In Therapy

Anxiety

Why It's OK to Have Nothing to Talk About in Therapy

Ryan Howes PhD, ABPP on December 12, 2021

What to talk about in therapy if you haven't planned anything.

Self-Help

Why Is Everyone Talking About Journaling?

Ryan Howes PhD, ABPP on July 15, 2020

In the spring of 2020, social media feeds told you it was time to start a journal "now, more than ever." Why? What's so great about journaling?

Types of Therapy

Writing About the Talking Cure

Ryan Howes PhD, ABPP on March 31, 2018

The Psychology Today blogs are 10 years old this year, and so is In Therapy. Today I'm sharing a few lessons I've learned along the way.

Types of Therapy

Is It OK to Dig Into Your Therapist's History?

Ryan Howes PhD, ABPP on March 31, 2018

Are you breaking a therapy rule if you do? Is it in your best interest? There are potential harms and benefits, depending on the details.

Types of Therapy

Is "Evidence-Based" Off Base?

Ryan Howes PhD, ABPP on February 15, 2018

Is our evidence-based therapy bias hurting or helping? An interview with Dr. Enrico Gnaulati.

Types of Therapy

How to Recommend Therapy

Ryan Howes PhD, ABPP on December 31, 2017

Therapy can be incredibly helpful. Unfortunately, we're still in a time where recommending it can seem like an insult. Here's one gentle approach.

Types of Therapy

9 Tips for Awkward Silences in Therapy

Ryan Howes PhD, ABPP on December 29, 2017

All the good stuff has already been covered (or so it seems). Where should you go from here? What should you talk about in therapy? Awkward.

Anxiety

When to Quit Therapy

Ryan Howes PhD, ABPP on December 19, 2017

In an ideal world, all therapy would provide a good ending, where loose ends are tied up, take-away points are clarified, and we share a clean goodbye. Sounds nice, doesn’t it?

Types of Therapy

Therapy for Gambling Addiction

Ryan Howes PhD, ABPP on September 24, 2017

Gambling maintains the fantasy of success while denying some harsh, cruel realities.

Self-Help

Why People Lie to Their Therapists

Ryan Howes PhD, ABPP on October 26, 2016

You spend money, time, and emotional energy going to therapy—so why not tell the truth?

Stress

Talking About Money

Ryan Howes PhD, ABPP on June 30, 2016

How do you cope with financial stress? Ever tried talking about it?

Stress

A Letter to Therapists 2: Finance Language Lessons

Ryan Howes PhD, ABPP on June 6, 2016

“If you knew my income, my debt, my bad decisions, my cover-ups, you definitely wouldn’t like me.”

Stress

A Letter to Therapists: Beware of Financial Stress

Ryan Howes PhD, ABPP on May 30, 2016

Despite all of our research and experience, the field of psychology continues to ignore an issue hidden in plain sight.

Ghosting

4 Reasons Not to Ghost Your Therapist

Ryan Howes PhD, ABPP on January 2, 2016

Every therapist has a story or twelve about clients who seem to be connecting and doing well in therapy and then they suddenly disappear. Poof.

Types of Therapy

Disability and Humanity in Therapy

Ryan Howes PhD, ABPP on August 12, 2015

How do physical disabilities impact psychological treatment? How do they impact the therapist? Dr. Deborah Buckwalter shares her thoughts in this Moments of Meaning video.