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

Caregiving

Navigating the Mental Strain of Gendered Caregiving

Shaili Jain M.D. on March 18, 2025 in The Aftermath of Trauma

Follow these tools, strategies, and coping skills to ensure that your caregiving journey remains personally rewarding.

Follow these tools, strategies, and coping skills to ensure that your caregiving journey remains personally rewarding.

Leadership

Are Managers Really 'Leaders'?

Gabriel Young Ph.D. on March 18, 2025 in Shrink Mindset

True leadership isn’t about titles—it’s about risk, accountability, and sacrifice. But do we always need leaders, or is leadership sometimes overrated?

True leadership isn’t about titles—it’s about risk, accountability, and sacrifice. But do we always need leaders, or is leadership sometimes overrated?

Happiness

Positive Psychology for Challenging Times

Ashley Maier, MSW, MPA on March 18, 2025 in Psychology in the Real World

We don’t need to avoid the quicksand, but we can certainly become strong enough to walk through it.

We don’t need to avoid the quicksand, but we can certainly become strong enough to walk through it.

Media

The Psychology Behind the Meghan Markle Backlash

Chamin Ajjan LCSW, A-CBT, CST on March 18, 2025 in The Dynamics of Love

Scrutiny of Meghan Markle shows our obsession with celebrity downfall, online bullying, racial bias, and envy. Instead of tearing down, what if we looked within?

Scrutiny of Meghan Markle shows our obsession with celebrity downfall, online bullying, racial bias, and envy. Instead of tearing down, what if we looked within?

Education

The 'Professors' Are Not the Enemy

Glenn Geher Ph.D. on March 18, 2025 in Darwin's Subterranean World

Vice President Vance's take on professors as "the enemy" reveals not only hypocrisy but also a lack of understanding of the contributions professors have made to society.

Vice President Vance's take on professors as "the enemy" reveals not only hypocrisy but also a lack of understanding of the contributions professors have made to society.

Relationships

The Healing Power of a Family of Choice

Gina DeMillo Wagner on March 18, 2025 in Forces of Nature

Can friendships and chosen family play a role in mending our relational wounds?

Can friendships and chosen family play a role in mending our relational wounds?

Psychedelics

Microdosing 101

Kate Schroeder LPC, LMHC, NCC on March 18, 2025 in Next: Change Is Inevitable, Growth Is Optional

Is microdosing the “productivity hack” the media has made it out to be, or is it something deeper? Let's break it down.

Is microdosing the “productivity hack” the media has made it out to be, or is it something deeper? Let's break it down.

Addiction

What We Can Learn From Celebrity Addictions

Mark S. Gold M.D. on March 18, 2025 in Addiction Outlook

Celebrities with addiction often live their lives (and sometimes die tragically) in the public arena. Yet some have shown recovery is possible, providing life lessons on addiction.

Celebrities with addiction often live their lives (and sometimes die tragically) in the public arena. Yet some have shown recovery is possible, providing life lessons on addiction.

Burnout

Which Therapists Are More Likely to Burn Out?

Eric M. Brown PhD on March 18, 2025 in Healing From Within

Burnout in clinicians has long been recognized as a common experience, yet research has found that what's most protective for clinicians is what we give our clients every day.

Burnout in clinicians has long been recognized as a common experience, yet research has found that what's most protective for clinicians is what we give our clients every day.

Loneliness

Why Are We So Lonely? Tackling the Loneliness Epidemic

Pamela B. Rutledge Ph.D., M.B.A. on March 18, 2025 in Positively Media

Loneliness is rising, but getting smart about your digital habits can help. Small hacks can move you from automatic to intentional, improving real-life connections and well-being.

Loneliness is rising, but getting smart about your digital habits can help. Small hacks can move you from automatic to intentional, improving real-life connections and well-being.

Addiction

Why Do Some People Become Addicted While Others Do Not?

Gregory L. Jantz Ph.D. on March 18, 2025 in Hope for Relationships

Addiction is a deeply personal struggle that affects millions. One of the most frequently asked questions is: Why me? Why do some develop addictions while others do not?

Addiction is a deeply personal struggle that affects millions. One of the most frequently asked questions is: Why me? Why do some develop addictions while others do not?

Positive Psychology

Feel Stuck in Life? Blame Self-Concept Inertia

Corey Wilks Psy.D. on March 18, 2025 in Human Flourishing 101

Do you desperately want to change but can't break free? Your self-identity might be the invisible force keeping you stuck. Here's what you need to know.

Do you desperately want to change but can't break free? Your self-identity might be the invisible force keeping you stuck. Here's what you need to know.

Sex

Sexual Products and Therapies That People Don't Use Enough

Marty Klein Ph.D. on March 18, 2025 in Sexual Intelligence

Many consumer products and services make sex safer and more enjoyable. But many people don't use them—they're embarrassed, confused, or won't admit their interest in such things.

Many consumer products and services make sex safer and more enjoyable. But many people don't use them—they're embarrassed, confused, or won't admit their interest in such things.

Psychology

Federal Funding Chaos: What It Means for Psychology

Courtney Beard Ph.D. on March 18, 2025 in From Lab to Real World

Federal funding for psychological research is in chaos. Here's one lab's story of the impacts of this funding confusion and what it means for the future of treatment development.

Federal funding for psychological research is in chaos. Here's one lab's story of the impacts of this funding confusion and what it means for the future of treatment development.

Psychiatry

Navigating Mental Health Without Drugs

Justin Garson Ph.D. on March 18, 2025 in The Biology of Human Nature

A new memoir, "Unshrunk," offers a scathing critique of the psychiatric drug industry, and forges a new path to healing.

