Dissociation

Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder

Jason Shimiaie M.D. on January 22, 2025 in An Interpersonal Lens

Dissociation in borderline personality disorder creates a fragmented sense of self. BPD often leaves individuals feeling disconnected from themselves and others.

Dissociation in borderline personality disorder creates a fragmented sense of self. BPD often leaves individuals feeling disconnected from themselves and others.

Parenting

The Parenting Superpower You Will Use Everyday

Candida Fink MD on January 22, 2025 in Changing Minds

When your child or teen has big emotions, try this high-value parenting skill that keeps the lines of communication open.

When your child or teen has big emotions, try this high-value parenting skill that keeps the lines of communication open.

Boundaries

Guiding Couples to Repair After an Affair

The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy on January 22, 2025 in Systemic Insights

After an affair, setting digital boundaries is vital for rebuilding trust and fostering healing.

After an affair, setting digital boundaries is vital for rebuilding trust and fostering healing.

Psych Careers

Becoming a Therapist: A Guide for Future Clinicians

Mark Shelvock RP, CT, MACP, MA on January 22, 2025 in Navigating the Serpentine Path

Practical wisdom from expert therapists for aspiring mental health practitioners, counsellors, and future therapists.

Practical wisdom from expert therapists for aspiring mental health practitioners, counsellors, and future therapists.

Meditation

The Benefits of Quiet Solitude

Samantha Stein Psy.D. on January 22, 2025 in What The Wild Things Are

Time in quiet solitude can be invaluable in nurturing our relationship with ourselves as well as replenishing us. It’s undoubtedly an investment worth making.

Time in quiet solitude can be invaluable in nurturing our relationship with ourselves as well as replenishing us. It’s undoubtedly an investment worth making.

Relationships

3 Questions a Good Partner Should Be Able to Answer

Mark Travers Ph.D. on January 22, 2025 in Social Instincts

As trivial as they may seem, these three questions speak volumes about the quality of your relationship.

As trivial as they may seem, these three questions speak volumes about the quality of your relationship.

Relationships

So Many Reasons to Love Chocolate

Gary Wenk Ph.D. on January 22, 2025 in Your Brain on Food

Regular chocolate intake is a promising prophylactic strategy against brain aging, but you might not want to give it to your girlfriend this Valentine's Day.

Regular chocolate intake is a promising prophylactic strategy against brain aging, but you might not want to give it to your girlfriend this Valentine's Day.

Stress

Finding a Sense of Safety During the Los Angeles Wildfires

Pamela Cantor M.D. on January 22, 2025 in All Kids Thriving

To help children recover from the Los Angeles fires, we have to prioritize safety and caring connection and give the time that this requires.

To help children recover from the Los Angeles fires, we have to prioritize safety and caring connection and give the time that this requires.

Health

Beating 'Winter Blues' the Healthy Way

Nicole Avena Ph.D. on January 22, 2025 in Food Junkie

Wintertime is known to cause the "winter blues," which can negatively impact many people's health and wellness. Incorporating these healthy habits can make all the difference.

Wintertime is known to cause the "winter blues," which can negatively impact many people's health and wellness. Incorporating these healthy habits can make all the difference.

Parenting

Why People—Even Your Kids—Shouldn’t Be Your Sole Purpose

Jordan Grumet M.D. on January 22, 2025 in The Regret-Free Life

True purpose isn’t found in others, even your kids. It’s built by pursuing passions that light you up and inspire growth.

True purpose isn’t found in others, even your kids. It’s built by pursuing passions that light you up and inspire growth.

Bias

The Psychology of Ageism

Lawrence R. Samuel Ph.D. on January 22, 2025 in Psychology Yesterday

Ageism is a human rights issue. Here's what can be done about it.

Ageism is a human rights issue. Here's what can be done about it.

Happiness

A Guaranteed Way to Get Students to Smile on Campus

John-Tyler Binfet Ph.D. on January 22, 2025 in Canines, Kids, and Kindness

The extent to which college students smile is a reflection of their well-being. Therapy dogs are an almost surefire way to generate more smiles on a campus.

The extent to which college students smile is a reflection of their well-being. Therapy dogs are an almost surefire way to generate more smiles on a campus.

Stress

The Tally Counter Two-Step Stress Hack

Jeff Karp Ph.D. on January 22, 2025 in How Do You Think About That?

A simple tally counter trick can intercept stress, calm your nerves, and keep your bucket from overflowing—all while cultivating lasting well-being.

A simple tally counter trick can intercept stress, calm your nerves, and keep your bucket from overflowing—all while cultivating lasting well-being.

Psychiatry

Mental Health and the Inflamed Brain

The Research Room on January 22, 2025 in The Inflamed Brain

Encephalitis survivors experience hidden mental health struggles and there is an urgent need for improved support within the health care system.

Encephalitis survivors experience hidden mental health struggles and there is an urgent need for improved support within the health care system.

Politics

A Divided Society Needs a Unifying Force

Martina Lackner M.Sc. on January 22, 2025 in Healthy Power in Modern Times

Political discourse was once shaped by moderate parties and loyal voters. Today we see conflicting visions of the future.

Political discourse was once shaped by moderate parties and loyal voters. Today we see conflicting visions of the future.