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

Creativity

Visual Self-Expression Leads to Rewards

Shirley M. Mueller M.D. on November 20, 2024 in The Mind of a Collector

Research underscores how even simple forms of art making can evoke significant positive neural responses.

Research underscores how even simple forms of art making can evoke significant positive neural responses.

Parenting

The ROI of Parental Leave

Erin O’Connor Ed.D. on November 20, 2024 in Scientific Mommy

What happens when parents don’t have paid leave? Financial strain, career setbacks, and missed opportunities for growth.

What happens when parents don’t have paid leave? Financial strain, career setbacks, and missed opportunities for growth.

Relationships

Building Lasting Romantic Connections

Forrest Talley Ph.D. on November 20, 2024 in Relationship Emporium

New romantic relationships involve risks. One of these is self-disclosure. How you respond to your love interest's disclosures can be the spark that helps fuel a great romance.

New romantic relationships involve risks. One of these is self-disclosure. How you respond to your love interest's disclosures can be the spark that helps fuel a great romance.

Stress

9 Ways to Find More Joy and Less Stress This Holiday Season

Jordan Fiorillo Scotti Ph.D. on November 20, 2024 in Buddhist Psychology: East Meets West

The holiday season ushers in fun, but also stress. Set yourself up for success by making a few mindful tweaks to avoid overwhelm this year.

The holiday season ushers in fun, but also stress. Set yourself up for success by making a few mindful tweaks to avoid overwhelm this year.

Boundaries

Setting Boundaries That Help Relationships Bloom

Harry Cohen Ph.D. on November 20, 2024 in Be the Sun, Not the Salt

Learn how to set compassionate boundaries that protect your well-being and nurture healthier relationships.

Learn how to set compassionate boundaries that protect your well-being and nurture healthier relationships.

Empathy

Empathy in Teens: Unraveling the Adolescent Brain's Emotions

Ugochukwu Uche MS.,LPC on November 20, 2024 in Promoting Empathy With Your Teen

Teen brains show lower empathy but higher activation. Cultural factors shape responses. Understanding these differences helps support emotional development in adolescents.

Teen brains show lower empathy but higher activation. Cultural factors shape responses. Understanding these differences helps support emotional development in adolescents.

Stress

Secrets to a Stress-Free Thanksgiving

Hsing-ay Hsu on November 20, 2024 in The Flow of Creativity

Discover mindful listening strategies inspired by music to transform tensions into moments of harmony.

Discover mindful listening strategies inspired by music to transform tensions into moments of harmony.

Identity

The Power of Self-Image

Ryan C. Warner Ph.D. on November 20, 2024 in Leadership, Diversity, and Wellness

Struggling with self-confidence? Simple strategies—from practicing self-care to setting boundaries with social media—can help improve your self-perception.

Struggling with self-confidence? Simple strategies—from practicing self-care to setting boundaries with social media—can help improve your self-perception.

Environment

Rewild Your Mind: Can Nature Help Ease Modern Stress?

Dana Klisanin Ph.D. on November 20, 2024 in Digital Altruism

Feeling overwhelmed? Reconnecting with nature through rewilding could ease stress, boost your mood, and transform your mental health.

Feeling overwhelmed? Reconnecting with nature through rewilding could ease stress, boost your mood, and transform your mental health.

Relationships

When Words Fail: Transform Negative Communication Patterns

Randi Gunther Ph.D. on November 20, 2024 in Rediscovering Love

Couples can break negative communication cycles with silent reflection, non-verbal connection, and written communication to better understand each other before resolving conflicts.

Couples can break negative communication cycles with silent reflection, non-verbal connection, and written communication to better understand each other before resolving conflicts.

Relationships

We Need Transcendence & Service to Others to Be Fully Human

Chris Bradshaw Ph.D., LPC on November 20, 2024 in The Existential Station

Human beings need security, growth, "transcendence," and to be of moral service to others and the world. Conditions in life, and in our psyches, often block our need fulfillment.

Human beings need security, growth, "transcendence," and to be of moral service to others and the world. Conditions in life, and in our psyches, often block our need fulfillment.

Addiction

Dealing With Loss in Addiction Recovery

Sam Louie MA, LMHC, CSAT on November 20, 2024 in Minority Report

What do you do in addiction recovery? True recovery will involve an internal shift in which other pursuits replace time spent on the addiction.

What do you do in addiction recovery? True recovery will involve an internal shift in which other pursuits replace time spent on the addiction.

Stress

A Couple's Survival Guide for the Holidays

Melinda DeSeta Ph.D. on November 20, 2024 in The Modern Sex Therapist

Many couples fall into negative relationship cycles due to holiday stress. Here's how to avoid common relational challenges and become even closer with your partner.

Many couples fall into negative relationship cycles due to holiday stress. Here's how to avoid common relational challenges and become even closer with your partner.

Depression

Sad for No Reason? Maybe It's the Music You Listen To

Krystine I. Batcho Ph.D. on November 20, 2024 in Longing for Nostalgia

Is the trend toward greater sadness in the tone and content of popular music making emotional recovery more difficult?

Is the trend toward greater sadness in the tone and content of popular music making emotional recovery more difficult?

Forgiveness

7 Reasons You May Struggle to Forgive Yourself

Leon F Seltzer PhD on November 20, 2024 in Evolution of the Self

Regardless of how warranted your self-righteous emotions may be, rationalizing why you took advantage of another, it still doesn’t help to hang onto feelings of guilt.

