Is Online Therapy Secure and Confidential?
It’s not always easy to decide to engage in mental health treatment. Yet for many, it is a choice that has transformed or even saved their lives. While the traditional, in-office model for therapy is still the default option people think of when deciding to seek help, online therapy is proving to be an increasingly…
What is Acute Stress Disorder?
Acute stress disorder refers to the aftereffects someone experiences following an intense event where the person believed that they were witnessing a serious threat to their life or someone else’s, or when they or someone close to them experienced a serious injury, accident, or violent physical encounter or death. This diagnosis is similar to a…
Can Daith Piercing Reduce Anxiety?
Piercings are incredibly popular and prevalent in today’s culture. People engage in piercing for various reasons, such as self-expression, artistic appearance, or for religious and cultural purposes. One popular trend is the piercing of the daith, which is believed by some to alleviate anxiety and migraines. The daith is a tiny piece of inner cartilage that folds…
Using EMDR to Treat Eating Disorders
Eating disorders can be extremely dangerous for those who suffer from them. Drastic changes to food intake can make a person seriously ill, therefore it is crucial for those who struggle with managing their relationship with food to enlist help and support from a professional. The types of treatment approaches for eating disorders vary depending…
What You Should Know About PTSD Triggers
For those dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), it can be a highly painful and disruptive psychological condition. It is estimated to impact almost 7% percent of the adult population in their lifetime and involves symptoms that develop due to experiencing a single or series of traumatic events. If you have no experience with trauma…
Choosing a Therapist: A Detailed Guide
Finding a therapist might seem easy, but choosing a “good” one might be a daunting experience for a lot of people. There are probably a lot of concerns you have when it comes to choosing the right person. After all, you’ll be opening up to them and relying on them to help you work through…
How to Spot People That Use Others
Can you recall a time in your life when you were used by someone else? Unfortunately for most of us, this usually occurs sometime early in life. Some of us might have been used for our intelligence, some for our athleticism, and others for our popularity. Can you remember the moment when you realized that you were being…
Dating Someone With Anxiety: Tips and Advice
Dealing with your own anxiety can be difficult, but it can also be incredibly hard to watch anxiety affect someone you love. Anxiety is different for every person and managing it is not “one size fits all.” The first thing to do when you love someone with anxiety is to do your best to understand…
How Are Therapists Different From Psychologists?
When searching for mental health services, being knowledgeable is crucial. Although the terms therapist and psychologist both describe professionals committed to enhancing their patients’ emotional and mental health, they do not carry the same meaning. Understanding some of these distinctions can aid you in your quest for the appropriate expert. The two titles can often…
What is Gamophobia?
Gamophobia is a fear of commitment and marriage. As with many phobias, gamophobia’s name has an interesting etymology. ’Phobia,’ of course, is the fear of something. Meanwhile, ‘gamos,’ is Greek for ‘marriage.’ Thus, gamophobia quite literally translates to ‘fear of marriage.’ Gamophobia is not always quite as simple as someone being afraid of getting married….
How to Gain a Strong Sense of Self
Life is extremely unpredictable. From flat tires on the way to work and unexpected bills in the mail to a call into our boss’ office, things happen every day that throw us off course. Usually, when we least expect it, we are faced with a new set of challenges and surprises that fill us with…
What Is Smiling Depression?
Smiling depression refers to people who hide their depression behind their smile and an otherwise normal, happy exterior. Those who suffer from this can appear well-adjusted, presentable, professionally successful, and content. However, in truth, they are not, and they need to be helped no less than those who outwardly display the classic signs of depression.[1]…
The Dangers of Diet Culture and Eating Disorders
Our culture is obsessed with beauty, weight, and appearances in general. This is reflected in our advertising, media, and in how we treat and talk about our bodies. While improving our health is certainly a worthy cause for society to focus on, it’s clear that health has little to do with our obsession with being…
Solvable vs. Perpetual Problems in Relationships
Being in an intimate relationship for the long haul is both challenging and demanding. As you and your spouse encounter new experiences and grow through life, the challenge of maintaining an intimate and rewarding relationship becomes very real. It’s so easy to get lost in the busyness of day-to-day life that the stresses of dealing…
Intimacy vs. Isolation: Erik Erikson’s Theory
Erik Erikson was a developmental psychologist most famous for creating the eight stages of psycho-social development. Each stage of life involves a person working through an issue or crisis where a specific virtue may develop. Throughout every stage, the individual is attempting to answer an existential question that will ideally help them make sense of…
Why More Seniors Should Try Online Relationship Counseling
Falling in love is easy. Staying in love is harder. So, when we see a couple who has been together for many years, decades even, it’s easy to assume they have a rock-solid commitment and a fulfilling marriage. What’s actually going on, though, may be very different. Senior couples, like all couples, experience relationship issues….
