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

Psychology

What’s Behind the Peptide Craze

Robert Bartholomew Ph.D. on January 20, 2026 in It's Catching

On the psychology behind the new peptide craze.

On the psychology behind the new peptide craze.

Near-Death Experiences

The Paradox of Inner Wealth

Alexander Batthyány Ph.D. on January 20, 2026 in Consciousness and Meaning at Life’s End

Why do some lives feel inwardly rich while others feel empty? Drawing on near-death experiences and Viktor Frankl, this post reveals a paradox of meaning and what makes us whole.

Why do some lives feel inwardly rich while others feel empty? Drawing on near-death experiences and Viktor Frankl, this post reveals a paradox of meaning and what makes us whole.

Sleep

Teen Sleep Is Affected Not Just by Parenting, but by Policy

Wendy Troxel Ph.D. on January 20, 2026 in Rested Development

New limits on teen social media use highlight a larger truth: Teen sleep loss is not a personal or parenting failure. It’s shaped by technology, schools, and policies.

New limits on teen social media use highlight a larger truth: Teen sleep loss is not a personal or parenting failure. It’s shaped by technology, schools, and policies.

Psychedelics

Could Psychedelics Be the Next Solution for a Better Life?

Michael Ungar Ph.D. on January 20, 2026 in Nurturing Resilience

Research is suggesting that consuming substances like ketamine and MDMA could make it easier to make lifestyle changes, but not on their own. Therapy is still recommended.

Research is suggesting that consuming substances like ketamine and MDMA could make it easier to make lifestyle changes, but not on their own. Therapy is still recommended.

Artificial Intelligence

Mind and Machine: A Lethal Cognitive Cocktail

Cornelia C. Walther Ph.D. on January 20, 2026 in Harnessing Hybrid Intelligence

We’re witnessing a collision between AI’s growing sophistication and natural intelligence’s vulnerabilities, which leads to an increasingly explosive crisis of hybrid intelligence.

We’re witnessing a collision between AI’s growing sophistication and natural intelligence’s vulnerabilities, which leads to an increasingly explosive crisis of hybrid intelligence.

Leadership

Why Connection Restores Humanity in the Workplace

Jamie Shapiro Ph.D. on January 20, 2026 in Well-being Is Foundational of Leadership

Most leaders focus on improving processes to attain results but overlook relationships. Connection, based on trust and care, is the heart of thriving teams and culture.

Most leaders focus on improving processes to attain results but overlook relationships. Connection, based on trust and care, is the heart of thriving teams and culture.

Leadership

Does Firing a Head Coach Improve a Team’s Prospects?

Scott G. Eberle Ph.D. on January 20, 2026 in Play in Mind

A decisive move, firing a successful coach, usually does not pan out.

A decisive move, firing a successful coach, usually does not pan out.

Trauma

What We Get Wrong About the Nervous System

Antonieta Contreras on January 20, 2026 in Traumatization and Its Aftermath

We’ve turned survival responses into a black-and-white idea: pathology or wisdom. This is what we miss when we do that, and why it matters for real healing.

We’ve turned survival responses into a black-and-white idea: pathology or wisdom. This is what we miss when we do that, and why it matters for real healing.

Positive Psychology

What Positive Psychology Can Offer Law Enforcement

David Berez MAPP, DRE on January 20, 2026 in Positive Psychology for Law Enforcement

If we're to reach Martin Seligman's vision of 51 percent of the world flourishing by 2051, that 51 percent must include our nation's law enforcement officers.

If we're to reach Martin Seligman's vision of 51 percent of the world flourishing by 2051, that 51 percent must include our nation's law enforcement officers.

Meditation

How Meditation Could Help Solve the Healthcare Crisis

Jagpreet Chhatwal Ph.D. on January 20, 2026 in Looking Inward for a Healthier Society

Mental illness alone costs the U.S. billions of dollars each year. Here's how low-cost, underused approaches like meditation could reverse the trend.

Mental illness alone costs the U.S. billions of dollars each year. Here's how low-cost, underused approaches like meditation could reverse the trend.

Self-Esteem

Are Feelings of Unworthiness Sabotaging Your Life?

Robert Evans Wilson Jr. on January 20, 2026 in The Main Ingredient

Persistent feelings of unworthiness could be the result of an unconscious script running in your head that dates back to your early childhood.

Persistent feelings of unworthiness could be the result of an unconscious script running in your head that dates back to your early childhood.

Weaponized Incompetence

Weaponized Incompetence Isn’t Just “Doing It Wrong”

Laura Danger on January 20, 2026 in No More Mediocre

If you’re tired of doing everything “because they can’t,” here's how to name the pattern, protect your energy, and reclaim collaboration.

If you’re tired of doing everything “because they can’t,” here's how to name the pattern, protect your energy, and reclaim collaboration.

Forgiveness

To Stop Self-Retaliation, Embrace Self-Forgiveness

David Richo Ph.D. on January 20, 2026 in Finding the Way

We retaliate against ourselves when we obey our inner critic. Yet can learn to forgive ourselves and move on to life without self-shaming.

We retaliate against ourselves when we obey our inner critic. Yet can learn to forgive ourselves and move on to life without self-shaming.

Habit Formation

How to Stay Engaged and Achieve Goals When Motivation Fades

Helen Marlo, Ph.D. on January 20, 2026 in Deeper Dive

Struggling to stay motivated as the New Year's buzz fades? Learn how emotional flexibility, meaningful goals, and the right kind of stress can help your resolutions truly stick.

Struggling to stay motivated as the New Year's buzz fades? Learn how emotional flexibility, meaningful goals, and the right kind of stress can help your resolutions truly stick.

