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

Grief

The Sliver of Light After Losing a Child

David R Patterson Ph.D., ABPP on November 10, 2025 in Reducing Suffering

Personal Perspective: Losing a child causes the most intense pain imaginable for a parent, but it often brings a grasp of mortality that can lead to a greater appreciation of life.

Personal Perspective: Losing a child causes the most intense pain imaginable for a parent, but it often brings a grasp of mortality that can lead to a greater appreciation of life.

Relationships

Relationships Aren't Fair

Phil Stark LMFT on November 10, 2025 in Dude, Where’s My Car-tharsis?

In relationships, we often expect things to be fair, but the reality is that relationships usually aren't fair, and expecting them to be can hold us back.

In relationships, we often expect things to be fair, but the reality is that relationships usually aren't fair, and expecting them to be can hold us back.

Relationships

Pebbling and the Importance of Bids for Connection

The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy on November 10, 2025 in Systemic Insights

Can a meme say you care? Pebbling—sharing small digital gestures—creates real emotional connection in an age of screens and shifting relationships.

Can a meme say you care? Pebbling—sharing small digital gestures—creates real emotional connection in an age of screens and shifting relationships.

Neuroplasticity

The Good, the Bad, and the Good Choices That Change the Brain

Ragnar Purje Ph.D. on November 10, 2025 in Recovery From Brain Injury

Research has shown that even the smallest amount of information can alter the structure of neurons involved in the learning process.

Research has shown that even the smallest amount of information can alter the structure of neurons involved in the learning process.

Relationships

2 Ways 'Scorekeeping' Is Ruining Modern Relationships

Mark Travers Ph.D. on November 10, 2025 in Social Instincts

Two reasons why a quid pro quo mentality won't help your relationship.

Two reasons why a quid pro quo mentality won't help your relationship.

Leadership

Women of Color Leading With Joy

Jennifer R Jones-Damis, Psy.D. on November 10, 2025 in Navigating Racial Trauma

Women of color in higher ed carry heavy, unseen burdens. Leading with joy explores how healing, rest, and authentic leadership can turn survival into strength.

Women of color in higher ed carry heavy, unseen burdens. Leading with joy explores how healing, rest, and authentic leadership can turn survival into strength.

Psychopathy

Faust, Dorian Gray and Psychopathy

Winifred Rule on November 10, 2025 in Surviving the Female Psychopath

"Faust" and "The Picture of Dorian Gray" provide insights into the downward spiral that accompanies many who display high levels of psychopathic characteristics.

"Faust" and "The Picture of Dorian Gray" provide insights into the downward spiral that accompanies many who display high levels of psychopathic characteristics.

Artificial Intelligence

Finding the Multiplicity Within the AI Singularity

Grant Hilary Brenner MD, DFAPA on November 10, 2025 in ExperiMentations

As we approach the anticipated artificial intelligence singularity and the strain builds, showing the fault lines in our systems, different aspects emerge and begin to converge.

As we approach the anticipated artificial intelligence singularity and the strain builds, showing the fault lines in our systems, different aspects emerge and begin to converge.

Politics

Principles of Dialogue and Reasoned Argument

Kenneth Barish Ph.D. on November 10, 2025 in Finding Common Ground

A shift from debate to dialogue and from certainty to humility is often a game changer in both families and politics.

A shift from debate to dialogue and from certainty to humility is often a game changer in both families and politics.

Neuroscience

Why High Achievers Struggle With Permission to Feel Good

Kyle Emanuel Brown on November 10, 2025 in Total Self-Trust

High achievers often master stress but resist joy. Learn how to retrain your nervous system to see calm, rest, and pleasure as safe and essential tools for real success.

High achievers often master stress but resist joy. Learn how to retrain your nervous system to see calm, rest, and pleasure as safe and essential tools for real success.

Personal Perspectives

When Your Child Dies, You Are Robbed of Who You Are

Larry Carlat on November 10, 2025 in A Space in the Heart

Personal Perspective: You lose a lifetime filled with milestones and memories when your child dies.

Personal Perspective: You lose a lifetime filled with milestones and memories when your child dies.

Sleep

Do You Have to Start Sleep Training Early? Research Says No

Macall Gordon M.A. on November 10, 2025 in The Livewire

Parents are told to start sleep training early—or else. Does the research actually support the urgency? The evidence may surprise you.

Parents are told to start sleep training early—or else. Does the research actually support the urgency? The evidence may surprise you.

Stress

Why Our Minds Can’t Rest Right Now

Peter Andrew Danzig LCSW on November 10, 2025 in Don't Toy With Me

As a trauma psychotherapist, I see it daily: clients longing for “normal,” for peace that feels out of reach. The truth is, we can’t go back—but we can learn to rest again.

As a trauma psychotherapist, I see it daily: clients longing for “normal,” for peace that feels out of reach. The truth is, we can’t go back—but we can learn to rest again.

Anxiety

A Simple Tool for Better Thinking and Less Anxiety

Chester H. Sunde, Psy.D. on November 10, 2025 in Platonic Psychology

The COLA method can help identify whether you're operating on speculation, belief, evidence, or principle—and respond accordingly.

The COLA method can help identify whether you're operating on speculation, belief, evidence, or principle—and respond accordingly.

Adolescence

How Teenage Wisdom—Not Panic—Led to Rock & Roll Fame

David Udelf Psy.D. on November 9, 2025 in Sport Between the Ears

Adolescence can be a daunting experience, fraught with social insecurity. Learn how Widespread Panic rocker John Bell navigated those toxic teen days en route to music stardom.

