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

Stress

Mental Health Days: Restorative or Risky?

Claudia Skowron MS, LCPC, CADC on April 23, 2025 in A Different Kind of Therapy

Will taking a mental health day actually help, or subconsciously do more harm than good?

Will taking a mental health day actually help, or subconsciously do more harm than good?

Personal Perspectives

The Heart of Hate

Mike Verano LPC, LMFT on April 23, 2025 in Confessions of a Psychological First Responder

Hate-motivated behavior needs to be addressed as a public health threat and its root causes brought to light.

Hate-motivated behavior needs to be addressed as a public health threat and its root causes brought to light.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence and the Shape of Reality

John Nosta on April 23, 2025 in The Digital Self

What if the same hidden geometry that shapes the universe also structures how machines learn to think?

What if the same hidden geometry that shapes the universe also structures how machines learn to think?

Relationships

Want Better Relationships? Start With the Circles of Support

Amelia Kelley Ph.D. on April 23, 2025 in In Your Corner

If you're neurodivergent or healing from trauma or mental health challenges, this model can help you build balanced, fulfilling relationships—without burning out.

If you're neurodivergent or healing from trauma or mental health challenges, this model can help you build balanced, fulfilling relationships—without burning out.

Anxiety

The Power of Everyday Exposures

Joanna Hardis LISW-S on April 23, 2025 in Stop Worrying, Start Living

Facing discomfort is a key skill for a full and meaningful life.

Facing discomfort is a key skill for a full and meaningful life.

Psychoanalysis

How Psychoanalysis Educates (Without Teaching)

Adam Blum, Psy.D. on April 23, 2025 in Becoming Ourselves

Behind the couch—and the caricature—psychoanalysis invites us into a slow, surprising education in attention, curiosity, and the art of becoming human.

Behind the couch—and the caricature—psychoanalysis invites us into a slow, surprising education in attention, curiosity, and the art of becoming human.

Anxiety

The Cost of Mental Health Research? Priceless

Darby Saxbe Ph.D. on April 23, 2025 in Home Base

Mental health problems cost the economy billions, but investments in science and research can strengthen our treatments and build a stronger clinical workforce

Mental health problems cost the economy billions, but investments in science and research can strengthen our treatments and build a stronger clinical workforce

Education

Boys and School: Aspirations and Underperformance

Joseph E. Davis Ph.D. on April 23, 2025 in Our New Discontents

Instrumental reasons for studying hard and going to college often fail to inspire boys. They can’t see along this path a future worth struggling to realize.

Instrumental reasons for studying hard and going to college often fail to inspire boys. They can’t see along this path a future worth struggling to realize.

Relationships

The Power of Showing Up

Deborah Heiser Ph.D. on April 23, 2025 in The Right Side of 40

Personal Perspective: Showing up with empathy and consistency builds connection, legacy, and lasting impact.

Personal Perspective: Showing up with empathy and consistency builds connection, legacy, and lasting impact.

Menopause

What Happens When Menopause Meets Motherhood

Erin O’Connor Ed.D. on April 23, 2025 in Scientific Mommy

What happens when the chaos of parenting collides with the neurological storm of perimenopause? How shifting hormones shape the way mothers connect, cope, and care.

What happens when the chaos of parenting collides with the neurological storm of perimenopause? How shifting hormones shape the way mothers connect, cope, and care.

Neuroplasticity

A Feldenkrais Success Story

Ragnar Purje Ph.D. on April 23, 2025 in Recovery From Brain Injury

Exploring the first two principles of the 11-core holistic brain and body healing principles proposed by Feldenkrais.

Exploring the first two principles of the 11-core holistic brain and body healing principles proposed by Feldenkrais.

Trauma

Intergenerational Palestinian Trauma in “All That’s Left of You”

Ravi Chandra M.D., D.F.A.P.A. on April 23, 2025 in The Pacific Heart

Cherien Dabis' film "All That's Left of You" portrays the intergenerational trauma of a Palestinian family, and asks important questions about how such pain might be held.

Cherien Dabis' film "All That's Left of You" portrays the intergenerational trauma of a Palestinian family, and asks important questions about how such pain might be held.

Trauma

Three Steps to Breaking Your Negative Relationship Patterns

Beverly Engel L.M.F.T. on April 23, 2025 in The Compassion Chronicles

Many people develop a pattern of choosing partners who are abusive, neglectful, unfaithful, or addicted because they are unconsciously reenacting a trauma from the past.

Many people develop a pattern of choosing partners who are abusive, neglectful, unfaithful, or addicted because they are unconsciously reenacting a trauma from the past.

Positive Psychology

Insensible Losses: What's Quietly Slipping Away?

Bonnie Comfort Ph.D. on April 23, 2025 in The Complexities of Relationships

Are you losing something you value without realizing it? Essential things can ebb away so slowly you don’t notice. Ask yourself the right questions so you can take action.

Are you losing something you value without realizing it? Essential things can ebb away so slowly you don’t notice. Ask yourself the right questions so you can take action.

Projection

Put on a Pedestal, Then Thrown Off: Life as a Wounded Healer

Amber Wardell Ph.D. on April 23, 2025 in Compassionate Feminism

Projection, idealization, and emotional discard impact the wounded healer, but it is possible to stay grounded in truth and authenticity.

