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

Positive Psychology

Find Your Garden: The Resources Within Us

Yosi Amram, Ph.D on May 1, 2026 in Spiritual Intelligence

When stress takes over, the answer isn’t always to push harder. Discover how to reconnect with the source of your inspiration hidden within you.

When stress takes over, the answer isn’t always to push harder. Discover how to reconnect with the source of your inspiration hidden within you.

Groupthink

Your Conversations Are Stuck. Here's How to Break Free.

Gustavo Razzetti on May 1, 2026 in The Adaptive Mind

Most conversations go in circles because they're stuck in one of three patterns: avoidance, blame, or groupthink. Learn how to change the conversation.

Most conversations go in circles because they're stuck in one of three patterns: avoidance, blame, or groupthink. Learn how to change the conversation.

Relationships

“You Should Have Known” Is Where Couples Go Wrong

Mark B. Borg, Jr, Ph.D., and Haruna Miyamoto-Borg LCSW on May 1, 2026 in Love. Crash. Rebuild.

Unspoken expectations can quietly turn caring partners into disappointed ones.

Unspoken expectations can quietly turn caring partners into disappointed ones.

Sex

Evidence Mounts: Sex Dolls Reduce Men’s Sexual Compulsivity

Michael Castleman M.A. on May 1, 2026 in All About Sex

As adult-looking sex dolls become more life-like, critics charge that they spur objectification of women and violence against them. Recent studies show otherwise.

As adult-looking sex dolls become more life-like, critics charge that they spur objectification of women and violence against them. Recent studies show otherwise.

Trauma

When Survivors Are Blamed for Family Estrangement

Kaytee Gillis, LCSW on May 1, 2026 in Invisible Bruises

When someone is abandoned by a parent, the focus often shifts to what they did wrong. This reinforces the trauma and further harms survivors. Here are some ways to respond.

When someone is abandoned by a parent, the focus often shifts to what they did wrong. This reinforces the trauma and further harms survivors. Here are some ways to respond.

Adverse Childhood Experiences

3 Ways Good Parents Can Traumatize Their Children

Mark Travers Ph.D. on May 1, 2026 in Social Instincts

Here's how, despite good intentions, parents can cause inadvertent harm.

Here's how, despite good intentions, parents can cause inadvertent harm.

Health

When It’s Not Erectile Dysfunction

Adam Prestegord LCSW, CST on May 1, 2026 in Dysfunction, Departed

ED is real—but it's also one of the most over-applied terms in men's health. Knowing the difference between normal variability and dysfunction can bring relief.

ED is real—but it's also one of the most over-applied terms in men's health. Knowing the difference between normal variability and dysfunction can bring relief.

Mindfulness

When Disappointment Wrecks You, Here's What to Do

Donald Altman on May 1, 2026 in Practical Mindfulness

If you feel disappointed, maybe it's not the event but your own expectations that are causing the problem.

If you feel disappointed, maybe it's not the event but your own expectations that are causing the problem.

Artificial Intelligence

What Is a Human Worth?

Cornelia C. Walther Ph.D. on May 1, 2026 in Harnessing Hybrid Intelligence

The things AI genuinely can't do are the things we have never figured out how to pay for properly.

The things AI genuinely can't do are the things we have never figured out how to pay for properly.

Anxiety

Why You Shouldn't Believe in Your Worry

Karen Cassiday Ph.D. on May 1, 2026 in The No-Worries Guide to Thriving

Do you get stuck in cycles of worry and reassurance seeking? Worry can easily fool you into believing that worry and reassurance seeking are the solution to uncertainty.

Do you get stuck in cycles of worry and reassurance seeking? Worry can easily fool you into believing that worry and reassurance seeking are the solution to uncertainty.

Parenting

Hot Take: The Parenting Hot Takes Aren't Always Helping

Cassidy Freitas, Ph.D., LMFT on April 30, 2026 in Mom Needs a Moment

You've spent the last 20 minutes scrolling parenting reels. Are you feeling more overwhelmed than when you started? Here's what actually helps.

You've spent the last 20 minutes scrolling parenting reels. Are you feeling more overwhelmed than when you started? Here's what actually helps.

Bias

Focus on the Smiles: How to Defeat the Negativity Bias

Robert Puff Ph.D. on April 30, 2026 in Meditation for Modern Life

Our brains are evolutionarily wired to fixate on the rude and negative people in the room. Learn how to overcome the "negativity bias" and find hidden anchors of kindness.

Our brains are evolutionarily wired to fixate on the rude and negative people in the room. Learn how to overcome the "negativity bias" and find hidden anchors of kindness.

Autism

My Autistic Son's Secret Life

Susan Senator on April 30, 2026 in All Families Are Not Alike

Personal Perspective: I worry that my autistic son spends a lot of silent time on the couch stimming. Should I be forcing neurotypical conversation?

Personal Perspective: I worry that my autistic son spends a lot of silent time on the couch stimming. Should I be forcing neurotypical conversation?

Sadism

Everyday Sadism in the Workplace

Jennifer Fraser Ph.D. on April 30, 2026 in The Bullied Brain

Many think sadism is confined to sexual and criminal conduct. In fact, sadistic behavior can also show up in the workplace.

Many think sadism is confined to sexual and criminal conduct. In fact, sadistic behavior can also show up in the workplace.

