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Abuse Amnesia: Why We Stay with Our Abusive Partners
People often wonder why those they care about stay with romantic partners who hurt them. It’s a good question on the surface, but the answer is much more complicated. When people are ... Read More
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I Made a New Friend: A Story of Depression and Anxiety
I made a new friend. I didn’t want to meet her. I wanted to pretend she wasn’t there, but she just wouldn’t go away. She was always with me, everywhere I went. I ignored her for months, ... Read More
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For Therapists: Coping with the Suicide of a Person in Therapy
The first person I ever worked with in therapy, when I was a graduate student at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Danville, Illinois, died by suicide. While my supervisor and fellow ... Read More
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Learning to Suffer: How Avoiding Your Suffering Can Make It Worse
I do not like to suffer, and I do not like for others to suffer. I avoid unnecessary suffering as much as possible, and as a therapist I try to help people to see and stop the unintentional, ... Read More
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Why Do I Take Care of Everyone’s Emotional Needs Except My Own?
When I think about the people I work with in therapy who struggle with issues of separation and individuation, I notice that many who are confused or conflicted about who they are and what ... Read More
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7 Ways to Practice Social Media Etiquette in Your Relationship
As social media become more deeply entrenched in our lives, couples are experiencing both the positive and negative effects of social engagement on their relationships. Couples utilize ... Read More
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Emotional Support Animals Can Help Us Heal and Recover from Trauma
Pets can offer an unmatched level of support to trauma survivors attempting to cope with the emotional aftermath of a traumatic event. A beloved and trusted pet can act as a lifeline when ... Read More
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Leaving a Person with Narcissism: Here Comes the Smear Campaign
It took FOREVER to finally leave the person in your life with narcissism, only to realize that once you made that fateful decision, your name became mud. Your ex is not going to let you ... Read More
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The Importance of Recovery Communities for Addiction and Abuse
Anyone who has ever been in recovery from addiction or abuse can attest to the fact it is not easy. The process of recognizing there is a problem; increasing motivation to take control; ... Read More
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The Temptation of Self-Rejection—and the Promise of Self-Acceptance
We do not get to choose the content of our minds, but we certainly try. There are many things in life—inside and outside of us—we do not choose or control, and that fall short of our ... Read More
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Why Does My Therapist Wait for Me to Start the Session?
Every part of therapy can be informative. The moment you enter the room is no exception. Different therapists have different styles, but in psychodynamic work there’s usually space left ... Read More
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Help! I Have No Interest in Sex
Dear GoodTherapy.org, Ever since my ex and I broke up a few years ago, my interest in sex has been declining. I have dated a few people since my breakup, but sex just isn’t the same. ... Read More