Projection, idealization, and emotional discard impact the wounded healer, but it is possible to stay grounded in truth and authenticity.

Career

Career in Transition? Here’s Why Not to Go It Alone

Jeff Greenberg on April 23, 2025 in Upward Spiral

Feeling alone in a career transition? Learn how group support can restore clarity, confidence, and connection when change disrupts your sense of self.

Feeling alone in a career transition? Learn how group support can restore clarity, confidence, and connection when change disrupts your sense of self.

Self-Talk

Rewire Your Brain and Create a Kinder Inner Dialogue

Robyne Hanley-Dafoe Ed.D. on April 23, 2025 in Everyday Resilience

Does the voice in your head tend to be negative, overly critical, and constantly tearing you down? Explore the power of self-talk and how you can shift the narrative.

Does the voice in your head tend to be negative, overly critical, and constantly tearing you down? Explore the power of self-talk and how you can shift the narrative.

Motivation

Goals Are Not a Destination, They Are an Invitation

Jordan Grumet M.D. on April 23, 2025 in The Regret-Free Life

Goals aren’t the destination, they’re invitations. Enjoying the journey matters more than achieving the goal.

Goals aren’t the destination, they’re invitations. Enjoying the journey matters more than achieving the goal.

Psychosis

“Essential Worker”: A Title That Gives the Mentally Ill Self-Worth

Yvette Sheline MD on April 23, 2025 in Navigating Mental Crises

"When people ask what I do, I answer that I’m an essential worker and it makes me feel proud."

"When people ask what I do, I answer that I’m an essential worker and it makes me feel proud."

Personal Perspectives

We Might Teach Young People to Affirm Life, Not Just Cope

Finn Janning Ph.D. on April 23, 2025 in Philosophies in Psychology

Personal Perspective: Young people may need therapy, but they also need meaning, joy, and the courage to desire freely.

Personal Perspective: Young people may need therapy, but they also need meaning, joy, and the courage to desire freely.

Depression

Do You Take Pleasure in Your Victimhood?

Nicholas Balaisis Ph.D., RP on April 23, 2025 in Our Devices, Our Selves

Do you feel repeatedly drawn into victimhood? You may have masochistic traits.

Do you feel repeatedly drawn into victimhood? You may have masochistic traits.

Happiness

How to Feel More Joy—Even When the World Feels Heavy

Friedemann Schaub M.D., Ph.D. on April 23, 2025 in Empowerment Solutions

Do you miss joy in your life, despite all your efforts? Joy is something we can choose. Here are four ways to invite it in.

Do you miss joy in your life, despite all your efforts? Joy is something we can choose. Here are four ways to invite it in.

Perfectionism

When the Pursuit of Success Becomes Self-Defeating

Leon Garber LMHC on April 23, 2025 in Perfectionism

Decisions are self-defeating if the constant sacrifices and pain significantly outweigh positive outcomes.

Decisions are self-defeating if the constant sacrifices and pain significantly outweigh positive outcomes.

Psychiatry

Demystifying Psychiatry: What's Changed in the Past 15 Years

Eugene Rubin M.D., Ph.D. on April 23, 2025 in Demystifying Psychiatry

We published the book "Demystifying Psychiatry" in 2010. Although basic principles of psychiatric treatment remain unchanged, new treatments have become available since then.

We published the book "Demystifying Psychiatry" in 2010. Although basic principles of psychiatric treatment remain unchanged, new treatments have become available since then.

Philosophy

Sensing Time: A Feeling of Being Alive

Joseph Mazur on April 23, 2025 in The Speed of Life

The ancient answers to old questions about time are tangled in newer theories of body rhythms.

The ancient answers to old questions about time are tangled in newer theories of body rhythms.

Confidence

How High Performers Can Close the Confidence Gap

Melanie A. McNally Psy.D. on April 23, 2025 in Empower Your Mind

Even top performers second-guess their expertise. Learn why that happens—and how to confidently share what you know, even when it feels obvious to you.

Even top performers second-guess their expertise. Learn why that happens—and how to confidently share what you know, even when it feels obvious to you.

Cognition

Why You Should Embrace Uncertainty in Your Critical Thinking

Christopher Dwyer Ph.D. on April 23, 2025 in Thoughts on Thinking

Acknowledging that we don’t know something and embracing that uncertainty can enhance the likelihood of successful thinking and decision-making.

Acknowledging that we don’t know something and embracing that uncertainty can enhance the likelihood of successful thinking and decision-making.

Animal Behavior

Finding Beauty in Nature

Lixing Sun Ph.D. on April 23, 2025 in Lies and Deception

'Birds, Sex and Beauty' is a delightful new book by a gifted science writer that explores the evolution of beauty in birds.

'Birds, Sex and Beauty' is a delightful new book by a gifted science writer that explores the evolution of beauty in birds.

Wisdom

A Wisdom Primer: Life's Most Important Category of Knowledge

Lloyd Glauberman Ph.D. on April 23, 2025 in Lifestyle Intelligence

Taking charge of your life is determined by mastering the four most commonly used words in our language: yes, no, hello, and goodbye.

Taking charge of your life is determined by mastering the four most commonly used words in our language: yes, no, hello, and goodbye.