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

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Comparing Internal Family Systems and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Martha Sweezy Ph.D. on December 6, 2024 in Internal Family Systems Therapy for Shame and Guilt

IFS and CBT share an important tactic but have some important differences.

IFS and CBT share an important tactic but have some important differences.

Relationships

How Some Choose to Move Forward When Their Partner Lies or Cheats

Judith Fein on December 6, 2024 in Life Is a Trip

A Personal Perspective: What some people do to heal after they discover they have been cheated or lied to in a relationship.

A Personal Perspective: What some people do to heal after they discover they have been cheated or lied to in a relationship.

Gratitude

A Year-Round Attitude of Gratitude

Yosi Amram, Ph.D on December 6, 2024 in Spiritual Intelligence

Did you know gratitude can rewire your brain? Discover how this powerful practice can enhance every aspect of your life—and not just on Thanksgiving.

Did you know gratitude can rewire your brain? Discover how this powerful practice can enhance every aspect of your life—and not just on Thanksgiving.

Relationships

Bite Your Tongue: When to Stay Quiet in Your Relationship

Matt Wotton, MBA and Graham Johnston, MBA on December 6, 2024 in Get Some Help!

Talking can reinforce an image of the relationship as problematic, and leave you and your partner feeling angry, upset, and defensive—the opposite of a good connection.

Talking can reinforce an image of the relationship as problematic, and leave you and your partner feeling angry, upset, and defensive—the opposite of a good connection.

Trauma

How Triggered Immaturity Destroys Intimacy

Randi Gunther Ph.D. on December 5, 2024 in Rediscovering Love

Past traumas can resurface in present relationships, sabotaging intimacy and causing unnecessary pain. Learn how to identify these patterns and heal together.

Past traumas can resurface in present relationships, sabotaging intimacy and causing unnecessary pain. Learn how to identify these patterns and heal together.

Forgiveness

3 Reasons to Forgive

Glenn Geher Ph.D. on December 5, 2024 in Darwin's Subterranean World

Forgiving others is often difficult or impossible. That said, genuine forgiveness—when appropriate—can lead to social and emotional benefits.

Forgiving others is often difficult or impossible. That said, genuine forgiveness—when appropriate—can lead to social and emotional benefits.

Vagus Nerve

Turning a Battle Into a Playground

Michael Allison on December 5, 2024 in The Pressure Paradox

Transform family battles into moments of connection by embracing play, aligning with your physiological state, and turning frustration into laughter and cooperation.

Transform family battles into moments of connection by embracing play, aligning with your physiological state, and turning frustration into laughter and cooperation.

Mass Shootings

Can Anonymous Reporting Systems Prevent School Violence?

Romeo Vitelli Ph.D. on December 5, 2024 in Media Spotlight

Anonymous reporting systems represent a promising tool for safety. But do they work?

Anonymous reporting systems represent a promising tool for safety. But do they work?

Education

When Outpatient Psychiatric Care Is Not Enough

Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry on December 5, 2024 in Psychiatry’s Think Tank

What happens when outpatient treatment isn't enough? Residential treatment often offers the best hope of recovery.

What happens when outpatient treatment isn't enough? Residential treatment often offers the best hope of recovery.

Diet

A Second Look at Obesity as a Disease

Lloyd Glauberman Ph.D. on December 5, 2024 in Lifestyle Intelligence

Personal Perspective: This is a moment in time when intellect, emotion, and behavior need to come together, allowing lifestyle intelligence to take control.

Personal Perspective: This is a moment in time when intellect, emotion, and behavior need to come together, allowing lifestyle intelligence to take control.

Law and Crime

Don't I Know You From Somewhere?

Matthew J. Sharps Ph.D. on December 5, 2024 in The Forensic View

Eyewitnesses are sometimes exposed to repeated tests of suspect recognition. Modern cognitive research has shown that this practice is very dangerous.

Eyewitnesses are sometimes exposed to repeated tests of suspect recognition. Modern cognitive research has shown that this practice is very dangerous.

Psychosis

Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder: How They Compare

Sarah An Myers on December 5, 2024 in Living as an Outlier

Schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder are often confused with each other, but there are fundamental differences, including their recovery rates.

Schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder are often confused with each other, but there are fundamental differences, including their recovery rates.

Infertility

The Emotional Impact of Choosing Donor Conception

Lisa Schuman on December 5, 2024 in Building Your Family

Using donor conception to have a child can bring grief over the loss of a genetic connection. This grief is personal and separate from the deep love you’ll have for your child.

Using donor conception to have a child can bring grief over the loss of a genetic connection. This grief is personal and separate from the deep love you’ll have for your child.

Mental Health Stigma

Mental Illness Mascots Across Generations

Sophie Riegel on December 5, 2024 in Mind The (Generation) Gap

Generational shifts in pop culture shape our perceptions of mental health, from the stigmatized portrayals of the past to today’s more empathetic, empowering figures.

Generational shifts in pop culture shape our perceptions of mental health, from the stigmatized portrayals of the past to today’s more empathetic, empowering figures.

Polyamory

What It's Like to Grow Up in a Polyamorous Household

David Ludden Ph.D. on December 5, 2024 in Talking Apes

Polyamorous homes are not so unlike other kinds of extended family structures, which can provide thriving environments for children in a variety of ways.

