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

Self-Help

Honoring Thy Self: The Unsung Virtues of Selfishness

Stephen A. Diamond Ph.D. on September 7, 2026 in Evil Deeds

Sometimes we need to be more selfish, not less.

Sometimes we need to be more selfish, not less.

Trauma

Keeping Mentally Healthy in Trauma Nursing

Ilan Kelman Ph.D. on September 7, 2026 in Disaster By Choice

In practice and research, Emily Ragus reflects on her experiences and contributions to maintaining mental health while being a trauma nurse.

In practice and research, Emily Ragus reflects on her experiences and contributions to maintaining mental health while being a trauma nurse.

Anxiety

What Jumping to Conclusions Reveals About Your Wounds

Noelle McWard LCSW on September 7, 2026 in Unpacking Anxiety

We fill uncertainty with a story. That story is rarely true, and it often points back to an old wound.

We fill uncertainty with a story. That story is rarely true, and it often points back to an old wound.

Artificial Intelligence

I Didn't Want to Be a Burden. AI Never Made Me Feel Like One

Jeremy G. Schneider LMSW, MFT on September 7, 2026 in Human-Centered Technology

Personal Perspective: AI solved a problem I'd carried for years. It also may be quietly changing how my brain works. This is the trade I didn't see coming.

Personal Perspective: AI solved a problem I'd carried for years. It also may be quietly changing how my brain works. This is the trade I didn't see coming.

Ethics and Morality

My Great Expectations and the Pursuit of Worth

Sheila Kohler on September 7, 2026 in Dreaming for Freud

Personal Perspective: We all need worthy work, but not at the expense of those we truly love.

Personal Perspective: We all need worthy work, but not at the expense of those we truly love.

Cognitive Reappraisal

Why Your Greatest Strength Is Your Biggest Problem

Matt Johnson Ph.D. on September 7, 2026 in Mind, Brain, and Value

The qualities that got you here are keeping you stuck. A look at the surprising psychology of why talented people keep doubling down on what stopped working.

The qualities that got you here are keeping you stuck. A look at the surprising psychology of why talented people keep doubling down on what stopped working.

Ethics and Morality

Dangerous Books and Why Vice Is a Virtue in Literature

Matthew Clemente, Ph.D. and David Goodman, Ph.D. on September 7, 2026 in Our Human Condition

Not every story is meant to make us good, but every compelling story shows the contrast between good and evil. Literature uses fiction to depict truth and vice to reveal virtue.

Not every story is meant to make us good, but every compelling story shows the contrast between good and evil. Literature uses fiction to depict truth and vice to reveal virtue.

Self-Talk

Preparing for High-Stress Training Evolutions

Carrie H. Kennedy Ph.D., ABPP on September 7, 2026 in Alpha Blog Charlie

Public safety professions require high-risk and high-stress training for effective, high-stakes decision-making. Learn the key mental skills that are necessary for success.

Public safety professions require high-risk and high-stress training for effective, high-stakes decision-making. Learn the key mental skills that are necessary for success.

Relationships

How Going Deeper Can Lead to a Richer Life

Tony Daloisio Ph.D. on September 7, 2026 in The Journey of Your Life

Personal Perspective: We often search for the next experience, answer, or distraction. What would be visible if we learned to stay a little longer with what is already here?

Personal Perspective: We often search for the next experience, answer, or distraction. What would be visible if we learned to stay a little longer with what is already here?

Friends

What Male Friendship Actually Sounds Like

Jarie Bolander on September 7, 2026 in The Male Friendship Experience

Podcasts are a great way to get to know someone. Not only do you get to talk with them for longer than a sound bite, but you also get the joy of the "before-we-hit-record" moments.

Podcasts are a great way to get to know someone. Not only do you get to talk with them for longer than a sound bite, but you also get the joy of the "before-we-hit-record" moments.

Relationships

Why Your Therapist Thanks You

Diane N Solomon Ph.D. on September 7, 2026 in The Narrative Nurse Practitioner

Personal Perspective: It may sound cliché, but therapists likely receive (and learn) more from you than you do from them.

Personal Perspective: It may sound cliché, but therapists likely receive (and learn) more from you than you do from them.

Social Media

Can We Make Social Media Feel a Little Quieter?

Susanna Newsonen on September 7, 2026 in The Path to Passionate Happiness

Last week, I went on social media for the first time in three months. Here is what I learned and five ways I'm protecting my peace online.

Last week, I went on social media for the first time in three months. Here is what I learned and five ways I'm protecting my peace online.

Workplace Dynamics

Your Office Romance Isn’t Just Between Two People

Tony Nguyen Ph.D. on September 7, 2026 in The Human Workplace

A workplace romance may feel private, but it may reshape trust, communication, and perceptions of fairness across an entire team.

A workplace romance may feel private, but it may reshape trust, communication, and perceptions of fairness across an entire team.

Personal Perspectives

A Ghost in the Machine: An Eerie Tale from the Psych Lab

Barry Markovsky Ph.D. on September 7, 2026 in Everyday Extraordinary

Personal Perspective: An early research experience taught me an important lesson in overcoming adversity. The story has motivated and guided me.

Personal Perspective: An early research experience taught me an important lesson in overcoming adversity. The story has motivated and guided me.

Postpartum Depression

Postpartum Depression Has a Thousand Faces. A Mother May Meet Several

Changiz Mohiyeddini Ph.D. on September 7, 2026 in The Unknown Mind

Postpartum depression shifts day to day within the same person. Knowing today's face changes how we listen and is the minimum that compassion requires.

