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

Trauma

The Six Psychological Stages of a Disaster

Chris Tompkins on January 21, 2025 in LGBTQ Affirmative Psychology

Understanding the lasting psychological impact of a natural disaster is an important part of a community’s rebuilding process.

Understanding the lasting psychological impact of a natural disaster is an important part of a community’s rebuilding process.

Self-Help

Forget “Dance Like No One’s Watching”

Alex Snider MA, CMF on January 21, 2025 in Human Bureaucracy

The saying “Dance like no one’s watching” misses the point. The magic on the dance floor and in life is showing up and embracing the beauty of being seen—stumbles and all.

The saying “Dance like no one’s watching” misses the point. The magic on the dance floor and in life is showing up and embracing the beauty of being seen—stumbles and all.

Parenting

Time-Outs for Kids: Helpful or Harmful?

Jen Lumanlan M.S., M.Ed. on January 20, 2025 in Parenting Beyond Power

Are time-outs the best way to discipline kids, or do they harm parent-child bonds? Explore the research and discover connection-focused alternatives that work better.

Are time-outs the best way to discipline kids, or do they harm parent-child bonds? Explore the research and discover connection-focused alternatives that work better.

Spirituality

How Spirituality and Hospital Chaplains Can Help Us Heal

Robert Klitzman M.D. on January 20, 2025 in Am I My Genes?

Hospital chaplains help patients and families, whether religious, atheist, agnostic, or "nothing in particular," find meaning, connection, and hope. Yet, they are often ignored.

Hospital chaplains help patients and families, whether religious, atheist, agnostic, or "nothing in particular," find meaning, connection, and hope. Yet, they are often ignored.

Emotional Abuse

It’s OK if You’re Not Ready to Leave

Leah Aguirre LCSW on January 20, 2025 in Modern Dating

Emotionally abusive relationships are complex and difficult to leave. Ending these types of relationships often takes time and preparation.

Emotionally abusive relationships are complex and difficult to leave. Ending these types of relationships often takes time and preparation.

Trauma

The Partition of 1947 and Intergenerational Trauma

Jyothsna S Bhat Psy.D. on January 20, 2025 in The Psychology of the South Asian Diaspora

Current-day South Asian beliefs around career, marriage, and financial status may have underpinnings in long-ago adverse events.

Current-day South Asian beliefs around career, marriage, and financial status may have underpinnings in long-ago adverse events.

Mating

Decoding Modern Dating: The New Lingo You Need to Know

Gary W. Lewandowski Jr. Ph.D. on January 20, 2025 in The Psychology of Relationships

From "rizz" to "rusting," "ghosting" to "kittenfishing," decode 20 essential dating terms you need to know to be prepared for modern love.

From "rizz" to "rusting," "ghosting" to "kittenfishing," decode 20 essential dating terms you need to know to be prepared for modern love.

Relationships

Do Good Relationships Make Bad Movies?

Nafees Alam Ph.D. on January 20, 2025 in Pop Culture Mental Health

The paradox of harmony: Why cinematic narratives thrive on conflict.

The paradox of harmony: Why cinematic narratives thrive on conflict.

Authenticity

Barriers to Authenticity

Tiani Perkins Ph.D. on January 20, 2025 in Race, Gender, and Popular Culture

As identity politics abound, here I return to the basics and briefly describe what an authentic social identity is, how it is made, and who has the privilege of being authentic.

As identity politics abound, here I return to the basics and briefly describe what an authentic social identity is, how it is made, and who has the privilege of being authentic.

Productivity

Master Your Mind and Energy

Ryan C. Warner Ph.D. on January 20, 2025 in Leadership, Diversity, and Wellness

Align with your unique rhythms to build resilience, boost productivity, and lead a more balanced, energized life.

Align with your unique rhythms to build resilience, boost productivity, and lead a more balanced, energized life.

Relationships

Stop Stereotyping Your Partner

Michael Karson Ph.D., J.D. on January 20, 2025 in Feeling Our Way

Marriage is a hotbed of conflicts between character types, made worse by stereotyping one's partner.

Marriage is a hotbed of conflicts between character types, made worse by stereotyping one's partner.

Burnout

Escaping the Yes Trap: The Power of No

Robert Puff Ph.D. on January 20, 2025 in Meditation for Modern Life

Escape the "yes" trap and reclaim your time! Learn to prioritize self-care and live authentically.

Escape the "yes" trap and reclaim your time! Learn to prioritize self-care and live authentically.

Alcoholism

The Best Way to Treat Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)

Mark S. Gold M.D. on January 20, 2025 in Addiction Outlook

A second look at FDA-approved medications in alcohol use disorders.

A second look at FDA-approved medications in alcohol use disorders.

Positive Psychology

Creating Hope Through Future Selves

Robyn Fivush Ph.D. on January 20, 2025 in The Stories of Our Lives

Hope helps us cope with the present through the belief that good things will happen in the future.

Hope helps us cope with the present through the belief that good things will happen in the future.

Disaster Psychology

Healing After Disasters

Elaine Miller-Karas MSW, LCSW on January 20, 2025 in Building Resiliency to Trauma

Understanding common reactions to extraordinary events can help us devise strategies to reduce survivors' emotional, physical, and spiritual reactions.

