The Savvy Psychologist

Relationships

Tools for Building Better Boundaries in Relationships

Monica Johnson Psy.D. on October 5, 2022

Do you struggle with setting boundaries in relationships or get confused as to what boundaries are?

Do you struggle with setting boundaries in relationships or get confused as to what boundaries are?

Diet

Is Dieting Ruining Your Life?

Monica Johnson Psy.D. on September 8, 2022

Is the pressure to lose weight stressing you? Outside influences may be a factor.

Is the pressure to lose weight stressing you? Outside influences may be a factor.

Trauma

How to Combat Emotional Triggers

Monica Johnson Psy.D. on March 25, 2022

Have you been struggling with vicarious trauma? Here are a few tips to combat emotional triggers.

Have you been struggling with vicarious trauma? Here are a few tips to combat emotional triggers.

Body Image

The 4 Components of Body Image

Monica Johnson Psy.D. on February 11, 2022

Understand the 4 components of body image and the best ways to change your mind about your body. Embrace it for what it is and can do for you.

Understand the 4 components of body image and the best ways to change your mind about your body. Embrace it for what it is and can do for you.

Relationships

18 Schemas That Change the Way You See the World

Monica Johnson Psy.D. on January 11, 2022

Your belief systems from childhood may adversely affect how you view the world and your relationships. Once identified, you can work to change these beliefs.

Your belief systems from childhood may adversely affect how you view the world and your relationships. Once identified, you can work to change these beliefs.

Trauma

How Does Trauma Hijack the Brain?

Monica Johnson Psy.D. on November 29, 2021

Has it ever felt like trauma changed the way your brain worked? You're not wrong. Here's how trauma affects brain development and natural responses to danger.

Has it ever felt like trauma changed the way your brain worked? You're not wrong. Here's how trauma affects brain development and natural responses to danger.

Relationships

How Boundaries and Self-Esteem Affect Your Relationships

Monica Johnson Psy.D. on October 29, 2021

Do you often find that your relationships are affected by poor boundaries and low self-esteem? Or do you possibly have too many boundaries and too much self-esteem?

Do you often find that your relationships are affected by poor boundaries and low self-esteem? Or do you possibly have too many boundaries and too much self-esteem?

Anxiety

What to Know About Illness Anxiety Disorder

Monica Johnson Psy.D. on October 1, 2021

If you often find yourself self-diagnosing terminal illnesses, you might have Illness Anxiety Disorder.

If you often find yourself self-diagnosing terminal illnesses, you might have Illness Anxiety Disorder.

Attention

4 Strategies to Invest in Your Mental Health Bank

Monica Johnson Psy.D. on August 31, 2021

Your mental health fluctuates depending on what you put into it—and what you take out. Here's how to invest in your personal mental health bank.

Your mental health fluctuates depending on what you put into it—and what you take out. Here's how to invest in your personal mental health bank.

Relationships

5 Ways to Develop Self-Love, and Why You Need To

Jade Wu Ph.D. on July 29, 2021

Would you rather be at odds with the person you're tied to for the rest of your life, or take care of them?

Would you rather be at odds with the person you're tied to for the rest of your life, or take care of them?

Motivation

Can Money Really Buy Happiness?

Jade Wu Ph.D. on June 24, 2021

Money and happiness are related — but not in the way you think.

Money and happiness are related — but not in the way you think.

Anxiety

How to Cope with the Fear of a Loved One Dying

Jade Wu Ph.D. on May 12, 2021

The fear of and anxiety about a loved one's death can be paralyzing, but despite these worries, you can still get meaning and joy out of your life with your loved ones.

The fear of and anxiety about a loved one's death can be paralyzing, but despite these worries, you can still get meaning and joy out of your life with your loved ones.

Relationships

9 Tips to Save Your Politically Divided Friendships

Jade Wu Ph.D. on April 8, 2021

Have you ended a friendship over politics? Open and empathetic conversations can help to save your friendships that span across the political aisle.

Have you ended a friendship over politics? Open and empathetic conversations can help to save your friendships that span across the political aisle.

Self-Talk

5 Ways to Use Positive Self-Talk to Psych Yourself Up

Jade Wu Ph.D. on March 25, 2021

Positive self-talk isn't just an athlete's secret weapon. It's a research-backed way to boost your performance and psych yourself up before a challenging task.

Positive self-talk isn't just an athlete's secret weapon. It's a research-backed way to boost your performance and psych yourself up before a challenging task.

Compassion Fatigue

Feeling Empathy Burnout? Protect Yourself from Fatigue

Jade Wu Ph.D. on March 3, 2021

To protect yourself from empathy fatigue, make sure your basic needs are being met, build a support system, and practice self-compassion.

To protect yourself from empathy fatigue, make sure your basic needs are being met, build a support system, and practice self-compassion.

Relationships

How to Recognize Dark Triad Personality Traits

Jade Wu Ph.D. on February 12, 2021

Why are traits like psychopathy and narcissism so destructive to relationships?

Why are traits like psychopathy and narcissism so destructive to relationships?

Sleep

Parasomnias: 6 Strange, Sometimes Creepy Sleep Phenomena

Jade Wu Ph.D. on January 28, 2021

If you've woken up in the middle of eating a cake or felt paralyzed in bed, you might be suffering from a parasomnia.

If you've woken up in the middle of eating a cake or felt paralyzed in bed, you might be suffering from a parasomnia.

Sleep

How to Use Light to Beat the Winter Blues

Jade Wu Ph.D. on January 14, 2021

The winter blues can sap our energy and leave us feeling tired, hopeless, and foggy, but light may be the key to keeping the blues at bay.

The winter blues can sap our energy and leave us feeling tired, hopeless, and foggy, but light may be the key to keeping the blues at bay.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

What Pop Culture Gets Wrong About Therapy

Jade Wu Ph.D. on January 4, 2021

Pop culture gets a lot wrong when it comes to mental health, but this overview can help you demystify the idea of going to therapy and provide a basis for many types of therapy.

Pop culture gets a lot wrong when it comes to mental health, but this overview can help you demystify the idea of going to therapy and provide a basis for many types of therapy.

Mindfulness

What Mindfulness Can (and Can't) Do for Us

Jade Wu Ph.D. on December 3, 2020

Mindfulness has become increasingly popular, but with that popularity come exaggerated claims and beliefs about its uses.

Mindfulness has become increasingly popular, but with that popularity come exaggerated claims and beliefs about its uses.