Postpartum depression shifts day to day within the same person. Knowing today's face changes how we listen and is the minimum that compassion requires.

Bullying

The Limited and Lopsided Vision of Bullying

Jennifer Fraser Ph.D. on September 7, 2026 in The Bullied Brain

A bullying approach to others and the world is one-sided, limited, and destructive. Intentionally choosing a Two-Eyed, expansive, and balanced approach boosts clarity and insight.

A bullying approach to others and the world is one-sided, limited, and destructive. Intentionally choosing a Two-Eyed, expansive, and balanced approach boosts clarity and insight.

Child Development

The Search for Causation Comes from a Desire for Certainty

Jeanine Connor MBACP, MSc, MEd, BSc (Hons) on September 7, 2026 in Modern Life Is Rubbish (or Is It?)

Suggesting a singular cause for psychological challenges is reductionist. We can adopt a holistic approach and consider biological, psychological, and environmental factors.

Suggesting a singular cause for psychological challenges is reductionist. We can adopt a holistic approach and consider biological, psychological, and environmental factors.

Media

Why the TV Series Sterling Point Feels So Precisely Gen Z

Duygu Balan LPCC on September 7, 2026 in Un-Numb

Five ways a TV series nails how this generation thinks about love and family.

Five ways a TV series nails how this generation thinks about love and family.

Workplace Dynamics

How to Argue and Win

Ronald E. Riggio Ph.D. on September 7, 2026 in Cutting-Edge Leadership

The psychology of disagreeing with a boss, peer, or loved one.

The psychology of disagreeing with a boss, peer, or loved one.

Aging

Creating a Satisfying Retirement Experience

Jasmin Tahmaseb-McConatha Ph.D. on September 7, 2026 in Live Long and Prosper

Retirement offers an opportunity to step away from the “tyranny of the should.” We may have our big questions answered, but how do we mindfully build meaning into our day-to-day?

Retirement offers an opportunity to step away from the “tyranny of the should.” We may have our big questions answered, but how do we mindfully build meaning into our day-to-day?

Denial

Don't Let Denial Destroy You

Tracy Strauss on September 7, 2026 in How to Be Dogged in a Doggone World

Personal Perspective: We can doggedly wall off the truth, or the facts of our lives, or our feelings, but denial just creates more suffering.

Personal Perspective: We can doggedly wall off the truth, or the facts of our lives, or our feelings, but denial just creates more suffering.

Self-Talk

"I Made a Mistake" Is Not "I Am a Mistake"

Jonice Webb Ph.D. on September 7, 2026 in Childhood Emotional Neglect

When a small mistake follows you around for hours, the problem may not be the mistake. It may be a feeling you were never taught to notice.

When a small mistake follows you around for hours, the problem may not be the mistake. It may be a feeling you were never taught to notice.

Default Mode Network

Why You Keep Replaying Conversations in Your Head

Shannon Sauer-Zavala Ph.D. on September 7, 2026 in Self: Made

Replaying conversations after the fact is common. Your personality may contribute to this, but you can change the pattern.

Replaying conversations after the fact is common. Your personality may contribute to this, but you can change the pattern.

Artificial Intelligence

Ban on Students' AI Use and the Bigger Problem Facing Us All

Coral PS Hoh Ph.D. on September 7, 2026 in Unlocking Language

Revolutionary breakthroughs get scarcer as knowledge expands beyond human limits. Future innovators need to know how to use AI to overcome this. This training starts with schools.

Revolutionary breakthroughs get scarcer as knowledge expands beyond human limits. Future innovators need to know how to use AI to overcome this. This training starts with schools.

Imagination

4 Ways to Use Imagery to Become More Successful

Ran D. Anbar M.D. on September 7, 2026 in Understanding Hypnosis

What are simple ways we can tap into our innate capacity for the use of imagery, which can help us move toward the futures we imagine for ourselves?

What are simple ways we can tap into our innate capacity for the use of imagery, which can help us move toward the futures we imagine for ourselves?

Relationships

5 Reasons to Be Kinder When It's Hard

Jeffrey Bernstein Ph.D. on September 6, 2026 in Liking the Child You Love

The true test of kindness isn't how we treat people when things are going well. It's what we choose to do when they aren't.

The true test of kindness isn't how we treat people when things are going well. It's what we choose to do when they aren't.

Education

What to Consider Before Homeschooling Your Child

Ronald E. Riggio Ph.D. on September 6, 2026 in Cutting-Edge Leadership

Important issues and considerations for homeschooling children.

Important issues and considerations for homeschooling children.

Sleep

Sleep and Nutrition: Foods That Could Help You Sleep Better

Gary Wenk Ph.D. on September 6, 2026 in Your Brain on Food

Foods that directly influence the actions of GABA and serotonin can calm the mind and aid in falling asleep.

Foods that directly influence the actions of GABA and serotonin can calm the mind and aid in falling asleep.

Emotional Intelligence

3 Ways Emotionally Intelligent People Keep Drama Away

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on September 6, 2026 in Peaceful Parenting

Emotionally intelligent individuals tend to dodge unnecessary drama by doing three things. They avoid petty power struggles, delay gratification when they need to, and always seem to have gratitude.

Emotionally intelligent individuals tend to dodge unnecessary drama by doing three things. They avoid petty power struggles, delay gratification when they need to, and always seem to have gratitude.