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

Trauma

Vicarious Trauma and Survivor Guilt in Kerrville

Ruth E. Stitt M.S., M.Div., LPCS on July 15, 2025 in Walking in Wisdom

After caring for individuals in Kerrville after the catastrophic floods, some of the psychological impacts observed included vicarious trauma and survivor's guilt.

After caring for individuals in Kerrville after the catastrophic floods, some of the psychological impacts observed included vicarious trauma and survivor's guilt.

Psychopharmacology

Emotional Reactions to Tardive Dyskinesia

Sarah Merritt Ryan on July 15, 2025 in Healing Mind

Personal Perspective: I was self-conscious about having tardive dyskinesia symptoms in my first job after my last hospitalization. However, I got my first promotion.

Personal Perspective: I was self-conscious about having tardive dyskinesia symptoms in my first job after my last hospitalization. However, I got my first promotion.

Coaching

What About Feedback? A Gift or a Deal-Breaker?

Tony Daloisio Ph.D. on July 15, 2025 in The Journey of Your Life

Learn when and how to give feedback so it helps, not harms, your relationships, your team, and your impact.

Learn when and how to give feedback so it helps, not harms, your relationships, your team, and your impact.

Introversion

Prep Meets Improv: A Toolkit for Introverts

Nancy Ancowitz on July 15, 2025 in Self-Promotion for Introverts

Feel awkward when put on the spot? Learn how preparation and improv together help introverts speak up with calm, clarity, and confidence—on their own terms.

Feel awkward when put on the spot? Learn how preparation and improv together help introverts speak up with calm, clarity, and confidence—on their own terms.

Sport and Competition

Just Another Day in the Gym: Maltreatment in Youth Sports

Monica Vilhauer Ph.D. on July 15, 2025 in Philosophy for Curious Souls

Personal Perspective: Emotional abuse was a prevalent, yet unrecognized and unnamed, part of growing up in youth sports in the '80s and '90s. It continues today.

Personal Perspective: Emotional abuse was a prevalent, yet unrecognized and unnamed, part of growing up in youth sports in the '80s and '90s. It continues today.

Aging

Caring for an Elderly, Difficult Parent at a Time of Transition

Franne Sippel Ed.D., LP on July 15, 2025 in Don't Shoot the Messenger

Personal Perspective: Caring for an aging parent is no small feat. It's even more challenging when the relationship has been a struggle and your parent has mental health issues.

Personal Perspective: Caring for an aging parent is no small feat. It's even more challenging when the relationship has been a struggle and your parent has mental health issues.

Conformity

The Benefits and Downsides of Fitting In

Monica Vermani C. Psych. on July 15, 2025 in A Deeper Wellness

What drives the urge to fit in, and what are the drawbacks and dangers of aligning with and conforming to group dynamics?

What drives the urge to fit in, and what are the drawbacks and dangers of aligning with and conforming to group dynamics?

Animal Behavior

The Surprising Secret Lives of Playful, Singing, Savvy Seals

Marc Bekoff Ph.D. on July 15, 2025 in Animal Emotions

Alix Morris' "A Year With the Seals" is a love letter to these charismatic, imperiled beings and an exploration of the effects of our intrusions into diverse, fragile ecosystems.

Alix Morris' "A Year With the Seals" is a love letter to these charismatic, imperiled beings and an exploration of the effects of our intrusions into diverse, fragile ecosystems.

Humor

Stand Up for Mental Health with David Granirer

Nichole Force M.A. on July 15, 2025 in Humor Rx

The strategic use of humor ended a woman’s fear of flying and turned a schizophrenic man into a confident public speaker. The founder of Stand Up For Mental Health tells you how.

The strategic use of humor ended a woman’s fear of flying and turned a schizophrenic man into a confident public speaker. The founder of Stand Up For Mental Health tells you how.

Child Development

Raising Socially Conscious Youth

Erlanger A. Turner Ph.D. on July 15, 2025 in The Race to Good Health

In today's society, many youth are drawn to social movements and activism. Here are 5 science-based, practical strategies for supporting your child's civic engagement.

In today's society, many youth are drawn to social movements and activism. Here are 5 science-based, practical strategies for supporting your child's civic engagement.

Cognition

Think Like a Detective, Write Like a Scientist

Nancy Darling Ph.D. on July 15, 2025 in Thinking About Kids

Tackling complex puzzles requires a different set of skills than simple writing tasks. Borrowing the non-linear techniques detectives use to organize data can help.

Tackling complex puzzles requires a different set of skills than simple writing tasks. Borrowing the non-linear techniques detectives use to organize data can help.

Eating Disorders

How to Talk to Someone About an Eating Disorder

Giulia Suro Ph.D. on July 15, 2025 in Missing Links

Eating disorders can be hard to recognize and harder to discuss. Here's how to speak up with care, reduce shame, and support someone who may be struggling.

Eating disorders can be hard to recognize and harder to discuss. Here's how to speak up with care, reduce shame, and support someone who may be struggling.

Pornography

Why Do Women View Pornography?

Michael Castleman M.A. on July 15, 2025 in All About Sex

The myth is that women abhor pornography. But a recent study shows that some women say they learn valuable sexual lessons from porn, even when they hate how it portrays women.

The myth is that women abhor pornography. But a recent study shows that some women say they learn valuable sexual lessons from porn, even when they hate how it portrays women.

Resilience

Ikigai: A Compass You Can Use to Navigate Challenging Times

Debra M. Kawahara Ph.D. on July 15, 2025 in Seeds of Wisdom

During times of uncertainty, ikigai provides stability and guidance, serving as a compass with four points, which directs us on a path to personal agency and hope.

