-
Burdens and Benefits of Arranged Marriages
April 12, 2013 .
61 Comments
Very few people in Western cultures enforce or even endorse arranged marriages. The thought of having your spouse picked out by your parents can be repulsive to many young adults. They ... Read More
-
Why Does the Lottery Often End in Tragedy? April 4, 2013 . 7 Comments
Visions of winning the lottery are enough to turn just about anyone into a dreamer who fantasizes about helping family members, starting charities, and—of course—buying a few nice cars ... Read More
-
The Effects of Incarceration on Mental Health
March 15, 2013 .
54 Comments
Although jail time might seem like a distant possibility for most people, incarceration rates in the United States are steadily rising. One study published in the journal Pediatrics found ... Read More
-
Losing Both Parents by Age 27: How I Began to Heal
March 5, 2013 .
127 Comments
I woke up to my dad staring blankly at the wall the morning of October 14, 2004. It was the day before my 23rd birthday. I knew this day was coming, but nothing would prepare me to wake ... Read More
-
Parenting Teens (and Staying Sane): A Developmental Framework February 25, 2013 . 16 Comments
“I hate you!” “You’re the worst parent who ever existed!” “I can’t wait to move out!” If you have recently heard these words (usually screamed at full volume, followed by ... Read More
-
Grief Mythology: Mourning Can Create Alternate Realities February 5, 2013 . 7 Comments
It is not unusual for someone who experiences a loss to romanticize the person, identity, or object they are grieving. This can occur even when what is lost was not just imperfect, but ... Read More
-
6 Buddhist Teachings Can Help Soothe the Pain of Divorce January 16, 2013 . 16 Comments
Anyone who has been through a divorce knows very well that it can invoke the worst parts of the self. Divorce is consistently associated with contention, negativity, bad behavior, and a ... Read More
-
Loved Ones with Cancer: Celebrating Their Last Holiday Season December 17, 2012 . 5 Comments
Nicole is 16, and Ethan is 14. Their father, Jack, has battled brain cancer for the past two years. Jack was told recently that further treatment had a less than 10% chance of being successful. ... Read More
-
Our Time Is Up: Ending the Therapeutic Relationship November 28, 2012 . 27 Comments
You entered therapy feeling broken, lonely, anxious, dissatisfied with your relationships and your career. Now you feel whole and healthy; your relationships have improved, and you’ve ... Read More
-
Doomsday Scenarios, Conspiracy Theories, and Psychology November 20, 2012 . 16 Comments
Since the beginning of recorded history, people have been forecasting the end of the world. In biblical times, many people believed that Jesus would return in a few short years, and religions ... Read More
-
Grief, Mourning, and Loss: Unhealthy Ways of Coping November 8, 2012 . 13 Comments
I’ve been thinking about grief, mourning, and loss a lot lately. It shows up as a theme in my work as a psychotherapist all the time. I’ve also been studying the literature on methods ... Read More
-
‘Just Like Me’: When Parents See Children As Reflections of Themselves November 8, 2012 . 7 Comments
When parents view their child’s “problematic” behavior, attitudes, or troubles as a reflection of them, it can be a terrible blow to the ego. For parents with positive self-feelings, ... Read More
