Psychology Today: Health, Help, Happiness + Find a Therapist

Health

How Far Would You Go to Optimize Your Body?

Carolyn Karoll LCSW-C, CEDS-C on August 18, 2026 in Eating Disorder Recovery

Peptide shots, food rules, and tracking promise better health and more control. When does self-care become a costly, never-ending project to manage the body?

Peptide shots, food rules, and tracking promise better health and more control. When does self-care become a costly, never-ending project to manage the body?

Infertility

Donor Conception and the Fear of Not Belonging

Delia M Petrescu M.A., RP on August 17, 2026 in Reproductive Trauma and Infertility

Donor conception can bring hope and a fear of not belonging. Here is how genetic loss can shape identity, attachment, control, grief, and the family story that follows.

Donor conception can bring hope and a fear of not belonging. Here is how genetic loss can shape identity, attachment, control, grief, and the family story that follows.

Anxiety

Move More, Worry Less?

Gary Goldfield Ph.D. on August 17, 2026 in No More FoMO

Can exercise meaningfully improve symptoms of depression and anxiety in young people? The answer was a resounding yes. What we can learn from 38,000 children and adolescents.

Can exercise meaningfully improve symptoms of depression and anxiety in young people? The answer was a resounding yes. What we can learn from 38,000 children and adolescents.

Imposter Syndrome

How Universities Can Make Students Feel Like Impostors

Angélica S. Gutiérrez Ph.D. on August 17, 2026 in Impostorization

Are you wondering if you are smart enough or if you belong at your university? It may not be impostor syndrome. Your university may be impostorizing you.

Are you wondering if you are smart enough or if you belong at your university? It may not be impostor syndrome. Your university may be impostorizing you.

Sex

Is It OK for Your Partner to Have a Fetish?

Kevin Bennett Ph.D. on August 17, 2026 in Modern Minds

Your partner just revealed a fetish. Before you panic, here's what decades of research says about arousal, honesty, and keeping a relationship strong.

Your partner just revealed a fetish. Before you panic, here's what decades of research says about arousal, honesty, and keeping a relationship strong.

Sex

Great Sexpectations: The Science of Good Sex

Kaamna Bhojwani MA on August 17, 2026 in Becoming Technosexual

Everything you've learned about sex from the movies is wrong. Science tells us that good sex is about getting creative, and managing your "sexpectations."

Everything you've learned about sex from the movies is wrong. Science tells us that good sex is about getting creative, and managing your "sexpectations."

Parenting

The Empty Nest May Begin Before Your Child Leaves

Judy Eaton Ph.D. on August 17, 2026 in Radical Repair

Parents may start feeling sad about their child leaving home before they actually go, because imagining the separation can make it feel emotionally real ahead of time.

Parents may start feeling sad about their child leaving home before they actually go, because imagining the separation can make it feel emotionally real ahead of time.

Neurodiversity

Back to Afterschool Meltdowns

Jennifer Cork DSW, LCSW on August 17, 2026 in Neurodivergent Knowledge

Many neurodivergent children and teens struggle with after school meltdowns or shutdowns, but there are things parents and schools can do to support kids in multiple environments.

Many neurodivergent children and teens struggle with after school meltdowns or shutdowns, but there are things parents and schools can do to support kids in multiple environments.

Health

Why Your Healthcare Provider May Be Better Than My Blog

Karen L Fingerman Ph.D. on August 17, 2026 in The Bonds Across the Lifespan

The internet is full of health advice. But even when the science is sound, that advice won’t work for everyone. How do you know when a treatment will work for you specifically?

The internet is full of health advice. But even when the science is sound, that advice won’t work for everyone. How do you know when a treatment will work for you specifically?

Parenting

Happy-Loss: When the Nest Empties

Lisa Liggins-Chambers Ph.D. on August 17, 2026 in Spotlight on Special Education

No matter how old our kids get, they are still our babies. For some new empty nesters, feelings of sadness occur. Learn how to find yourself again.