An Overview of Bulimia Nervosa
Food and eating can be a source of comfort for many people, but for others, it can be a source of anxiety, stress, and shame. Thanks to the massive influence of media and entertainment in modern society, many people have developed unrealistic ideas about body size and shape, and this has contributed to the development…
Can Online Therapy Help With Eating Disorders?
Over the last few years, online therapy has emerged as a new convenient way to provide therapeutic services. With the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a sudden surge in demand but also an intensifying controversy over the efficacy and ethics of whether all mental health concerns could and should be treated in this way. However, the…
How to Prepare for Your Online Therapy Session
When you go into a therapy session, it’s best to prepare so you can get the most out of your experience. With in-person therapy, that means knowing the location of your therapist’s office and giving yourself enough time to get there. You might also want to let your family and co-workers know not to call…
Play Therapy: An Overview
Play therapy is a psychotherapeutic approach that is used to help children explore life and their surroundings freely. Play therapy uses play to help deal with psychological issues that a child might be experiencing. This form of psychotherapy is mainly geared towards children ages 2-13, to help them communicate, explore suppressed emotions, address unresolved trauma, and…
Polyamory and Polygamy: Understanding the Difference
Various kinds of relationships exist, with monogamy being the most commonly known practice of being married to a single person at a time. Apart from monogamy, there are other types of relationships that people sometimes mistake for one another. Polyamory and polygamy, for instance, can be easily confused. Although these two relationship types share some…
What is Animal-Assisted Therapy?
Animal-assisted therapy, also known as animal therapy or pet therapy, has become popular in mainstream psychotherapy practice, and for good reason. It works. Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) has proven to be clinically useful for several populations and issues. Although it seems “new”, animals have unofficially been in the therapy room for a long time. It might…
Can Online Marriage Counseling Prevent Divorce?
People seek marriage counseling for a variety of reasons: infidelity, communication problems, and lack of intimacy, to name a few. Those who opt for online marriage counseling typically do so with the same motivations as those who prefer the in-person alternatives but prefer the added convenience and cost savings associated with online sessions. Whatever the…
An Overview of Somatic Therapy
Somatic therapy is a holistic psychotherapeutic approach that is used to help treat symptoms of PTSD as well as other mental health conditions by engaging the mind, body, spirit, and emotions. It incorporates mind-body exercises, in addition to talk therapy, into the healing process.[1] The Principles of Somatic Therapy Somatic psychotherapy focuses on the connection between…
What Is Reunification Therapy?
Parents and children can become separated for a variety of reasons. A parent may struggle with addiction, or experience mental illness. In some cases, parents have incidents of abusing or neglecting their child, which leads to a temporary placement of the child with another caretaker. Or, parents may be separated or divorced, and financial or…
What Is Anhedonia? An Overview
Anhedonia is characterized by reduced motivation to engage in pleasurable activities and a loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyable. It is the diminished capacity to feel pleasure and is always indicative of another underlying condition or disorder. Anhedonia comes from the Greek suffix “an,” meaning without and “hedone,” meaning pleasure. The concept…
An Overview of Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is a highly debilitating eating disorder. Even though it may be the most recognized eating disorder, most people cannot tell you about the specific causes, symptoms, and treatments of anorexia nervosa. Many people believe that it is easy to tell if a person has anorexia because they will look emaciated, but the truth…
What is Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder?
Do you feel like you’re a particularly picky eater, or are you close to someone who is? While picky eating alone doesn’t suggest a disorder, some people struggle with this problem to the extreme. Such symptoms are sometimes diagnosed as avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, or ARFID. ARFID is an eating disorder that is generally characterized…
Eating Disorder Recovery Apps: Can They Help?
As the telehealth industry continues to grow, we are seeing the emergence of more and more mobile apps and online platforms that help users cope with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and stress. Although researchers are still investigating the efficacy of mobile apps for eating disorders, the first results seem promising….
Living and Coping With Bipolar Hypersexuality
Bipolar Disorder is a mood disorder characterized by episodes of depression and mania. Manic episodes consist of symptoms that include (but are not limited to) increased self-esteem, increase in risky activities, excitability, and grandiosity. The symptoms that occur during a manic episode make it easier for individuals to experience hypersexuality. Individuals experiencing hypersexuality may deal…
How Online Therapy Can Work for Adolescents and Teens
Online therapy has become a mainstream option in the mental health landscape. Over time, it has proven to be a convenient and cost-effective alternative to traditional in-office therapy. While it’s utilized by users from diverse demographic groups, online therapy seems to be exceptionally appealing to adolescents. Adolescent Mental Health by The Numbers While teenage angst…
Separation Anxiety in Children: Causes and Treatment
Separation anxiety is a common issue for many kids. The fear of leaving a parent or caregiver can cause kids to experience anxiety and display anxiety-related behaviors such as crying, avoiding, and physical responses. Separation anxiety commonly happens for toddlers and young children but can persist and worsen throughout a child’s development. What Is Separation…
What is Art Therapy?