Understanding common reactions to extraordinary events can help us devise strategies to reduce survivors' emotional, physical, and spiritual reactions.

Relationships

The Psychology of Love Bombing

Karyl McBride Ph.D. on January 20, 2025 in The Legacy of Distorted Love

Beware of love bombing. It's usually not genuine but rather a calculated strategy to manipulate and control.

Beware of love bombing. It's usually not genuine but rather a calculated strategy to manipulate and control.

Neuroscience

The Power of Art in Mental Health

Jason Shimiaie M.D. on January 20, 2025 in An Interpersonal Lens

Art engages our emotions, memory, and creativity, offering a path to healing by fostering connection, resilience, and self-discovery in mental health.

Art engages our emotions, memory, and creativity, offering a path to healing by fostering connection, resilience, and self-discovery in mental health.

Relationships

How To Move On From the Breakup That Blindsided You

John Kim LMFT on January 20, 2025 in The Angry Therapist

The lesson of the blindsided breakup is this: Healing isn’t about getting answers from the person who left. It’s about finding answers within yourself.

The lesson of the blindsided breakup is this: Healing isn’t about getting answers from the person who left. It’s about finding answers within yourself.

Grief

Being and Nothingness: How I Overcame My Death Anxiety

Larry Carlat on January 20, 2025 in A Space in the Heart

Personal Perspective: Nothing makes you question your own mortality more than the death of your child.

Personal Perspective: Nothing makes you question your own mortality more than the death of your child.

Addiction

The Role Genetics Could Play in Addiction

Andrea Rosenhaft LCSW-R on January 20, 2025 in From Both Sides of the Couch

Personal Perspective: How much of my propensity to addiction can be traced to my father's alcoholism?

Personal Perspective: How much of my propensity to addiction can be traced to my father's alcoholism?

Toxic Positivity

3 Warning Signs You’re Drowning in Toxic Positivity

Jeffrey Bernstein Ph.D. on January 20, 2025 in Liking the Child You Love

If you’ve ever felt guilty about feeling sad or pressured to “look on the bright side,” you might be falling into the trap of toxic positivity.

If you’ve ever felt guilty about feeling sad or pressured to “look on the bright side,” you might be falling into the trap of toxic positivity.

Meditation

How to Stay Grounded in a Chaotic World

Sara Eckel on January 20, 2025 in It’s Not Us

Personal Perspective: Do you see yourself as a problem to be solved? This simple perspective shift can help.

Personal Perspective: Do you see yourself as a problem to be solved? This simple perspective shift can help.

Dreaming

The Benefits of Lucid Dreaming

Laura Roklicer on January 20, 2025 in Lucid Story

Consciously engaging with your dreams can boost creativity and reduce anxiety—and having a lucid dream might be easier than you think.

Consciously engaging with your dreams can boost creativity and reduce anxiety—and having a lucid dream might be easier than you think.

Wisdom

Valuable “Old Lady” Lessons Children Need to Know

Susan Newman Ph.D. on January 20, 2025 in Singletons

Intergenerational bonds are developmentally enriching. Discover what you may be ignoring and why and how to share grandparents' and older adults’ hard-earned wisdom with children.

Intergenerational bonds are developmentally enriching. Discover what you may be ignoring and why and how to share grandparents' and older adults’ hard-earned wisdom with children.

Unconscious

Consulting the Subconscious in Everyday Life

Ran D. Anbar M.D. on January 20, 2025 in Understanding Hypnosis

Interactions with the subconscious can be greatly enriching. Thus, learning how to engage with the inner self should be part of everyone’s life experience.

Interactions with the subconscious can be greatly enriching. Thus, learning how to engage with the inner self should be part of everyone’s life experience.

Stress

Nurture Good Microbes to Get Rid of Your Stress

Hamid Zand Ph.D. on January 20, 2025 in The Behavioral Microbiome

Recent studies have shown that dietary compounds can influence stress and anxiety by affecting gut microbiota.

Recent studies have shown that dietary compounds can influence stress and anxiety by affecting gut microbiota.

Relationships

3 Ways "Balance Theory" Influences Conflict in Relationships

Mark Travers Ph.D. on January 20, 2025 in Social Instincts

There are many ways to restore balance after a conflict. Here's three of the most popular methods.

There are many ways to restore balance after a conflict. Here's three of the most popular methods.

Relationships

Strategies to Become a More Desirable Mate

Wendy L. Patrick, J.D., M.Div., Ph.D. on January 20, 2025 in Why Bad Looks Good

Want to be more desirable as a partner? Your strategy will depend on your society and geography.

Want to be more desirable as a partner? Your strategy will depend on your society and geography.

Polyamory

The Polyamorous Perfect Storm

Elisabeth A. Sheff Ph.D., CSE on January 20, 2025 in The Polyamorists Next Door

What to do in a polyamorous relationship when the going gets really tough for one partner, just as another meets an important new sweetie?

What to do in a polyamorous relationship when the going gets really tough for one partner, just as another meets an important new sweetie?