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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
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Running from the Reunion? How to Cope with Difficult Family Visits
In today’s modern world, many of us don’t live near our families. In order to see our loved ones, we generally have to plan a visit. Due to finances, scheduling time off work, packing, ... Read More
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ISTDP Shows Promise in Addressing Treatment-Resistant Depression
A recent randomized controlled study of therapy for treatment-resistant depression produced evidence that a brief trial of intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy (ISTDP) may have large ... Read More
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11 Things That Will Help You Hold Space for Someone
Holding space for someone in emotional pain is a concept many people are not familiar with but have nonetheless felt it, on some level, at some point. Holding space, or creating a container, ... Read More
