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

Autism

3 Green Flags of Neurodiversity-Affirming Autism Evaluations

Mary Kate Roohan Psy.D. on February 13, 2026 in Action-Based DBT

If you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism. You want to find an assessment provider who recognizes the diversity of the autistic experience.

If you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism. You want to find an assessment provider who recognizes the diversity of the autistic experience.

Relationships

The Magic of Love—and How to Sustain it

Pamela B. Paresky Ph.D. on February 13, 2026 in Happiness and the Pursuit of Leadership

Arguing isn't bad for marriage. Love thrives by nurturing compassion, trust, and shared meaning—even through perpetual problems. But a bad marriage can shorten your life.

Arguing isn't bad for marriage. Love thrives by nurturing compassion, trust, and shared meaning—even through perpetual problems. But a bad marriage can shorten your life.

Mindfulness

Can This Moment Be Enough?

Andrea Wachter LMFT on February 13, 2026 in The Relatable Therapist

Tired of chasing happiness and self-improvement? Here’s a better way.

Tired of chasing happiness and self-improvement? Here’s a better way.

Self-Help

Martial Arts Improves Self-Esteem in Middle Aged and More

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on February 13, 2026 in Black Belt Brain

Activities like martial arts that involve whole body exercise, psychological factors, and interactions with others have clear brain and body benefits for all ages.

Activities like martial arts that involve whole body exercise, psychological factors, and interactions with others have clear brain and body benefits for all ages.

Sadism

Why Kind People Join Cruel Crowds: Risk of Collective Sadism

Suzanne Degges-White Ph.D. on February 13, 2026 in Lifetime Connections

When a crowd turns cruel, what keeps us human? Explore why kind people get swept up—and how you can stay anchored in compassion.

When a crowd turns cruel, what keeps us human? Explore why kind people get swept up—and how you can stay anchored in compassion.

Chronic Illness

Existential Concerns and Chronic Illness

Katie Willard Virant MSW, JD, LCSW on February 13, 2026 in Chronically Me

Chronic illness necessitates an exploration of existential issues, including freedom, meaning, connection, and mortality.

Chronic illness necessitates an exploration of existential issues, including freedom, meaning, connection, and mortality.

Relationships

Are You Unrealistically Idolizing Others?

Judith Orloff M.D. on February 13, 2026 in The Genius of Empathy

Do you have unrealistic expectations of others and then become disappointed and hurt when a relationship ends? Discover whether you're idolizing others.

Do you have unrealistic expectations of others and then become disappointed and hurt when a relationship ends? Discover whether you're idolizing others.

Artificial Intelligence

Is AI Making Us Bossy?

Ankita Guchait MBPsS on February 13, 2026 in The Realities of Refugee Screening

Are we training AI, or is AI training us? How speaking to machines may be shaping the way we interact with people.

Are we training AI, or is AI training us? How speaking to machines may be shaping the way we interact with people.

Bullying

What to Do if Your Child Engages in Online Gaming Bullying

Tracy Evian Waasdorp Ph.D. on February 13, 2026 in Keeping Your Kids Safe

Online gaming can teach teamwork—but it can also expose kids to conflict. Here’s how to guide your child if they become the aggressor.

Online gaming can teach teamwork—but it can also expose kids to conflict. Here’s how to guide your child if they become the aggressor.

Stress

How to Find Hope in Challenging Times

Diane E Dreher Ph.D. on February 13, 2026 in Your Personal Renaissance

If you've been feeling helpless and hopeless lately, you're not alone. But you can build greater hope with these steps.

If you've been feeling helpless and hopeless lately, you're not alone. But you can build greater hope with these steps.

Addiction

Why Addiction Treatment Keeps Failing

Anna B. David on February 13, 2026 in Recover Girl

Understanding why treatment fails can change how we think about relapse, recovery and the psychology of addiction.

Understanding why treatment fails can change how we think about relapse, recovery and the psychology of addiction.

Parenting

Why Exhausted Parents Keep Snapping at Their Kids

Jen Lumanlan M.S., M.Ed. on February 13, 2026 in Parenting Beyond Power

Exhausted parents carry measurable physical stress. Research shows stress levels can exceed those in chronic pain patients. Here's why it happens.

Exhausted parents carry measurable physical stress. Research shows stress levels can exceed those in chronic pain patients. Here's why it happens.

Emotions

Harnessing Energy to Make Change

Heather Lench Ph.D. on February 13, 2026 in The Emotional Toolkit

People set goals to improve themselves and their lives. But change is hard and takes motivation over time. These four emotional "hacks" can help you harness the energy needed.

People set goals to improve themselves and their lives. But change is hard and takes motivation over time. These four emotional "hacks" can help you harness the energy needed.

Deception

Why Children Lie

Pamela D. Brown Ph.D. on February 13, 2026 in School Culture

Children lie much earlier, and more often, than most parents expect. Understanding why can help adults respond with clarity, not panic, and teach honesty without shame.

Children lie much earlier, and more often, than most parents expect. Understanding why can help adults respond with clarity, not panic, and teach honesty without shame.

Emotional Validation

Validation Connects Us

Jaimie L Lusk Psy.D., ABPP on February 13, 2026 in Threshold

Validation is the foundation of trust, connection, and emotional health. Learn how to practice validation, recover from invalidation, and build compassion.

Validation is the foundation of trust, connection, and emotional health. Learn how to practice validation, recover from invalidation, and build compassion.