Regardless of how warranted your self-righteous emotions may be, rationalizing why you took advantage of another, it still doesn’t help to hang onto feelings of guilt.

Loneliness

There’s an Unexpected Reason Why the World Feels So Broken

Kim Samuel on November 20, 2024 in The Power of Belonging

Discover how loneliness, as warned by Hannah Arendt, fuels societal division—and how we can rebuild belonging to heal our fractured world.

Discover how loneliness, as warned by Hannah Arendt, fuels societal division—and how we can rebuild belonging to heal our fractured world.

Addiction

The First Step for Addicts in Recovery

Sam Louie MA, LMHC, CSAT on November 20, 2024 in Minority Report

The term "powerlessness," as it is used in addiction recovery, is often a turn-off, both to people in recovery and those in the general public, since the term is so misunderstood.

The term "powerlessness," as it is used in addiction recovery, is often a turn-off, both to people in recovery and those in the general public, since the term is so misunderstood.

Artificial Intelligence

Humans and AI: Do They Work Better Together or Alone?

The Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research on November 20, 2024 in Evidence-Based Living

A large-scale analysis helps us better understand when human-AI collaborations are helpful and when they are not.

A large-scale analysis helps us better understand when human-AI collaborations are helpful and when they are not.

Domestic Violence

Do Protection Orders Protect?

Kaytee Gillis, LCSW on November 20, 2024 in Invisible Bruises

Even with a protection order, many forms of abuse, such as harassment, slander, filing false reports with child protection, or other forms of retaliation, can be hard to stop.

Even with a protection order, many forms of abuse, such as harassment, slander, filing false reports with child protection, or other forms of retaliation, can be hard to stop.

Forgiveness

How To Stop Your Adult Child's Blame Game

Jeffrey Bernstein Ph.D. on November 20, 2024 in Liking the Child You Love

When your adult child blames you for their struggles, resist the urge to defend or control—there’s a better way forward.

When your adult child blames you for their struggles, resist the urge to defend or control—there’s a better way forward.

Emotional Intelligence

3 Unexpected Signs You Have High Emotional Intelligence

Emma Seppälä Ph.D. on November 20, 2024 in Feeling It

Want to know if you're emotionally intelligent? Here are 3 science-backed secrets and practical tips.

Want to know if you're emotionally intelligent? Here are 3 science-backed secrets and practical tips.

Resilience

Imagine All the People: Building Inner Strength Through Social Connection

Michele M. Tugade Ph.D. on November 20, 2024 in Everyday Resilience

Why do humans crave social connection in times of stress? Learn more about why gathering together builds strength and resilience.

Why do humans crave social connection in times of stress? Learn more about why gathering together builds strength and resilience.

Cross-Cultural Psychology

Escaping Comparison Culture in Fertility Struggles

S. Fenella Das Gupta Ph.D., MFT on November 20, 2024 in Creating 2 Pink Lines

Comparison culture and social media amplify the pain of fertility struggles. Learn how to redefine success, protect your mental health, and honor your unique journey.

Comparison culture and social media amplify the pain of fertility struggles. Learn how to redefine success, protect your mental health, and honor your unique journey.

Sexual Orientation

8 Signs That You Might Be 'Symbiosexual'

Mark Travers Ph.D. on November 20, 2024 in Social Instincts

Do energy and synchronicity appeal to you more than gender or attractiveness? You could be 'symbiosexual.' Here are eight ways to tell, according to recent research.

Do energy and synchronicity appeal to you more than gender or attractiveness? You could be 'symbiosexual.' Here are eight ways to tell, according to recent research.

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia—On the Same Spectrum?

Jennifer Gerlach LCSW on November 20, 2024 in Beyond Mental Health

Could bipolar disorder and schizophrenia fall on the same spectrum?

Could bipolar disorder and schizophrenia fall on the same spectrum?

Gratitude

The Virtual Gratitude Visit

Llewellyn E. van Zyl Ph.D. on November 20, 2024 in HappyBytes

Discover how the virtual gratitude visit and the empty chair method can help you show gratitude to those who are no longer in your life.

Discover how the virtual gratitude visit and the empty chair method can help you show gratitude to those who are no longer in your life.

Altruism

Being “There” for Others: What’s in It for You?

Kelly-Ann Allen Ph.D. on November 20, 2024 in Sense of Belonging

Other-oriented approaches and prosocial behaviors can offer mutual benefits, improving a person's well-being and life satisfaction. Here's how it works.

Other-oriented approaches and prosocial behaviors can offer mutual benefits, improving a person's well-being and life satisfaction. Here's how it works.

Altruism

How to Encourage Generosity in Your Kids This Holiday Season

Hali Kil Ph.D. on November 20, 2024 in Raising Resilience

The holidays can be a perfect time to teach generosity to our kids. Here are three ways to encourage the "warm glow" of kindness during this festive season.

The holidays can be a perfect time to teach generosity to our kids. Here are three ways to encourage the "warm glow" of kindness during this festive season.

Diet

Understanding Emotional Eating

Vanessa Scaringi Ph.D., CEDS-C on November 19, 2024 in Body Acceptance

We are told emotional eating is bad—plain and simple. Let's get curious about why we turn to food in stressful moments.

We are told emotional eating is bad—plain and simple. Let's get curious about why we turn to food in stressful moments.