Off the Couch

Thoughts about the therapeutic process, and the dynamics of client-therapist interactions.

F. Diane Barth L.C.S.W.

Need New Friends? Don’t Know How to Make Them?

Some of us make friends easily, almost without effort, while others find it much harder. Here, 6 ideas to make it easier.

Congratulations, You’ve Graduated! Now What?

Graduation has traditionally been anxiety-provoking. But this year’s class faces particularly difficult times. Some suggestions for how to move forward.

Keeping a Journal Can Be Good for Your Emotional Health

Are you feeling sad? Angry? Happy? Excited? Bored? Writing down what’s going on in your life can change your mood and even improve your health.

Disappointment Hurts. What Can You Do About It?

Do you fear disappointment so much that you actually change your behavior just so that you won’t have to feel it? Research says you can change this instead.

7 Ways to Fight Debilitating Shame

Most of us try our best to hide our shame, and the behavior that led to it, from others, and even from ourselves. Here are some better ways to cope.

4 Reasons You Succeed or Fail — and 4 Ways to Do Better

There are a number of different reasons for both success and failure. Here are four keys to help you reach your goal.

What Makes It so Hard to Walk Away From a Bad Situation?

Whether from a broken relationship or harassment at work, why do we have such a hard time saying, “This isn’t working for me,” and just walking away from a painful situation?

Do You Say Different Things About #MeToo in Private?

If you have mixed feelings about #MeToo, should you just stay silent? Or is there a better idea?

Betrayed by Your Best Friend? 6 Ways to Heal Your Heart

There are books galore about handling infidelity in a marriage. But what about when it's a friend who is disloyal, hurtful, or unfaithful?

How Confirmation Bias Affects You Every Single Day

Confirmation bias affects you more than you realize. What is it and how does it work?

How Well Adapted Are You?

What makes one person better able to adapt than another? The answer to this question is perhaps less obvious than we like to think.

Looking for the Perfect Gift for Your BFF? Help Is Here

Is trying to find the perfect gift for your best friend overwhelming you? These tips can simplify the task.

Arguing Politics With Friends? One Word Makes a Difference

This little word can change how you approach political conversations with friends, family, and anyone else in your life.

10 Ways to Enjoy the Holidays as an Interfaith Couple

If you need a flow chart to figure out where you’ll be on a given day during the holidays and to help you remember who celebrates what and when, these 10 ideas will help!

In Love With a Narcissist? 6 Ways to Make It Work

Despite popular belief, loving a narcissist can be rewarding in many ways. What can you do to make sure your love will last?

7 Ways to Respond When Someone Shames You

Everyone feels humiliated at some time or another. These 7 steps will help you deal.

Living in a World of Opposites, What's the Best Way to Cope?

We live in a world filled with turmoil and contradictions. How do we manage the feelings they stir up? And what can we do to make things better?

Are You Conflict Avoidant or Conflict Seeking?

Learning to manage conflict is extremely important in every area of life. But what's the best approach to conflict management?

When Trust Is Gone, What Can You Do?

We live in a time when everyone is talking about trust and no one seems to be feeling much of it. Here's what you can do when you no longer trust.

Saying Goodbye? 5 Ideas for Emotionally Healthy Farewells

Whether you’re saying goodbye to a child, a pet, or a house, to a marriage or partnership, or to a loved one who is dying, farewells can be painful. How can you make them easier?

What Does Your Social Media Style Say About You?

Research released this month suggests that every time you post to social media you may be revealing more about yourself than you realize.

How to Talk About Feelings With Your Romantic Partner

Many people come into therapy because a romantic partner wants them to share their feelings. But does this really help a relationship?

Fake Knowledge or Not Knowing: Which Is Worse?

The question of knowledge, facts, and truth is a big one these days. What do we really know? What is the real truth? Who do we believe?

Study Reveals Key to Happiness, Leaves a Question Unanswered

An almost 80-year longitudinal study out of Harvard offers a suggestion for happiness, but leaves one big question unanswered.

5 Steps to Manage "Smiling" Depression

Are you or someone you know smiling on the outside but sad, lonely, anxious, or depressed on the inside?

6 Ways to Deal with the Pain of Being Ghosted

Has this happened to you? Someone you like suddenly seems to stop liking you, and you can’t figure out why.

Who’s to Blame? The Real Downside of the Blame Game

When things go wrong, blaming someone or something – even yourself – can help you cope. But blame can be a problem, too. Here's how you can move past the blame game.

What You Can Do When Your BFF Turns Into Your Worst Enemy

Frenemies aren't just for your teen years. This painful and sometimes surprising reversal occurs in the lives of women of all ages, and all over the world.

Helping Your Child Deal With College Rejection & Acceptance

College acceptances and rejections are coming in. How parents respond can help or hinder adolescents in the developmental task of transitioning from home to college.

Looking for a Baby Name?

If you are trying to find a special name, you may want to check out this new research first.

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