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What The Wild Things Are

Understandings of Self, Awareness, and Mental Health in an Ever-Changing World

Marriage
Choosing Our Roles in Life Consciously

Samantha Stein Psy.D. on September 18, 2022

It isn’t easy to inhabit a role uniquely. There is often a great deal of pressure to do things “the way they’ve always been done.”

It isn’t easy to inhabit a role uniquely. There is often a great deal of pressure to do things “the way they’ve always been done.”

Law and Crime
Should We Humanize Inhuman Acts?

Samantha Stein Psy.D. on August 28, 2022

The series "I Am A Killer" can only scratch the surface of a murder. But it is a surface worth scratching if we want to create a society with fewer victims.

The series "I Am A Killer" can only scratch the surface of a murder. But it is a surface worth scratching if we want to create a society with fewer victims.

Stress
I Was a COVID Frontline Worker

Samantha Stein Psy.D. on June 13, 2022

There aren’t any manuals out there titled “How to Help People Through a Lethal, Global Pandemic That You, Yourself, Are Surviving.” I learned a lot.

There aren’t any manuals out there titled “How to Help People Through a Lethal, Global Pandemic That You, Yourself, Are Surviving.” I learned a lot.

Anxiety
There Are Few Actual Tigers in Our Lives

Samantha Stein Psy.D. on March 4, 2022

Much of the anxiety we experience today—setting aside true, reality-based concerns—is not adaptive and is even maladaptive. Here's how to cope with it better.

Much of the anxiety we experience today—setting aside true, reality-based concerns—is not adaptive and is even maladaptive. Here's how to cope with it better.

Depression
Why Gain Requires Loss

Samantha Stein Psy.D. on January 26, 2022

While we may think of an exciting choice as fully about gain, even the most joyful choices we make can involve giving something up.

While we may think of an exciting choice as fully about gain, even the most joyful choices we make can involve giving something up.

Media
Does the United States Need Couples’ Therapy?

Samantha Stein Psy.D. on November 24, 2021

Maybe agreement is not necessarily the goal. Maybe the goal is that we can live together and learn from each other and creatively come up with something different.

Maybe agreement is not necessarily the goal. Maybe the goal is that we can live together and learn from each other and creatively come up with something different.

Infidelity
Cheating and Masculinity

Samantha Stein Psy.D. on September 30, 2021

When their marriages fail to validate their masculinity, some men seek an outside partner as a workaround.

When their marriages fail to validate their masculinity, some men seek an outside partner as a workaround.

Anger
Pandemic Rage

Samantha Stein Psy.D. on September 2, 2021

We should feel empowered to do all that we can and make the best of the life that we have. But the hard truth is that our power is limited.

We should feel empowered to do all that we can and make the best of the life that we have. But the hard truth is that our power is limited.

Relationships
Sitting With Ourselves

Samantha Stein Psy.D. on August 22, 2021

It isn’t possible to know who we are or what we want when we don’t make the time to be still with ourselves.

It isn’t possible to know who we are or what we want when we don’t make the time to be still with ourselves.

Embarrassment
Why Making Amends Is So Important

Samantha Stein Psy.D. on July 5, 2021

When we're accountable and make amends, we are forced to face our own humanity. It's painful but it forces us to understand ourselves more deeply.

When we're accountable and make amends, we are forced to face our own humanity. It's painful but it forces us to understand ourselves more deeply.

Bias
The Importance of Pride Month

Samantha Stein Psy.D. on June 10, 2021

Shame is debilitating and can lead to mental illness, addiction, isolation, and death. This is why pride is so important.

Shame is debilitating and can lead to mental illness, addiction, isolation, and death. This is why pride is so important.