No matter how old our kids get, they are still our babies. For some new empty nesters, feelings of sadness occur. Learn how to find yourself again.

Artificial Intelligence

What We Miss When We Mistake the Virtual for the Actual

Wendy Lustbader M.S.W. on August 17, 2026 in Life Gets Better

Personal Perspective: AI can generate words connoting emotion but cannot itself be moved. Lacking this deeply responsive dimension, it offers a mere approximation of connection.

Personal Perspective: AI can generate words connoting emotion but cannot itself be moved. Lacking this deeply responsive dimension, it offers a mere approximation of connection.

Procrastination

What Is Your Procrastination Trying to Protect You From?

A. Maya Kaye Ph.D., DSW, LCSW on August 17, 2026 in The Compassionate Brain

Procrastination often protects us from discomfort. Understanding what we are avoiding can help us respond with more compassion and move forward with greater choice.

Procrastination often protects us from discomfort. Understanding what we are avoiding can help us respond with more compassion and move forward with greater choice.

Artificial Intelligence

Will Old Professors Be Forgotten in the Artificial Intelligence Era?

Hamid Zand Ph.D. on August 17, 2026 in The Behavioral Microbiome

AI may free academics from narrow specialization, creating space for broader interdisciplinary thinking, systemic perception, and philosophical questioning.

AI may free academics from narrow specialization, creating space for broader interdisciplinary thinking, systemic perception, and philosophical questioning.

Artificial Intelligence

Awareness of AI Doesn't Fail. It's Never Been Tested

Jeremy G. Schneider LMSW, MFT on August 17, 2026 in Human-Centered Technology

A new study says awareness can't stop AI from swaying you. I think they tested the wrong thing entirely.

A new study says awareness can't stop AI from swaying you. I think they tested the wrong thing entirely.

Hypnosis

Why Patients Decline Effective Therapy

Ran D. Anbar M.D. on August 17, 2026 in Understanding Hypnosis

When a patient is hesitant to use clinical hypnosis, how can we best approach treatment of health conditions for which hypnosis has been demonstrated to have clear efficacy?

When a patient is hesitant to use clinical hypnosis, how can we best approach treatment of health conditions for which hypnosis has been demonstrated to have clear efficacy?

Education

Exploring the Nuances of Well-Being

Tyler J. VanderWeele Ph.D. on August 17, 2026 in Human Flourishing

Are all well-being results the same?

Are all well-being results the same?

Environment

Can Our Brain Grasp What’s Happening to the Earth?

Gary Wenk Ph.D. on August 17, 2026 in Your Brain on Food

A Personal Perspective: We need to allow ourselves grace in how we deal with a problem of unprecedented proportion using a brain that evolved during the Paleolithic period.

A Personal Perspective: We need to allow ourselves grace in how we deal with a problem of unprecedented proportion using a brain that evolved during the Paleolithic period.

Autism

Autism Is Not a Crutch

Jessica L Penot LPC-S on August 17, 2026 in The Forgotten Women

Giftedness can hide an autistic person’s disabilities. Calling autism overdiagnosed or a crutch dismisses real struggles, support needs, and the complexity of autism.

Giftedness can hide an autistic person’s disabilities. Calling autism overdiagnosed or a crutch dismisses real struggles, support needs, and the complexity of autism.

Leadership

Leadership Requires Composure in the Pocket

Blake Griffin Edwards LMFT on August 17, 2026 in Progress Notes

When anxiety surges through an organization, speed can look like leadership. Sometimes the harder task is holding your position long enough for thinking to catch up.

When anxiety surges through an organization, speed can look like leadership. Sometimes the harder task is holding your position long enough for thinking to catch up.

