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Unhealthy Friendships in Adolescence: How to Know When to Let Go
Making and maintaining quality friendships is hard, especially during middle and high school. Although many adolescents long to develop lifelong friends who will be loyal, trustworthy, ... Read More
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Apologizing with Intention: 4 Reasons Your Apology Didn’t Work
Recently, I sat in session with a married couple named Dara and Mike. Speaking to one of the issues that brought them to therapy, Dara said, “Every time I tell him I don’t feel like ... Read More
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Narcissistic Needs and Self-Esteem: Why Narcissism Isn’t All Bad
“You’re such a narcissist!” If you’ve ever caught yourself saying that to someone you love, you know it’s never a compliment. “Narcissist” can be an all-purpose put-down that ... Read More
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The Vicious Cycle of Posttraumatic Stress: 4 Cornerstones of PTSD
Although posttraumatic stress (PTSD) tends to be the issue that most often comes to mind when we consider trauma, there are a number of other responses, including depression, anxiety, substance ... Read More
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How Psychotherapy Retrains the Brain to Expect (and Feel) Better
People enter psychotherapy with the desire to feel better, but they are often unsure how therapy will help them accomplish this goal. A common refrain from people hesitant to enter therapy ... Read More
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Psychotherapy for Your Body: The Role of Somatic Psychology Today
A racing heart and a roiling stomach. Panic attacks, nightmares, or fatigue. The body has myriad ways to manifest the many faces of trauma and fear. And for many people, getting help to ... Read More
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My Dad Was Sexually Abused as a Child. Should I Talk to Him About It?
Dear GoodTherapy.org, My mom and dad divorced when I was 14. I’m in my forties now. Neither of my parents is in the best of health, and I don’t know how much time left I have ... Read More
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Alcohol and Trauma: Drinking as a Way to Cope with the Past
Did you know one of the main predictors for having a substance use disorder is experiencing trauma? A quick internet search yields many definitions of trauma. I think the simplest definition ... Read More
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My Friend Had a Late-Term Abortion: 5 Things She Wants You to Know
Editor’s note: The account that follows may be upsetting for some readers. Names were changed to protect confidentiality. I was reflecting on a recent party we hosted and thought my friend ... Read More
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4 Ways to Get the Most Out of Couples Therapy
What makes couples therapy successful? I’ve see couples move from relationship nightmare to healthy and happy within six months of counseling. In many cases, by the time the couple ends ... Read More
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Talking and Writing About Suicide: Why It Matters, What to Say
In 2017, the suicide rate reached a 33-year high. Suicide is now the second-leading cause of death among teenagers, and an American dies by suicide every 12.8 minutes. Deaths by suicide ... Read More
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Indiscriminate Affection and Children: The Real Stranger Danger
We’ve all seen it: the child in the supermarket line willing to tell you all about himself despite not knowing you at all, or the little girl who plops herself in a new teacher’s lap ... Read More
