Verified by Psychology Today

Holly Parker, Ph.D.

About

Holly Parker, Ph.D., is a lecturer at Harvard University, where she teaches the psychology of close relationships, and a psychologist in private practice. She obtained her Ph.D. in Experimental Psychopathology from Harvard University, where she was a Karen Stone Fellow and Sackler Scholar. She re-specialized in Clinical Psychology at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. In her clinical practice, Dr. Parker has worked with people across an array of issues, including relationships, self-esteem, trauma, mood, anxiety, emotion regulation, health and lifestyle, addiction, grief and loss. She is the author of When Reality Bites: How Denial Helps and What to Do When It Hurts, and If We’re Together, Why Do I Feel So Alone?: How to Build Intimacy with an Emotionally Unavailable Partner.

Books by Holly Parker, Ph.D.
Recent Posts
A Nuance in Regulating Your Emotional World

If we want to understand anger better and how we respond to it, we might want to reflect on the upsides and downsides we attach to our feelings.

If we want to understand anger better and how we respond to it, we might want to reflect on the upsides and downsides we attach to our feelings.

Another Possible Gift of Age: Less Emotion Overflow

When you consider how happy you are with your life, do you rely on how you’re feeling in the moment? Your answer may have to do with how old you are.

When you consider how happy you are with your life, do you rely on how you’re feeling in the moment? Your answer may have to do with how old you are.

How Many Parents Ever Regret Having Kids?

A team of researchers highlighted past research that showed regret over having children isn’t rare, as 5-14% of parents have this feeling.

A team of researchers highlighted past research that showed regret over having children isn’t rare, as 5-14% of parents have this feeling.

What Couples Are Comfortable Talking About

In your interactions with your partner, try noticing when you’re more or less able to effectively engage, and consider what you’re talking about. It might provide useful insights.

In your interactions with your partner, try noticing when you’re more or less able to effectively engage, and consider what you’re talking about. It might provide useful insights.

The Connection Between Past and Future Therapy

You often take your impressions from the past and carry them into the future. This is true in all sorts of domains, including therapy, new research shows.

You often take your impressions from the past and carry them into the future. This is true in all sorts of domains, including therapy, new research shows.

How People Are Doing, Right Now

A recent study spotlights vital elements of life that deserve more consideration and intervention.

A recent study spotlights vital elements of life that deserve more consideration and intervention.

The Power of Beliefs in Romantic Relationships

According to research, if you’re really content in your relationship, you’re also likely to say that your partner does a lot of good deeds on behalf of your relationship. But why?

According to research, if you’re really content in your relationship, you’re also likely to say that your partner does a lot of good deeds on behalf of your relationship. But why?

The Psychological Power of Body Positivity in Social Media

When you think about how you feel about your body, what do you notice? A team of researchers investigated the impact of images reflecting the body positivity movement.

When you think about how you feel about your body, what do you notice? A team of researchers investigated the impact of images reflecting the body positivity movement.

How to Talk About Mistakes in a Relationship

Not all misdeeds are inevitable, but it’s a certainty that, generally speaking, an offense of some type or another will happen because we’re all human and everyone makes mistakes.

Not all misdeeds are inevitable, but it’s a certainty that, generally speaking, an offense of some type or another will happen because we’re all human and everyone makes mistakes.

Using Temporal Distancing to Cope With Stress

If someone asked how you cope with stress, what would you say? Would you imagine how you would react in the future to a nerve-wracking situation you’re dealing with right now?

If someone asked how you cope with stress, what would you say? Would you imagine how you would react in the future to a nerve-wracking situation you’re dealing with right now?