Emotions

Avoid These 5 Types of Emotional Manipulation

Jeremy Nicholson M.S.W., Ph.D. on August 17, 2026 in Persuasion, Bias, and Choice

Telling the difference between emotional manipulation and negative feedback can be difficult. But research has found 5 ways people emotionally manipulate—and how to avoid them!

Telling the difference between emotional manipulation and negative feedback can be difficult. But research has found 5 ways people emotionally manipulate—and how to avoid them!

Artificial Intelligence

The Artifact of Thought

John Nosta on August 17, 2026 in The Digital Self

AI is breaking the link between the artifact of thought and the mind we assume created it.

AI is breaking the link between the artifact of thought and the mind we assume created it.

Sport and Competition

What if Our Humanity Is the Key to Exceptional Performance?

Katrina Monton Ph.D. on August 17, 2026 in Humanizing High Performance

We learn that pursuing excellence requires us to set parts of ourselves aside. What if the opposite is true, and the cost of ignoring that is higher than we think?

We learn that pursuing excellence requires us to set parts of ourselves aside. What if the opposite is true, and the cost of ignoring that is higher than we think?

Procrastination

Procrastination, Let’s Get Straight to the Point

Ragnar Purje Ph.D. on August 17, 2026 in Recovery From Brain Injury

The first step in breaking this self-imposed cycle of procrastination and avoidance is recognizing that procrastination and avoidance is a choice.

The first step in breaking this self-imposed cycle of procrastination and avoidance is recognizing that procrastination and avoidance is a choice.

Autism

Autism Neurodivergence and High-Control Churches

Ted Beauchaine Ph.D. on August 17, 2026 in Psychological Science Meets the Streets

Autism neurodivergence may attract people to high-control churches, where many struggle with excessive social demands, exhaustion, and shame after arriving.

Autism neurodivergence may attract people to high-control churches, where many struggle with excessive social demands, exhaustion, and shame after arriving.

Emotion Regulation

What Flight Delays Teach Us About Emotional Regulation

Mira Brancu, Ph.D. on August 17, 2026 in A New Look at Women's Leadership

Two days of flight delays revealed who often gets rewarded for emotional dysregulation, why we do it, and how we can interrupt it.

Two days of flight delays revealed who often gets rewarded for emotional dysregulation, why we do it, and how we can interrupt it.

Motivation

What Is a Parent’s Job, Really?

Jenny Brown, Ph.D. on August 17, 2026 in The Paradoxical Path of Parental Differentiation

What if our job as parents isn’t to make our children happy and successful, but to help them build the character, resilience, and resources they need for life?

What if our job as parents isn’t to make our children happy and successful, but to help them build the character, resilience, and resources they need for life?

Parenting

What if Your Adult Child Needs You to Be the Villain?

Jeffrey Bernstein Ph.D. on August 17, 2026 in Liking the Child You Love

What happens when you’ve admitted your mistakes, apologized sincerely, and changed—but your adult child still needs the story to have a villain?

What happens when you’ve admitted your mistakes, apologized sincerely, and changed—but your adult child still needs the story to have a villain?

Social Media

What Is This 'Kinda Chic' Social Media Trend?

Bruce Y. Lee M.D., M.B.A. on August 17, 2026 in A Funny Bone to Pick

More and more people have been using the phrase "kinda chic to" on TikTok, Instagram, and other social media platforms. So it does make sense to see what this is kinda all about.

More and more people have been using the phrase "kinda chic to" on TikTok, Instagram, and other social media platforms. So it does make sense to see what this is kinda all about.

Gender

Why the Lindsay Clancy Trial Is Triggering for Many Women

Kaytee Gillis, LCSW on August 17, 2026 in Invisible Bruises

Why does the Lindsay Clancy case feel so unsettling for so many women? It may tap into a familiar fear: knowing something is wrong and wondering whether anyone is listening.

Why does the Lindsay Clancy case feel so unsettling for so many women? It may tap into a familiar fear: knowing something is wrong and wondering whether anyone is listening.