Skinny Revisited

Anxiety

Think You Look Younger Than Your Age?

Maria Baratta Ph.D., L.C.S.W. on May 27, 2026

"You don’t look your age, you look younger"—and other niceties that cause anxiety.

"You don’t look your age, you look younger"—and other niceties that cause anxiety.

Trauma

When Talking About Past Hurts Causes Emotional Re-injury

Maria Baratta Ph.D., L.C.S.W. on January 7, 2026

Personal Perspective: "Talk about it, you'll feel better" is definitely not always the case.

Personal Perspective: "Talk about it, you'll feel better" is definitely not always the case.

Relationships

One-Sided Relationships: Are They Worth Keeping?

Maria Baratta Ph.D., L.C.S.W. on October 2, 2025

People stay in dysfunctional relationships that somehow make sense in the context of their lives. Take a step back and ask yourselves these questions to see if you're one.

People stay in dysfunctional relationships that somehow make sense in the context of their lives. Take a step back and ask yourselves these questions to see if you're one.

Anxiety

Do You Get Flooded?

Maria Baratta Ph.D., L.C.S.W. on May 21, 2025

Flooding, an involuntary physiological reaction that generates a fight-or-flight response, can be managed. Here's how.

Flooding, an involuntary physiological reaction that generates a fight-or-flight response, can be managed. Here's how.

Anxiety

How to Manage Worry

Maria Baratta Ph.D., L.C.S.W. on February 27, 2025

How to pivot from all-consuming worry to actually doing something that will bring comfort at best, and distraction at the very least.

How to pivot from all-consuming worry to actually doing something that will bring comfort at best, and distraction at the very least.

Emotion Regulation

Adult Tantrums 101

Maria Baratta Ph.D., L.C.S.W. on December 5, 2024

3 simple tips for handling someone who "wants what they want now.”

3 simple tips for handling someone who "wants what they want now.”

Self-Control

What Makes Some People So Annoying to Us?

Maria Baratta Ph.D., L.C.S.W. on September 4, 2024

7 questions that might explain why people make us annoyed, triggered, and upset.

7 questions that might explain why people make us annoyed, triggered, and upset.

Happiness

3 Key Things That Happy People Understand

Maria Baratta Ph.D., L.C.S.W. on June 10, 2024

1. Joy and sadness can and do coexist.

1. Joy and sadness can and do coexist.

Self-Talk

Upset About Looking Older?

Maria Baratta Ph.D., L.C.S.W. on March 13, 2024

Making peace with how you look now actually facilitates self-improvement. It’s hard to do anything proactively in a state of self-loathing.

Making peace with how you look now actually facilitates self-improvement. It’s hard to do anything proactively in a state of self-loathing.

Optimism

How to Hope When Things Are Hard

Maria Baratta Ph.D., L.C.S.W. on January 3, 2024

With hope, the powerful factor is one's desire fueled by conviction of outcome—you don’t have to know for sure, but you need to believe that a good outcome can happen.

With hope, the powerful factor is one's desire fueled by conviction of outcome—you don’t have to know for sure, but you need to believe that a good outcome can happen.

Friends

What’s It Like When Your Friend Is a Therapist?

Maria Baratta Ph.D., L.C.S.W. on September 30, 2023

We’re friends in spite of your “stuff.” We know what's going on, but that's usually not what matters in a friendship.

We’re friends in spite of your “stuff.” We know what's going on, but that's usually not what matters in a friendship.

Appetite

Vacation Eating 101

Maria Baratta Ph.D., L.C.S.W. on August 1, 2023

How does one not go crazy with eating during vacation? Try these tips.

How does one not go crazy with eating during vacation? Try these tips.

Highly Sensitive Person

Why Some People Always Change Hotel Rooms When They Travel

Maria Baratta Ph.D., L.C.S.W. on May 25, 2023

Highly sensitive people immediately know “I can’t stay in this hotel room.”

Highly sensitive people immediately know “I can’t stay in this hotel room.”

Relationships

Why Rigidity Causes Marriages and Relationships to Fail

Maria Baratta Ph.D., L.C.S.W. on March 9, 2023

There is a consistent and common thread as to why relationships fail. Here's what I've found as a therapist.

There is a consistent and common thread as to why relationships fail. Here's what I've found as a therapist.

Fear

A Guide to Having Better Meltdowns

Maria Baratta Ph.D., L.C.S.W. on December 27, 2022

How can you slow down a meltdown?

How can you slow down a meltdown?

Relationships

Why People Ending a Relationship Need Support, Too

Maria Baratta Ph.D., L.C.S.W. on September 28, 2022

Personal Perspective: Breakups are ridiculously complicated, but the one who does the leaving oftentimes has to defend their actions?

Personal Perspective: Breakups are ridiculously complicated, but the one who does the leaving oftentimes has to defend their actions?

Forgiveness

How to Forgive in Six Steps

Maria Baratta Ph.D., L.C.S.W. on July 7, 2022

Forgiveness is a decision. Healing will follow.

Forgiveness is a decision. Healing will follow.

Anxiety

Is Worry Inherited?

Maria Baratta Ph.D., L.C.S.W. on April 6, 2022

Is my worrying bigger than me—something I inherited?

Is my worrying bigger than me—something I inherited?

Play

Why Legos Might Be the Key to Your Sanity During COVID

Maria Baratta Ph.D., L.C.S.W. on January 11, 2022

A key to sanity during this pandemic period is play—not just any play but play that is consistent with what you absolutely loved as a kid.

A key to sanity during this pandemic period is play—not just any play but play that is consistent with what you absolutely loved as a kid.

Fear

Pandemic "Logic"

Maria Baratta Ph.D., L.C.S.W. on October 15, 2021

Many people have made up their own rules of behavior around the pandemic, without considering the perspective of others. This divides us at a critical time in history.

Many people have made up their own rules of behavior around the pandemic, without considering the perspective of others. This divides us at a critical time in history.