Counseling Keys

Trauma

What Happens After the Rescue?

Kimberly Key Ph.D. on August 4, 2026

Rescue is only the beginning. New research reveals how helping can unintentionally retraumatize survivors of sex trafficking, and what healing truly requires.

Rescue is only the beginning. New research reveals how helping can unintentionally retraumatize survivors of sex trafficking, and what healing truly requires.

Love Bombing

What's Really Behind Love Bombing

Kimberly Key Ph.D. on June 23, 2026

High-empathy individuals may be especially vulnerable.

High-empathy individuals may be especially vulnerable.

Friends

Detecting Hidden Hurtful Humor in Narcissistic Friendships

Kimberly Key Ph.D. on May 7, 2026

Research reveals how vulnerable and grandiose narcissists use humor in friendships. Learn to spot when it hurts—and if a friend is actually a frenemy.

Research reveals how vulnerable and grandiose narcissists use humor in friendships. Learn to spot when it hurts—and if a friend is actually a frenemy.

Burnout

The Health Care Empathy Dilemma

Kimberly Key Ph.D. on January 26, 2026

Why do some types of empathy heal, and others leave us burned out?

Why do some types of empathy heal, and others leave us burned out?

Productivity

Freeing Ourselves From Productivity Guilt

Kimberly Key Ph.D. on December 19, 2025

Struggling with productivity guilt? You’re not alone. Winter invites us to rest, reflect, and reset. Here’s why your best ideas may bloom after a gentle pause.

Struggling with productivity guilt? You’re not alone. Winter invites us to rest, reflect, and reset. Here’s why your best ideas may bloom after a gentle pause.

Gratitude

When Gratitude Is Weaponized: 5 Questions for Discernment

Kimberly Key Ph.D. on November 17, 2025

When gratitude is used to silence suffering, it’s no longer healing. Learn five ways to discern true gratitude from pressure, control, or emotional gaslighting.

When gratitude is used to silence suffering, it’s no longer healing. Learn five ways to discern true gratitude from pressure, control, or emotional gaslighting.

Empathy

The Rise of the Dark Empath

Kimberly Key Ph.D. on October 16, 2025

Think all empaths are safe? Research uncovers “dark empaths”—people who blend empathy with narcissism, Machiavellianism, or psychopathy.

Think all empaths are safe? Research uncovers “dark empaths”—people who blend empathy with narcissism, Machiavellianism, or psychopathy.

Divorce

Surprising Lessons From Late-in-Life Divorce

Kimberly Key Ph.D. on September 26, 2025

Gray divorce is shaking up what we think we know about love and aging. Here’s what it really means for families, freedom, and new beginnings.

Gray divorce is shaking up what we think we know about love and aging. Here’s what it really means for families, freedom, and new beginnings.

Magical Thinking

Are Astrology Followers Gullible? Not Necessarily

Kimberly Key Ph.D. on September 25, 2025

Why do millions still read their horoscopes? New research suggest astrology fans are less intelligent, but the truth is more complex, and more human.

Why do millions still read their horoscopes? New research suggest astrology fans are less intelligent, but the truth is more complex, and more human.

Relationships

The Ghosts That Haunt Our Relationships

Kimberly Key Ph.D. on July 30, 2025

Sometimes it’s not you a partner is fighting but someone from long ago.

Sometimes it’s not you a partner is fighting but someone from long ago.

Adverse Childhood Experiences

What Silencing Does to the Brain

Kimberly Key Ph.D. on June 10, 2025

Silencing isn’t just social—it’s neurological. Here’s how silencing can rewire our voice, identity, and health.

Silencing isn’t just social—it’s neurological. Here’s how silencing can rewire our voice, identity, and health.

Grief

Winter Heralds Higher Deaths and Grief

Kimberly Key Ph.D. on December 19, 2024

Winter and the "Christmas effect" produce higher death rates along with more grief. Here are some tips to help you through the season.

Winter and the "Christmas effect" produce higher death rates along with more grief. Here are some tips to help you through the season.

Attention

The Developing Tech Brain

Kimberly Key Ph.D. on December 12, 2024

What do decreased attention spans, less gray matter, neural changes, social, mental, and developmental impacts have in common? They are all involved in the developing tech brain.

What do decreased attention spans, less gray matter, neural changes, social, mental, and developmental impacts have in common? They are all involved in the developing tech brain.

Pornography

Why Men in Power Devalue Women

Kimberly Key Ph.D. on October 23, 2024

Researchers have found that men with power are more prone to focus on women's sexual body parts rather than view them as whole human beings.

Researchers have found that men with power are more prone to focus on women's sexual body parts rather than view them as whole human beings.

Career

Facing Career Burnout and Anxiety

Kimberly Key Ph.D. on September 30, 2024

Anxiety and burnout can be caused by this hidden driver but careers can be salvaged with proper help.

Anxiety and burnout can be caused by this hidden driver but careers can be salvaged with proper help.

Self-Esteem

The Mental Health Benefits of Sports for All Teens

Kimberly Key Ph.D. on August 13, 2024

Engaging in too many sports and activities can lead to anxiety and depression in teens while choosing the ideal number can boost self-worth and reduce depression.

Engaging in too many sports and activities can lead to anxiety and depression in teens while choosing the ideal number can boost self-worth and reduce depression.

Relationships

Life After Leaving the Nest

Kimberly Key Ph.D. on July 9, 2024

Researchers found that less-stressed relationships with parents led young adults to adapt better and form more supportive relationships. Here's why.

Researchers found that less-stressed relationships with parents led young adults to adapt better and form more supportive relationships. Here's why.

Diet

Navigating Extreme Diet Risks

Kimberly Key Ph.D. on May 31, 2024

Personal Perspective: Read this before considering a restrictive diet, especially if you are a parent.

Personal Perspective: Read this before considering a restrictive diet, especially if you are a parent.

Happiness

The Wake-up Call: Life Evaluations Among Youth at Record Low

Kimberly Key Ph.D. on April 24, 2024

The U.S. dropped out of the Top 20 in the latest World Happiness Report with younger people reporting less happiness than older people. Here are some reasons for this record.

The U.S. dropped out of the Top 20 in the latest World Happiness Report with younger people reporting less happiness than older people. Here are some reasons for this record.

Narcissism

5 Things to Know Before Calling Someone a Narcissist

Kimberly Key Ph.D. on March 21, 2024

When faced with confusing behavior that does not fit with our paradigm, we try to identify and label it. But we can often get it wrong. Here are five things to consider.

When faced with confusing behavior that does not fit with our paradigm, we try to identify and label it. But we can often get it wrong. Here are five things to consider.