Putting Psyche Back Into Psychotherapy

Ketamine

Ketamine as Therapeutic Dynamite

Josh Gressel Ph.D. on April 16, 2026

Personal Perspective: Ketamine and other psychedelics are so outside the mainstream that they may not be understood with everyday language.

Personal Perspective: Ketamine and other psychedelics are so outside the mainstream that they may not be understood with everyday language.

Relationships

The Nasty Seductive Pull of Being Right

Josh Gressel Ph.D. on December 15, 2025

How much do you like being with someone who’s always right? It doesn’t work in politics or partnership, so let your self-doubt and love for another help you connect.

How much do you like being with someone who’s always right? It doesn’t work in politics or partnership, so let your self-doubt and love for another help you connect.

Wisdom

What’s So Bad About Being Average?

Josh Gressel Ph.D. on November 28, 2025

Do you consider being told you’re “average” an insult? If so, why? Learning to accept the true contours of who we are is a better strategy than chasing after external success.

Do you consider being told you’re “average” an insult? If so, why? Learning to accept the true contours of who we are is a better strategy than chasing after external success.

Self-Talk

Why I’m Sick of Self-Improvement

Josh Gressel Ph.D. on November 2, 2025

Self-improvement is a treadmill we can choose to step off.

Self-improvement is a treadmill we can choose to step off.

Marriage

Why Is It So Hard to Be Married?

Josh Gressel Ph.D. on September 1, 2025

It’s easy to focus on the losses of vitality in aging and aging relationships. It’s important to learn to appreciate the advantages of getting older in life and in relationships.

It’s easy to focus on the losses of vitality in aging and aging relationships. It’s important to learn to appreciate the advantages of getting older in life and in relationships.

Self-Esteem

I Am That I Am

Josh Gressel Ph.D. on August 5, 2025

What does God meeting Moses at the burning bush have to teach us about how to lead our lives? Like much in the Bible, it is the paradigm for self-acceptance.

What does God meeting Moses at the burning bush have to teach us about how to lead our lives? Like much in the Bible, it is the paradigm for self-acceptance.

Psychedelics

Is It Wrong to Take the Easy Way to the Top?

Josh Gressel Ph.D. on August 4, 2025

Personal Perspective: Psychedelics can either be an amazing shortcut or a spiritual bypass. The difference lies largely in how you use them.

Personal Perspective: Psychedelics can either be an amazing shortcut or a spiritual bypass. The difference lies largely in how you use them.

Relationships

When Is It Time to End This Relationship?

Josh Gressel Ph.D. on March 18, 2025

You may be struggling in your relationship and wondering if you’re trying to fix the irredeemable. How can you know whether to hold or whether to fold?

You may be struggling in your relationship and wondering if you’re trying to fix the irredeemable. How can you know whether to hold or whether to fold?

Authenticity

How We Screw Up Is Predictable

Josh Gressel Ph.D. on February 9, 2025

We struggle to transcend coping strategies from childhood that no longer serve us well. These strategies are predictable. Becoming our true self is always a surprise.

We struggle to transcend coping strategies from childhood that no longer serve us well. These strategies are predictable. Becoming our true self is always a surprise.

Relationships

Is It Win-Win or Lose-Lose in Your Relationship?

Josh Gressel Ph.D. on January 17, 2025

Every time you try to score a point with your partner, you’ve already lost the match. In relationships, you either both win, or you both lose. There is no win-lose.

Every time you try to score a point with your partner, you’ve already lost the match. In relationships, you either both win, or you both lose. There is no win-lose.

Emotional Intelligence

The One Issue You’ll Spend Your Life On

Josh Gressel Ph.D. on December 13, 2024

There is one core issue we all grapple with that underlies all others. While we can improve it and lessen its effects, we will struggle with it throughout our lifetime.

There is one core issue we all grapple with that underlies all others. While we can improve it and lessen its effects, we will struggle with it throughout our lifetime.

Wisdom

We Won’t Have Time to Do or Be Everything

Josh Gressel Ph.D. on November 8, 2024

Personal Perspective: Realizing we will die before we can fulfill all of our dreams and plans is a hard but necessary truth to face. Here's why.

Personal Perspective: Realizing we will die before we can fulfill all of our dreams and plans is a hard but necessary truth to face. Here's why.

Confidence

Why It’s So Annoying to Be Told How Things Are

Josh Gressel Ph.D. on October 13, 2024

It's often off-putting when someone presents their opinion as if it's a fact. The concept of "master talk" could help us understand why.

It's often off-putting when someone presents their opinion as if it's a fact. The concept of "master talk" could help us understand why.

Relationships

How to Zero Out Your Relationship Negativity

Josh Gressel Ph.D. on September 13, 2024

Are you stuck in negative communication patterns with your partner? Try this simple (but not easy) exercise to eliminate the toxic talk from your relationship.

Are you stuck in negative communication patterns with your partner? Try this simple (but not easy) exercise to eliminate the toxic talk from your relationship.

Relationships

The Danger of Having a Frozen Image of Your Partner

Josh Gressel Ph.D. on August 5, 2024

To start, replace "always" and "never" with "sometimes."

To start, replace "always" and "never" with "sometimes."

Growth Mindset

What Happens to Old Friends With New Personal Growth?

Josh Gressel Ph.D. on July 17, 2024

Becoming more conscious will change the way you are in the world and may make you leave old friends behind. It’s natural to be anxious in this transition.

Becoming more conscious will change the way you are in the world and may make you leave old friends behind. It’s natural to be anxious in this transition.

Relationships

Why Intimacy Is Threatening

Josh Gressel Ph.D. on June 5, 2024

Couples struggle to stay connected while maintaining a household. Yet hiding beneath this existential truth lies an emotional truth equally important: intimacy is threatening.

Couples struggle to stay connected while maintaining a household. Yet hiding beneath this existential truth lies an emotional truth equally important: intimacy is threatening.

Ethics and Morality

Are You Humble or a Sucker?

Josh Gressel Ph.D. on May 2, 2024

We’re all told how we’re supposed to be humble. Does that mean we’re never supposed to speak up? How are we supposed to translate this value into our everyday lives?

We’re all told how we’re supposed to be humble. Does that mean we’re never supposed to speak up? How are we supposed to translate this value into our everyday lives?

Therapy

Why Is Everyone Talking About Psychedelics?

Josh Gressel Ph.D. on April 12, 2024

A therapist breaks down what psychedelics can do that talk therapy cannot.

A therapist breaks down what psychedelics can do that talk therapy cannot.

Authenticity

What Nesting Dolls Have to Do With High School Reunions

Josh Gressel Ph.D. on March 1, 2024

Why do you show up as an insecure teen when you attend a class reunion, even though you’re confident today? Russian nesting dolls can help you understand.

Why do you show up as an insecure teen when you attend a class reunion, even though you’re confident today? Russian nesting dolls can help you understand.