Adolescence can be a daunting experience, fraught with social insecurity. Learn how Widespread Panic rocker John Bell navigated those toxic teen days en route to music stardom.

Habit Formation

Habits of Life

Sara Leila Sherman, M.M., and Morton Sherman Ph.D. on November 9, 2025 in Resonant Minds

Listening shapes the habits of life, turning everyday music into a powerful guide for focus, empathy, and connection. Music sharpens attention, deepens empathy, resets your mood.

Listening shapes the habits of life, turning everyday music into a powerful guide for focus, empathy, and connection. Music sharpens attention, deepens empathy, resets your mood.

Neuroscience

Wired for Words: Understanding Language and the Brain

Gregory Hickok Ph.D. on November 9, 2025 in Wired for Words

After 150 years of mystery, neuroscience has finally cracked the code on how language works in the brain—and the answer is surprisingly elegant.

After 150 years of mystery, neuroscience has finally cracked the code on how language works in the brain—and the answer is surprisingly elegant.

Trauma

The Trauma Era: From Awareness to Misunderstanding

Antonieta Contreras on November 9, 2025 in Traumatization and Its Aftermath

Once a clinical term, now a cultural currency. Discover how trauma became a commodity and what that costs our understanding of suffering.

Once a clinical term, now a cultural currency. Discover how trauma became a commodity and what that costs our understanding of suffering.

Parenting

When Your Young Adult Seems Stuck

Julie Baron LCSW-C on November 9, 2025 in Parenting Teens Through Connection

Parents can be understandably distraught when their young adult seems unable to engage in tasks to promote independence. Here's what parents can (and cannot) do to help.

Parents can be understandably distraught when their young adult seems unable to engage in tasks to promote independence. Here's what parents can (and cannot) do to help.

Embarrassment

Sometimes It’s Good to Be Embarrassed

Matthew Clemente, Ph.D. and David Goodman, Ph.D. on November 9, 2025 in Our Human Condition

Nobody likes to feel embarrassed. Embarrassment can lead to shame and self-loathing. And yet, there are times when feeling embarrassed is not only necessary but good.

Nobody likes to feel embarrassed. Embarrassment can lead to shame and self-loathing. And yet, there are times when feeling embarrassed is not only necessary but good.

Relationships

The Hidden Way You're Pushing People Away

Jason N. Linder, PsyD on November 9, 2025 in Relationship and Trauma Insights

Telling someone "don't worry" or "you'll be fine" when they're struggling isn't comfort. It's rejection in disguise.

Telling someone "don't worry" or "you'll be fine" when they're struggling isn't comfort. It's rejection in disguise.

Attachment

You're Not a Bad Parent

Ashley Maier, MSW, MPA on November 9, 2025 in Psychology in the Real World

A perfect parent is not a normal parent. Please, give yourself a break.

A perfect parent is not a normal parent. Please, give yourself a break.

Motivation

How to Navigate Feeling Overwhelmed When Pursuing a Big Goal

Alice Boyes Ph.D. on November 9, 2025 in In Practice

When generic advice feels unhelpful, there are specific tactics to deploy.

When generic advice feels unhelpful, there are specific tactics to deploy.

Personal Perspectives

From We to Me in an Empty Nest

Dorothy Chin Ph.D. on November 9, 2025 in A Different Lens

Personal Perspective: Becoming an "I" after a lifetime of "We" holds anxieties and renewed promise.

Personal Perspective: Becoming an "I" after a lifetime of "We" holds anxieties and renewed promise.

Evolutionary Psychology

Why Culture Doesn't Evolve Through Natural Selection

Liane Gabora Ph.D. on November 9, 2025 in Mindbloggling

If your parents' bone repair genes never turn on, you still inherit them, and you heal. But if they don't teach you to ski, you can't ski. Ski knowledge is acquired, not inherited.

If your parents' bone repair genes never turn on, you still inherit them, and you heal. But if they don't teach you to ski, you can't ski. Ski knowledge is acquired, not inherited.

Self-Help

How to Develop Autopilot Wellness

Steven Stosny, Ph.D. on November 9, 2025 in Anger in the Age of Entitlement

Genuine confidence is not about living mistake-free, with nothing bad happening. It’s about making good things happen and improving the bad things that will happen.

Genuine confidence is not about living mistake-free, with nothing bad happening. It’s about making good things happen and improving the bad things that will happen.

Marriage

When Is Divorce a Solution to Marriage Problems?

Susan Heitler Ph.D. on November 9, 2025 in Resolution, Not Conflict

Just like sports and games have boundaries and rules, so does marriage. Violate the rules and play stops. Keep violating marriage rules and your spouse may say goodbye.

Just like sports and games have boundaries and rules, so does marriage. Violate the rules and play stops. Keep violating marriage rules and your spouse may say goodbye.

Child Development

How Not to Raise an Entitled Child

Claire Lerner LCSW-C on November 9, 2025 in Zero to Six

If you want a child who respects that other people's feelings and needs are important, limits are the key to nurturing this important attribute and mindset.

If you want a child who respects that other people's feelings and needs are important, limits are the key to nurturing this important attribute and mindset.

Artificial Intelligence

AI Can Now See, Hear, Talk, Taste, and Act

Cornelia C. Walther Ph.D. on November 9, 2025 in Harnessing Hybrid Intelligence

We are not prepared to live in a world in which everything that makes our experiences and expressions human can be replicated by AI.

We are not prepared to live in a world in which everything that makes our experiences and expressions human can be replicated by AI.