Artificial Intelligence

How AI Reshapes the Battle of Persuasion

Cornelia C. Walther Ph.D. on January 20, 2026 in Harnessing Hybrid Intelligence

Humans are not rational decision-makers, but emotional creatures. Here are 5 steps to find facts amid hybrid influence.

Humans are not rational decision-makers, but emotional creatures. Here are 5 steps to find facts amid hybrid influence.

Body Language

How Do You Know If You Can Trust Someone?

Tasha Seiter MS, PhD, LMFT on January 20, 2026 in Mindful Relationships

You just can't trust everyone. How do you know if you've found one who you can?

You just can't trust everyone. How do you know if you've found one who you can?

Perfectionism

Learning to Quiet the Perfectionistic Inner Critic

Leon Garber LMHC on January 20, 2026 in Perfectionism

Partners and friends of perfectionists often attempt to convince them they're lovable, failing to recognize the perfectionist's responsibility to challenge their inner critic.

Partners and friends of perfectionists often attempt to convince them they're lovable, failing to recognize the perfectionist's responsibility to challenge their inner critic.

Career

The 4 Traits of Bosses Who Get Results

Bruce Tulgan, JD on January 20, 2026 in Navigating the New Workplace

Your team must trust and believe that there is a fair and accurate process for keeping track of their actions and tying their behavior to real consequences.

Your team must trust and believe that there is a fair and accurate process for keeping track of their actions and tying their behavior to real consequences.

Artificial Intelligence

On Developing New Ways of Thinking to Adapt to AI

Grant Hilary Brenner MD, DFAPA on January 20, 2026 in ExperiMentations

It's think-or-swim time. AI may be our greatest evolutionary challenge since we came down from the trees. Meeting it requires wisdom and innovation.

It's think-or-swim time. AI may be our greatest evolutionary challenge since we came down from the trees. Meeting it requires wisdom and innovation.

Social Life

The Metaverse Is Gone for Good — Or Is It?

Marius Rubo, Ph.D. on January 20, 2026 in The Mind in Virtual Reality

Tech visionaries sold us the bizarre idea of a ubiquitous metaverse. While we stay in the real world, glued to our phones, the metaverse may flourish in specific use cases.

Tech visionaries sold us the bizarre idea of a ubiquitous metaverse. While we stay in the real world, glued to our phones, the metaverse may flourish in specific use cases.

Neurodiversity

Is It Time to See Dyslexia as a Superpower?

Justin Garson Ph.D. on January 20, 2026 in The Biology of Human Nature

A new documentary challenges the medical paradigm, framing dyslexia not as a disorder but a distinct cognitive style with its own set of strengths.

A new documentary challenges the medical paradigm, framing dyslexia not as a disorder but a distinct cognitive style with its own set of strengths.

Bias

The Independence Fallacy That Disabled People Face

Kathleen R. Bogart Ph.D. on January 20, 2026 in Disability Is Diversity

We are interdependent by nature. Why do we stigmatize disabled people for it?

We are interdependent by nature. Why do we stigmatize disabled people for it?

Depression

When Competence Masks High-Functioning Depression

Imi Lo MA on January 20, 2026 in Living with Emotional Intensity

Your ability to function may be masking a depression you cannot see. Here's why gifted adults can be vulnerable to this hidden suffering.

Your ability to function may be masking a depression you cannot see. Here's why gifted adults can be vulnerable to this hidden suffering.

Traumatic Brain Injury

Joy When in Despair

Shireen Jeejeebhoy on January 20, 2026 in Concussion Is Brain Injury

Personal Perspective: Joy is a state, not an emotion. Despair may consume every aspect of our thoughts and emotions, but joy exists, waiting for us to call it up into the light.

Personal Perspective: Joy is a state, not an emotion. Despair may consume every aspect of our thoughts and emotions, but joy exists, waiting for us to call it up into the light.

Neurodiversity

Why Sensory Relief Isn’t Just About Quiet

Hari Srinivasan on January 20, 2026 in Giving Voice

Quiet isn’t always calming. Predictability often matters more than silence for sensory comfort, especially in autism and ADHD.

Quiet isn’t always calming. Predictability often matters more than silence for sensory comfort, especially in autism and ADHD.

Creativity

"The Videmus Moment": Why Eureka! Is Not Enough

Andy Lopata on January 20, 2026 in Connected Leadership

Creativity thrives when others finally “see” your idea. External validation, captured in "the videmus moment". may be the real turning point in bringing ideas to life.

Creativity thrives when others finally “see” your idea. External validation, captured in "the videmus moment". may be the real turning point in bringing ideas to life.

Career

How to Know if You Should Quit

Nir Eyal on January 20, 2026 in Automatic You

Most people quit at the exact moment persistence would have paid off. These three considerations can help you see whether you're stuck or just one step away from a breakthrough.

Most people quit at the exact moment persistence would have paid off. These three considerations can help you see whether you're stuck or just one step away from a breakthrough.

Infidelity

The Real Cause of Infidelity

Michele Weiner-Davis LCSW on January 20, 2026 in Divorce Busting

Unhappy marriages don’t cause infidelity — being unfaithful does. This distinction matters more than most people (and some therapists) realize.

Unhappy marriages don’t cause infidelity — being unfaithful does. This distinction matters more than most people (and some therapists) realize.

Education

Study Skills That Help Smart Students Who Still Struggle

Pamela D. Brown Ph.D. on January 20, 2026 in School Culture

Practical ways to plan study time, sustain attention, check comprehension, and strengthen memory—so effort leads to more efficient learning and less burnout.

Practical ways to plan study time, sustain attention, check comprehension, and strengthen memory—so effort leads to more efficient learning and less burnout.