Personal Perspectives

Building Body and Brain: Lessons From Martial Arts

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on April 30, 2026 in Black Belt Brain

Training in traditional martial arts can be a real and metaphorical catalyst for both bodily self-improvement and actualization of who we want to be in the world.

Training in traditional martial arts can be a real and metaphorical catalyst for both bodily self-improvement and actualization of who we want to be in the world.

Trust

The Hidden Psychology of Anti-Intellectualism

Jasmine Mohsen Ph.D. on April 30, 2026 in The Architecture of Desire

Why do people reject experts and evidence? It's about identity, emotion, distrust, and the need for control.

Why do people reject experts and evidence? It's about identity, emotion, distrust, and the need for control.

Self-Help

Four Evidence-Based Tools to Develop the Skill of Bravery

Jill Schulman USMC, MAPP on April 30, 2026 in The Science of Bravery

These four evidence-based tools to help you move through fear and build the kind of bravery that compounds over time.

These four evidence-based tools to help you move through fear and build the kind of bravery that compounds over time.

Anxiety

Existential Distress Is Real and Increasingly Common

Mark Shelvock, RP, MACP, MA on April 30, 2026 in Navigating the Serpentine Path

A growing research base is catching up to a kind of suffering that mainstream mental health discourse often misses.

A growing research base is catching up to a kind of suffering that mainstream mental health discourse often misses.

Behavioral Finance

How Younger Generations Are Financially Adapting

Nathan Astle MFT, CFT-I on April 30, 2026 in The Psychology of Debt

Recent research reveals that almost 80 percent of younger adults now focus on short-term financial needs instead of long-term goals.

Recent research reveals that almost 80 percent of younger adults now focus on short-term financial needs instead of long-term goals.

Caregiving

Caregiving and Self-Care Are Not Mutually Exclusive

Meg Selig on April 30, 2026 in Changepower

Personal Perspective: Caring for my ill partner was not easy; taking care of myself was surprisingly challenging, too. These ideas helped sustain me.

Personal Perspective: Caring for my ill partner was not easy; taking care of myself was surprisingly challenging, too. These ideas helped sustain me.

Relationships

How the Mother Complex Shapes Love and Relationships

Helen Marlo, Ph.D. on April 30, 2026 in Deeper Dive

The mother complex can shape how we give and receive care, trust, and love, influencing relationships in ways often outside conscious awareness.

The mother complex can shape how we give and receive care, trust, and love, influencing relationships in ways often outside conscious awareness.

Environment

Not in a Good Place? Change Your Space

Bill Sullivan Ph.D. on April 30, 2026 in Pleased to Meet Me

Not in a good place? A new book discusses how to change your surroundings to change your headspace.

Not in a good place? A new book discusses how to change your surroundings to change your headspace.

Identity

Who Do You Think You Are? What Is Your Personal Myth?

Dale M. Kushner on April 30, 2026 in Transcending the Past

Personal myths determine how we perceive, feel, think, and make assumptions about what actions will cause what outcomes. What is your personal myth?

Personal myths determine how we perceive, feel, think, and make assumptions about what actions will cause what outcomes. What is your personal myth?

Identity

How to Rebuild Your Capacity and Find Balance

Megan Ashley Smith on April 30, 2026 in Unpacking Therapy Culture

Rebuilding your capacity is all about relearning your sense of self and discovering how to balance these newfound limits.

Rebuilding your capacity is all about relearning your sense of self and discovering how to balance these newfound limits.

Shame

Why Asians Can Struggle With Accepting Kindness

Sam Louie MA, LMHC, CSAT on April 30, 2026 in Minority Report

Personal Perspective: Why do Asians struggle with receiving kindness? Too often, it comes with an emotional invoice—an unspoken sense of obligation and repayment.

Personal Perspective: Why do Asians struggle with receiving kindness? Too often, it comes with an emotional invoice—an unspoken sense of obligation and repayment.

Grief

Letting Go and Letting Go and Letting Go After Loss

Sophia Dembling on April 30, 2026 in Widow's Walk

Personal Perspective: Things a loved one left behind are deeply infused with sentiment, but when they no longer serve you, letting go can be part of growth.

Personal Perspective: Things a loved one left behind are deeply infused with sentiment, but when they no longer serve you, letting go can be part of growth.

Motivation

3 Ways Overthinking Traps Adult Children In Stuck Mode

Jeffrey Bernstein Ph.D. on April 30, 2026 in Liking the Child You Love

If your adult child keeps "thinking about it" but never moves, what-if thinking may be keeping them stuck.

If your adult child keeps "thinking about it" but never moves, what-if thinking may be keeping them stuck.

Relationships

Energy Connection: The Subtle Art of Being Met

Claudia Six Ph.D. on April 30, 2026 in It's Never About Sex

Some connections go beyond words—through energy, presence, and attunement.

Some connections go beyond words—through energy, presence, and attunement.

Self-Talk

What's the Story You're Telling Yourself About Yourself?

Nancy Colier LCSW, Rev. on April 30, 2026 in Inviting a Monkey to Tea

Does it feel like you’re stuck in the same loop you’ve always been in? You may be focused on the wrong thing.

Does it feel like you’re stuck in the same loop you’ve always been in? You may be focused on the wrong thing.