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

Emotional Validation

Giving the Gift of Validation

Paula Durlofsky, Ph.D. on December 14, 2024 in Logged In and Stressed Out

Do you often feel misunderstood and judged in your relationships? Practicing the act of validation can help.

Do you often feel misunderstood and judged in your relationships? Practicing the act of validation can help.

Gratitude

The Year-End Relationship Check-In

Marisa T. Cohen PhD, LMFT on December 14, 2024 in Finding Love: The Scientific Take

A year-end state of the relationship review can enhance your connection with your partner. It is important to actively listen to one another and express gratitude.

A year-end state of the relationship review can enhance your connection with your partner. It is important to actively listen to one another and express gratitude.

Anxiety

The Fire Alarm of Anxiety Is Going Off But There Is No Fire

Jennifer Caspari Ph.D. on December 14, 2024 in Living Well When Your Body Doesn't Cooperate

Anxiety can misfire like a malfunctioning alarm and alert you of danger in the moment when there is none. Coping skills can recalibrate your anxiety alarm, making it more accurate.

Anxiety can misfire like a malfunctioning alarm and alert you of danger in the moment when there is none. Coping skills can recalibrate your anxiety alarm, making it more accurate.

Serial Killers

The Call to Kill

Katherine Ramsland Ph.D. on December 14, 2024 in Shadow Boxing

A recent Texas case bears similarity to others where serial killers claimed they were called on to make "sacrifices" for protection or a higher purpose.

A recent Texas case bears similarity to others where serial killers claimed they were called on to make "sacrifices" for protection or a higher purpose.

Forensic Psychology

Shifting the American Relationship With Firearms

Tahir Rahman M.D. on December 14, 2024 in Clinical and Forensic Dimensions of Psychiatry

Personal Perspective: Can America break its toxic gun culture? Discover how education, shared values, and responsibility can transform firearms from symbols of power to safety.

Personal Perspective: Can America break its toxic gun culture? Discover how education, shared values, and responsibility can transform firearms from symbols of power to safety.

Social Media

Getting Your Needs Met Online

Phil Reed D.Phil. on December 14, 2024 in Digital World, Real World

Most digital activity is simply a "want," but there are a few instances where it could be a "need," and fewer still where the need can be satisfied digitally.

Most digital activity is simply a "want," but there are a few instances where it could be a "need," and fewer still where the need can be satisfied digitally.

Gratitude

Feel Happier Fast: Three Things You Can Do Right Now

Jeffrey Bernstein Ph.D. on December 14, 2024 in Liking the Child You Love

Feeling down and stuck? These three simple actions can instantly boost your mood and transform your day—no matter where you are.

Feeling down and stuck? These three simple actions can instantly boost your mood and transform your day—no matter where you are.

Suicide

Are You Concerned That Someone You Know May Be Suicidal?

Konrad Michel M.D. on December 14, 2024 in The Suicidal Mind

When someone looks preoccupied, depressed, and withdrawn: The royal road to prevent suicide is connection.

When someone looks preoccupied, depressed, and withdrawn: The royal road to prevent suicide is connection.

Trauma

When the Body Doesn’t Heal After Childhood Abuse

Stacey R Pinatelli Psy.D. on December 14, 2024 in Hope and Healing

Trauma is known to affect emotions, but its effects on brain and body function are often overlooked.

Trauma is known to affect emotions, but its effects on brain and body function are often overlooked.

Schadenfreude

Why the Schadenfreude Over Brian Thompson's Horrible Murder?

Richard H. Smith Ph.D. on December 14, 2024 in Joy and Pain

Schadenfreude, though frowned upon, emerges in the open when people think it is deserved.

Schadenfreude, though frowned upon, emerges in the open when people think it is deserved.

Workplace Dynamics

Psychological Safety: The Secret Sauce for Workplace Success

Chamin Ajjan LCSW, A-CBT, CST on December 14, 2024 in The Dynamics of Love

Psychological safety fosters open communication, respect, and innovation, and creates thriving teams and workplaces where everyone feels valued.

Psychological safety fosters open communication, respect, and innovation, and creates thriving teams and workplaces where everyone feels valued.

Artificial Intelligence

The Search for Genius in the Cognitive Age

John Nosta on December 14, 2024 in The Digital Self

Partnering with LLMs unlocks a future where genius may thrive, making brilliance accessible to all who dare to explore their potential.

Partnering with LLMs unlocks a future where genius may thrive, making brilliance accessible to all who dare to explore their potential.

Midlife

How to Start a New Life at Midlife

Gina Frangello Ph.D., M.A. on December 14, 2024 in Not the Norm

Personal Perspective: After a quarter century of caretaking and living in the same family home, empty nesting can feel like you're 22 again.

Personal Perspective: After a quarter century of caretaking and living in the same family home, empty nesting can feel like you're 22 again.

Hypnosis

Hypnosis for the Treatment of Emetophobia

Ran D. Anbar M.D. on December 13, 2024 in Understanding Hypnosis

Specific hypnotic techniques with the aid of subconscious resources can help patients improve or resolve their emetophobia (fear of throwing up).

Specific hypnotic techniques with the aid of subconscious resources can help patients improve or resolve their emetophobia (fear of throwing up).