Polyamorous homes are not so unlike other kinds of extended family structures, which can provide thriving environments for children in a variety of ways.

Parenting

How You Can Help Your Child Find Ease During Hard Times

Elena Lister, MD and Michael Schwartzman, Ph.D., ABPP on December 5, 2024 in Facing Life's Challenges

Your life will inevitably have hard times. You can help yourself—and teach your child—to get through them with a simple mental exercise.

Your life will inevitably have hard times. You can help yourself—and teach your child—to get through them with a simple mental exercise.

Assertiveness

The Synergy Between Assertiveness and Self-Esteem

Moshe Ratson MBA, MFT on December 5, 2024 in The Wisdom of Anger

Assertiveness and self-esteem form a powerful synergy, enabling individuals to express their needs while respecting others.

Assertiveness and self-esteem form a powerful synergy, enabling individuals to express their needs while respecting others.

Career

Caring That Scales: Values-Driven Organizational Psychology

Ludmila N. Praslova, Ph.D. on December 5, 2024 in Positively Different

Industrial-organizational psychology is often misunderstood. Contrary to stereotypes, it can be used to help people, not just on an individual level, but at scale.

Industrial-organizational psychology is often misunderstood. Contrary to stereotypes, it can be used to help people, not just on an individual level, but at scale.

Emotional Intelligence

A Whole Love Story

Paul J Dunion Ed.D. on December 5, 2024 in The Secular Mystic Path

We tend to believe that the value of giving far exceeds the importance of receiving. But when we learn to both give and receive love graciously, we create a whole love story.

We tend to believe that the value of giving far exceeds the importance of receiving. But when we learn to both give and receive love graciously, we create a whole love story.

Gender

Where Are All the Positive Male Role Models?

Yalda T. Uhls Ph.D. on December 5, 2024 in The Power of Storytelling

True gender equity requires us to evolve our narratives around masculinity, too.

True gender equity requires us to evolve our narratives around masculinity, too.

Stress

4 Science-Backed Techniques for Stress and Anxiety Relief

Kiki Fehling Ph.D. on December 5, 2024 in Building a Life Worth Living

Dialectical behavior therapy offers 4 concrete skills that utilize the mind-body connection to help you calm down when you’re feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or stressed out.

Dialectical behavior therapy offers 4 concrete skills that utilize the mind-body connection to help you calm down when you’re feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or stressed out.

Mindfulness

Why Workplace Mindfulness So Often Fails

Alex Snider on December 5, 2024 in Human Bureaucracy

Workplace mindfulness fails because it isolates us. Embracing a relational approach—awkwardness and all—is the key to building the culture we all crave.

Workplace mindfulness fails because it isolates us. Embracing a relational approach—awkwardness and all—is the key to building the culture we all crave.

Eating Disorders

Neurodivergence, Gender Identity, and Eating Disorders

Morgan Blair MA, LPC on December 5, 2024 in Eating Disorders Among Gender-Expansive and Neurodivergent Individuals

Gender expansiveness can shape how we support neurodivergent individuals in eating disorder treatment.

Gender expansiveness can shape how we support neurodivergent individuals in eating disorder treatment.

Domestic Violence

Spiteful Disregard in Post-Separation Abuse

Lisa Aronson Fontes Ph.D. on December 5, 2024 in Invisible Chains

When a domestic abuser harms children to spite the other parent, that's called spiteful disregard. Therapists and court-involved professionals need to learn to spot this.

When a domestic abuser harms children to spite the other parent, that's called spiteful disregard. Therapists and court-involved professionals need to learn to spot this.

Trauma

Navigating Family Trauma During the Holiday Season

Kaytee Gillis, LCSW on December 5, 2024 in Invisible Bruises

The holidays can evoke painful memories for survivors, as they idealize family tradition. For those who did not have a healthy, safe family, this can feel isolating.

The holidays can evoke painful memories for survivors, as they idealize family tradition. For those who did not have a healthy, safe family, this can feel isolating.

Parenting

Behind the Smile: Signs Your Adult Child Is Struggling

Jeffrey Bernstein Ph.D. on December 5, 2024 in Liking the Child You Love

Even the most independent-looking adult children can be hiding struggles that a tuned-in parent can help uncover.

Even the most independent-looking adult children can be hiding struggles that a tuned-in parent can help uncover.

Addiction

What a New Trump Administration Might Mean for Addiction Treatment

Adi Jaffe Ph.D. on December 5, 2024 in All About Addiction

Will the next four years undo decades of progress in addiction treatment and harm reduction?

Will the next four years undo decades of progress in addiction treatment and harm reduction?

Artificial Intelligence

When Better Tech Makes Us Worse

John Nosta on December 5, 2024 in The Digital Self

Technology stands ready to amplify our creativity or dull it. The choice, and the opportunity, rests with you.

Technology stands ready to amplify our creativity or dull it. The choice, and the opportunity, rests with you.

Stress

Stress as a Status Symbol: Unveiling the Societal Implications

Finn Janning Ph.D. on December 5, 2024 in Philosophies in Psychology

Stress has become a status symbol for the privileged. Could we shift the narrative to embrace systemic solutions and celebrate virtues that prioritize collective well-being?

Stress has become a status symbol for the privileged. Could we shift the narrative to embrace systemic solutions and celebrate virtues that prioritize collective well-being?