Career

The Case for Love at Work

Wes Adams and Tamara Myles on February 13, 2026 in Meaningful Work

Loneliness is rising, even at work. What if everyday acts of care are the key to stronger teams and deeper meaning? Here are three ways to start.

Loneliness is rising, even at work. What if everyday acts of care are the key to stronger teams and deeper meaning? Here are three ways to start.

Autism

The Glenn Gould of Radiology

Erik Raschke on February 13, 2026 in What Will You Do When I’m Gone?

An autistic radiologist could read twice as many scans as his peers. He was the best student in his class. He was denied his diploma. All he needed was one nurse.

An autistic radiologist could read twice as many scans as his peers. He was the best student in his class. He was denied his diploma. All he needed was one nurse.

Personality

The Personality Paradox

Shannon Sauer-Zavala Ph.D. on February 13, 2026 in Self: Made

The traits that once helped you succeed can later hold you back. Learn how personality strengths become outdated, and how to add range for your next chapter.

The traits that once helped you succeed can later hold you back. Learn how personality strengths become outdated, and how to add range for your next chapter.

Productivity

Rest Is Not a Luxury: Redefining Rest for High Achievers

Katrina McCoy Ph.D. on February 13, 2026 in Finding the Right Words

Rest and recovery are essential, but difficult to tolerate for folks who crave productivity. If you feel best when busy, you need personalized and engaging restorative practices.

Rest and recovery are essential, but difficult to tolerate for folks who crave productivity. If you feel best when busy, you need personalized and engaging restorative practices.

Education

Fostering Entrepreneurial Passion in Business Students

Giang Hoang Ph.D. on February 13, 2026 in Entrepreneurial Psychology

Discover how fostering entrepreneurial passion in business students can ignite innovation, resilience, and success in their future ventures. Explore effective strategies now!

Discover how fostering entrepreneurial passion in business students can ignite innovation, resilience, and success in their future ventures. Explore effective strategies now!

Artificial Intelligence

AI Outperforms Humans in Countless Areas

Ragnar Purje Ph.D. on February 13, 2026 in Recovery From Brain Injury

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a powerful force that demonstrably outperforms humans in countless areas. Here's why the effort of developing the human brain still matters.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a powerful force that demonstrably outperforms humans in countless areas. Here's why the effort of developing the human brain still matters.

Sex

The Secret to Better Sex Isn't Better Sex

Anna Elton PhD, LMFT, CST on February 13, 2026 in Life, Love, Etc.

A meta-analysis of 40,000 people reveals the one thing that predicts sexual satisfaction more than frequency, novelty, or technique.

A meta-analysis of 40,000 people reveals the one thing that predicts sexual satisfaction more than frequency, novelty, or technique.

Domestic Violence

Coercive Control and Domestic Violence in Wealthy Couples

Lisa Aronson Fontes Ph.D. on February 13, 2026 in Invisible Chains

The "culture of affluence" creates special challenges for wealthy victims of intimate partner abuse. We need to understand their predicament to offer meaningful help.

The "culture of affluence" creates special challenges for wealthy victims of intimate partner abuse. We need to understand their predicament to offer meaningful help.

Therapy

What It Means to Do Relational Work With Individual Clients

Martha Kauppi, LMFT, CST-S on February 13, 2026 in Relational Intimacy

Learn how to peek inside your clients’ fights and help them forge a better path using chairwork.

Learn how to peek inside your clients’ fights and help them forge a better path using chairwork.

Bias

Truth and Prejudice

Heather Rose Artushin MSW, LISW-CP on February 13, 2026 in Well Read

Author Patmeena Sabit discusses her novel, “Good People," exploring prejudice, preconceived notions, and discerning the truth.

Author Patmeena Sabit discusses her novel, “Good People," exploring prejudice, preconceived notions, and discerning the truth.

Relationships

Don’t Wait Until the Last Second to Say Goodbye

Alex Snider MA, CMF on February 13, 2026 in Human Bureaucracy

Personal Perspective: When we save love for the last second, we miss the moment—and each other. Move the goodbye up and be specific to help people feel loved before it's too late.

Personal Perspective: When we save love for the last second, we miss the moment—and each other. Move the goodbye up and be specific to help people feel loved before it's too late.

Philosophy

If Justice Doesn't Exist, Then Numbers Don't Either

Chester H. Sunde, Psy.D. on February 13, 2026 in Platonic Psychology

The standard case against ideals like justice is that they're "just ideas" with no physical existence. But the number two doesn't physically exist either, and nobody doubts that.

The standard case against ideals like justice is that they're "just ideas" with no physical existence. But the number two doesn't physically exist either, and nobody doubts that.

Relationships

Want a Better Love Life? Work on Your Brain Health

Majid Fotuhi, M.D., Ph.D. on February 13, 2026 in The Invincible Brain

What if the key to better intimacy, sharper memory, and longer life begins in your brain? Discover the science linking love, desire, and the five pillars of brain health.

What if the key to better intimacy, sharper memory, and longer life begins in your brain? Discover the science linking love, desire, and the five pillars of brain health.

Intelligence

3 Unique Ways Smart People Think

Mark Travers Ph.D. on February 13, 2026 in Social Instincts

Three 'odd' thinking patterns are consistently linked to higher intelligence.

Three 'odd' thinking patterns are consistently linked to higher intelligence.