During times of uncertainty, ikigai provides stability and guidance, serving as a compass with four points, which directs us on a path to personal agency and hope.

Serial Killers

3 Reasons We Dismiss Cops Who Deny Rumors

Katherine Ramsland Ph.D. on July 15, 2025 in Shadow Boxing

Cops deny that serial killers are loose in New England and Texas, but the rumors persist. Here's why.

Cops deny that serial killers are loose in New England and Texas, but the rumors persist. Here's why.

Sleep

How to Improve Sleep Among Long-Term Care Residents

The Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research on July 15, 2025 in Evidence-Based Living

As the world population ages, medical researchers are looking for ways to help community-dwelling residents get better sleep.

As the world population ages, medical researchers are looking for ways to help community-dwelling residents get better sleep.

Creativity

I Was Unqualified and Clueless, and Got Hired Anyway

Nir Bashan on July 15, 2025 in The Psychology of Creativity

Landing a job I had no business getting at 16 taught me the powerful secret to finding remarkable talent in the most unexpected places.

Landing a job I had no business getting at 16 taught me the powerful secret to finding remarkable talent in the most unexpected places.

Mindfulness

Paying Attention to Your Dog Improves Your Emotional State

Stanley Coren PhD., DSc, FRSC on July 15, 2025 in Canine Corner

Data shows that dogs are much more likely to improve our psychological well-being if we actually focus our attention on them in a mindful way.

Data shows that dogs are much more likely to improve our psychological well-being if we actually focus our attention on them in a mindful way.

Parenting

How Much Is Too Much Screen Time for Children Below Age 5?

APA Division 15 on July 15, 2025 in PsychEd

Parents of young children can fall prey to the hype of “educational” media. But the benefits of play and social interaction far outweigh screen gains for young children.

Parents of young children can fall prey to the hype of “educational” media. But the benefits of play and social interaction far outweigh screen gains for young children.

Neuroticism

What TV’s Most Neurotic Character Can Teach Us

Phil Lane MSW, LCSW on July 15, 2025 in Am I Dying?

The classic TV series "Seinfeld" introduced perhaps the most neurotic character in television history: George Costanza. We can learn a lot from his often anxiety-driven behavior.

The classic TV series "Seinfeld" introduced perhaps the most neurotic character in television history: George Costanza. We can learn a lot from his often anxiety-driven behavior.

Perfectionism

What If I Still Want to Be a Perfectionist?

Leon Garber LMHC on July 15, 2025 in Perfectionism

Absolute perfectionism is the flawed belief that we need to be perfect everywhere, all of the time, and to everyone, whereas relative perfectionism offers a healthier alternative.

Absolute perfectionism is the flawed belief that we need to be perfect everywhere, all of the time, and to everyone, whereas relative perfectionism offers a healthier alternative.

Environment

Nature Connectedness and Chronic Illness

Katie Willard Virant MSW, JD, LCSW on July 15, 2025 in Chronically Me

Exposure to nature provides physical and mental health benefits. Learn more about how to develop your own "nature connectedness."

Exposure to nature provides physical and mental health benefits. Learn more about how to develop your own "nature connectedness."

Education

Why You Should Exercise Your Freedom to Read

Heather Rose Artushin LISW-CP on July 15, 2025 in Well Read

Author Roseanna White shares her perspective, through the lens of historical events, on why we should exercise our freedom to read.

Author Roseanna White shares her perspective, through the lens of historical events, on why we should exercise our freedom to read.

Fear

Phobia in the Age of Existential Dread

Jennifer L Keluskar Ph.D. on July 15, 2025 in Alone Together

While exposure is the most effective way to deal with phobias, it's also important to learn how to cope with existential thoughts and feelings that might be fueling those fears.

While exposure is the most effective way to deal with phobias, it's also important to learn how to cope with existential thoughts and feelings that might be fueling those fears.

Career

What Workplace Psychological Safety Means and Doesn't Mean

Victor Lipman MBA on July 15, 2025 in Mind of the Manager

Feeling free to speak comfortably has benefits for employees and organizations.

Feeling free to speak comfortably has benefits for employees and organizations.

Trauma

Writing What Haunts Us and Refusing the Tidy Narrative

Melissa Rampelli Ph.D. on July 15, 2025 in The Fainting Couch

What if the stories we are given about birth and healing aren’t enough? How do we write about birth trauma without smoothing its edges or turning pain into performance?

What if the stories we are given about birth and healing aren’t enough? How do we write about birth trauma without smoothing its edges or turning pain into performance?

Philosophy

A New Approach to Naturalism

Gregg Henriques Ph.D. on July 15, 2025 in Theory of Knowledge

Physicalism tries to reduce everything to matter. Extended naturalism offers a richer approach that includes mind, meaning, morality, and modality as genuine phenomena.

Physicalism tries to reduce everything to matter. Extended naturalism offers a richer approach that includes mind, meaning, morality, and modality as genuine phenomena.

Environment

A Cause of Erectile Dysfunction That We Are Ignoring

Marianne Brandon Ph.D. on July 15, 2025 in The Future of Intimacy

The sexual risks facing men who spray pesticides on our farms, homes, and lawns.

The sexual risks facing men who spray pesticides on our farms, homes, and lawns.

Family Dynamics

Two Siblings, Same Parents, Entirely Different Experiences

Joan K. Peters Ph.D. on July 15, 2025 in Transformative

A Personal Perspective: Have you (and your siblings) assumed that having the same parents means having the same childhood?

A Personal Perspective: Have you (and your siblings) assumed that having the same parents means having the same childhood?