A new memoir, "Unshrunk," offers a scathing critique of the psychiatric drug industry, and forges a new path to healing.

Aging

Ready for the Exit? Tiredness of Life and Assisted Dying

Sam Carr, Ph.D. on March 18, 2025 in Being Human

What drives the "tiredness of life" debate? Explore the existential struggles of aging, meaning, and the ethical issues surrounding assisted dying.

What drives the "tiredness of life" debate? Explore the existential struggles of aging, meaning, and the ethical issues surrounding assisted dying.

Emotion Regulation

When Moods Aren't Yours to Fix

Ilene Strauss Cohen Ph.D. on March 18, 2025 in Your Emotional Meter

Take control of your emotions. Learn how to stay grounded and protect your peace when others' moods spiral.

Take control of your emotions. Learn how to stay grounded and protect your peace when others' moods spiral.

Psychiatry

Hypervigilance in Mental Health Professionals

Ankita Guchait MBPsS on March 18, 2025 in The Realities of Refugee Screening

When stakes are high in acute psychiatry, adrenaline takes center stage. Discover how it influences decision-making, behaviour, and care strategies in psychiatric crises.

When stakes are high in acute psychiatry, adrenaline takes center stage. Discover how it influences decision-making, behaviour, and care strategies in psychiatric crises.

Family Dynamics

5 Signs You Might be the Family Cycle Breaker

Kaytee Gillis, LCSW on March 18, 2025 in Invisible Bruises

Being a cycle breaker can feel like both a burden and a gift. Here are some signs you may be breaking the cycle of trauma.

Being a cycle breaker can feel like both a burden and a gift. Here are some signs you may be breaking the cycle of trauma.

Forgiveness

Why Forgiveness Therapy? Advice for Those Contemplating It

Robert Enright Ph.D. on March 18, 2025 in The Forgiving Life

If I pursue forgiveness therapy, what exactly is it? What are its goals? What are some drawbacks to it? Clear answers may help clients decide if it is appropriate for them.

If I pursue forgiveness therapy, what exactly is it? What are its goals? What are some drawbacks to it? Clear answers may help clients decide if it is appropriate for them.

Persuasion

How to Use Similarity to Ethically Influence Others

Richard H. Smith Ph.D. on March 18, 2025 in Joy and Pain

People are more likely to comply with our requests if they like us. Finding authentic similarities with those we wish to influence is a powerful, ethical way to create such liking.

People are more likely to comply with our requests if they like us. Finding authentic similarities with those we wish to influence is a powerful, ethical way to create such liking.

Anxiety

How Anxiety Fools Us Into Thinking It's Protecting Us

Phil Lane MSW, LCSW on March 18, 2025 in Am I Dying?

Anxiety presents itself as helpful but it's actually an unreliable narrator. We must learn to not automatically assume that anxious thoughts are working to protect us.

Anxiety presents itself as helpful but it's actually an unreliable narrator. We must learn to not automatically assume that anxious thoughts are working to protect us.

Relationships

Diagnose and Ditch: How Misused Labels Are Hurting Our Relationships

Leah Marone LCSW on March 18, 2025 in Gaining and Sustaining

Misusing labels like “toxic” or “narcissist” lets us avoid hard conversations and accountability, but true connection requires ownership, resilience, and relationship “reps.”

Misusing labels like “toxic” or “narcissist” lets us avoid hard conversations and accountability, but true connection requires ownership, resilience, and relationship “reps.”

Post-Traumatic Growth

Why You Are Who You Are: Trauma and True Identity

Aigerim Alpysbekova MPH on March 18, 2025 in Trauma, Growth, and the Search for Meaning

Ever wondered why the people who hurt us stay with us? In this post, I’ll discuss how pain shapes us and how we can turn it into a powerful force for healing and growth.

Ever wondered why the people who hurt us stay with us? In this post, I’ll discuss how pain shapes us and how we can turn it into a powerful force for healing and growth.

Career

Work Culture in an Era of Mass Layoffs

Christine Louise Hohlbaum on March 18, 2025 in The Power of Slow

Leaders who care for their workers will have higher organizational performance. Those who treat people like a liability will not.

Leaders who care for their workers will have higher organizational performance. Those who treat people like a liability will not.

Mild Cognitive Impairment

AI Is Predicting Cognitive Decline at Alarming Rates

Samuel Paul Veissière Ph.D. on March 18, 2025 in Culture, Mind, and Brain

We are witnessing a broader cognitive and emotional crisis, marked by declining attention spans, increased impulsivity, and growing ideological rigidity.

We are witnessing a broader cognitive and emotional crisis, marked by declining attention spans, increased impulsivity, and growing ideological rigidity.

Sex

Why Do People Scream (Rather Than Talk) During Sex?

Aaron Ben-Zeév Ph.D. on March 18, 2025 in In the Name of Love

Although people use their voices to express themselves politely in society, many use bad manners, such as screaming and eye-closing, to enhance their sexual experience.

Although people use their voices to express themselves politely in society, many use bad manners, such as screaming and eye-closing, to enhance their sexual experience.

Creativity

What Do We Get Out of Art?

Zorana Ivcevic Pringle Ph.D. on March 18, 2025 in Creativity: The Art and Science

Art is part of what makes us human; but what makes us understand it and feel it?

Art is part of what makes us human; but what makes us understand it and feel it?

Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic Brain Injuries in the Modern Age

Sam Goldstein Ph.D. on March 18, 2025 in Common Sense Science

The skull evolved for protection against blunt force. Modern acceleration and rotational forces expose the brain to new injury risks. We must rethink brain protection strategies.

The skull evolved for protection against blunt force. Modern acceleration and rotational forces expose the brain to new injury risks. We must rethink brain protection strategies.