Mental Health Stigma

Is Mental Health Stigma Impacting Our Ability to Heal?

Sheilah M. Gauch on December 13, 2024 in The Whole Child

Mental health stigma creates many barriers. Is it making it harder to find healing in this mental health crisis?

Mental health stigma creates many barriers. Is it making it harder to find healing in this mental health crisis?

Relationships

What Kind of Person Do You Want Your Child to Become?

Dona Matthews Ph.D. on December 13, 2024 in Going Beyond Intelligence

While it's important to love your child just the way they are, it's also important to help them gain the tools to become the best possible adult they're in the process of becoming.

While it's important to love your child just the way they are, it's also important to help them gain the tools to become the best possible adult they're in the process of becoming.

Relationships

The One Show We Couldn't Stop Thinking About This Year

Robin Stern Ph.D. on December 13, 2024 in Power in Relationships

"Baby Reindeer" is a powerful — and eerily relatable — exploration of the complexities of empathy, trauma, guilt, and shame in modern relationships.

"Baby Reindeer" is a powerful — and eerily relatable — exploration of the complexities of empathy, trauma, guilt, and shame in modern relationships.

Motivation

7 Strategies to Make Change Stick

Joanna Hardis LISW-S on December 13, 2024 in Stop Worrying, Start Living

Despite what influencers promise, there are no quick fixes when it comes to sustainable behavioral change. These 7 tips can help jumpstart your goals for the months ahead.

Despite what influencers promise, there are no quick fixes when it comes to sustainable behavioral change. These 7 tips can help jumpstart your goals for the months ahead.

Dementia

Dementia's Tragic Promise

Matthew Clemente, Ph.D. and David Goodman, Ph.D. on December 13, 2024 in Our Human Condition

Personal Perspective: Watching another descend into dementia is torturous. Such experiences, however, can give rise to vital reflections.

Personal Perspective: Watching another descend into dementia is torturous. Such experiences, however, can give rise to vital reflections.

Resilience

Pets: Guardians of Our Well-Being

S. Fenella Das Gupta Ph.D., MFT on December 13, 2024 in Creating 2 Pink Lines

Discover how pets do more than keep us company—they actively participate in our emotional health through profound neurological and biochemical processes.

Discover how pets do more than keep us company—they actively participate in our emotional health through profound neurological and biochemical processes.

Bias

The Impacts of Anti-Black Racism in Psychology

The Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues on December 13, 2024 in Sound Science, Sound Policy

The field of psychology has a history of anti-Black racism that is sustained by Whiteness.

The field of psychology has a history of anti-Black racism that is sustained by Whiteness.

Cognition

How You Speak and What You Experience Are Related

Sally Augustin Ph.D. on December 13, 2024 in People, Places, and Things

There's more of a link between what you say and how you feel than you think.

There's more of a link between what you say and how you feel than you think.

Psychosis

Radical Acceptance Applied to Psychosis

Sarah Merritt Ryan on December 13, 2024 in Healing Mind

Personal Perspective: Psychosis and the collateral damage surrounding it make radical acceptance without judgment difficult. But it's possible.

Personal Perspective: Psychosis and the collateral damage surrounding it make radical acceptance without judgment difficult. But it's possible.

Environment

Human-Elephant Interaction in India

Ilan Kelman Ph.D. on December 13, 2024 in Disaster By Choice

Personal Perspective: A new podcast describes solastalgia, the adverse mental health impacts of a changing environment, on both humans and elephants in southern India.

Personal Perspective: A new podcast describes solastalgia, the adverse mental health impacts of a changing environment, on both humans and elephants in southern India.

Traumatic Brain Injury

From Bedridden to Walking to Running

Ragnar Purje Ph.D. on December 13, 2024 in Recovery From Brain Injury

Boxer John Famechon had been walking independently it was time to explore if he could run.

Boxer John Famechon had been walking independently it was time to explore if he could run.

Anxiety

When Anxiety Feeds on Itself

Carolyn Karoll LCSW-C, CEDS-C on December 13, 2024 in Eating Disorder Recovery

Feeling anxious about feeling anxious? Learn why this happens, how it affects you, and simple strategies to break free from the cycle.

Feeling anxious about feeling anxious? Learn why this happens, how it affects you, and simple strategies to break free from the cycle.

Self-Help

Do Some People Bring Out the Worst in You?

Steven Stosny, Ph.D. on December 13, 2024 in Anger in the Age of Entitlement

It’s hard not to be emotionally reactive in our polarized world. Reactivity lets that which we despise live rent-free in our heads.

It’s hard not to be emotionally reactive in our polarized world. Reactivity lets that which we despise live rent-free in our heads.

Consumer Behavior

The Psychological Drawbacks of Digital Comfort

Matt Johnson Ph.D. on December 13, 2024 in Mind, Brain, and Value

The digital world tends to conform to what we already enjoy. What are we missing when we avoid discomfort?

The digital world tends to conform to what we already enjoy. What are we missing when we avoid discomfort?

Alcoholism

The Power of Love in Alcohol Recovery

Greg O'Brien on December 13, 2024 in On Pluto

Alcohol abuse is among the leading cause of preventable death in the United States—more than opioids such as fentanyl.

Alcohol abuse is among the leading cause of preventable death in the United States—more than opioids such as fentanyl.