Art therapy can be defined as an integrative mental health and human services profession that enriches the lives of clients through active art-making, creative processes, applied psychological theory, and human experience within a psychotherapeutic relationship. While art therapy may be viewed as a non-traditional therapy, it does not necessarily need to be an alternative if…
Autophobia: Fear of Being Alone
Autophobia refers to the fear of being alone. It is categorized as a specific phobia, a type of anxiety disorder in which people experience irrational fear in response to specific objects or situations. Most people desire to be around others. Even the shyest and most introverted people have moments when they want and need to…
Angry Crying: An Overview
Crying is a universal reaction that we experience when dealing with strong emotions. Whether you’re crying because you feel mistreated, abandoned, humiliated, or joyful, this reaction can hold different meanings depending on the circumstances. In the case of anger, crying may signal a state of emotional turmoil that results from a profound sense of injustice….
How to Reduce Back-To-School Anxiety
For most kids, returning to school after a long break such as summer vacation can include a broad mix of emotions. Excitement and trepidation about what lies ahead are very common. However, for children who struggle with academics or social situations, going back to school can be a time they dread, filled with stress and…
An Overview of Emetophobia (Fear of Vomiting)
Emetophobia is a specific phobia characterized by an intense fear of vomiting or being in situations that could lead to vomiting. As with other specific phobias, being diagnosed with emetophobia requires the fear experienced by individuals to be irrational and in response to situations that pose little or no real danger. Emetophobia can be triggered…
Why Am I So Paranoid? Learning to Cope
Paranoia is a thought process that involves an irrational distrust trust in others without justification or cause. It is fueled by intense thoughts that will not go away and is perpetuated by powerful anxiety and fear. Paranoia is often accompanied by illogical thoughts that one is being threatened or targeted by an outside entity, even…
When Your Therapist Goes Digital: A Review of Quenza
In recent years, psychotherapists have embraced change and integrated online resources and services into their practices, allowing them to treat patients remotely. Not surprisingly, new technologies and innovations have developed around making online therapy treatment more convenient and effective. One such tool, designed to simplify the therapy process and greatly improve treatment outcomes is Quenza,…
What is Chronophobia?
Chronophobia is an anxiety disorder in which one experiences an irrational fear of the passing of time. It is a disruptive and persistent stress that is related to thoughts of mortality, having limited time, or having limited means to monitor it. Chronophobia is a specific phobia, a category of anxiety disorders in which people experience irrational fear…
How to Find an Affordable Therapist
Finding an affordable therapist can be a daunting task, especially when you’re already dealing with mental health issues like anxiety or depression. The mere thought of it can plunge you deeper into panic and despair. Not only do you have to navigate the decision to seek therapy, but you also have to figure out how…
Does Marriage Counseling Really Work?
Marriage counselors are often asked if therapy can be effective in fixing troubled relationships, or if it simply postpones the inevitable. You might think that the answer is a straightforward “yes” or “no,” but the truth is, it’s a bit more complicated than that. Several factors contribute to the success of marriage counseling. Some are…
The Link Between ADHD and Procrastination
Every day, countless Americans suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), with some remaining undiagnosed. While the impact of ADHD on an individual’s life and the strategies for managing it can differ, one common trait among those with ADHD is a tendency towards procrastination. Although each case is unique, this tendency towards procrastination is a…
How to Break up With Your Therapist
Working with a therapist can be beneficial in many ways; when you have a trusted relationship with a mental health professional, it can help you to feel as if you have a safe space that’s free from judgment to work through your feelings, thoughts, and negative emotions and behaviors. The process of choosing a therapist…
Free Online Counseling: What You Should Know
The concept of free psychological services is not new. We only need to look at services such as Alcoholics Anonymous, court-ordered psychiatrist visits, and crisis intervention programs to find examples of free or mostly free psychological services. Technology has propelled the rise of online therapy chat providers, not only in America but across the world….
Nomophobia: Cellphone Separation Anxiety
Nomophobia is the term used to describe the panic and stress people experience from losing access to their mobile devices. While it is not officially a mental health condition, studies have shown that for some people the stress they feel when separated from their phones is very real and quite common. Mental health professionals suggest…
Online Grief Counseling: Your Options Explained
The grief associated with going through a significant loss can be one of the most distressing experiences of a person’s life. It’s perfectly normal to face a wide range of emotions such as shock, numbness, guilt, and sadness. In fact, if you are experiencing intense grief, it may feel like life as you know it…
Afraid of Snakes? You May Have Ophidiophobia
Ophidiophobia refers to an atypical and illogical fear of snakes that falls under the larger category of herpetophobia or the fear of reptiles. Ophidiophobia is fairly common and can range in severity, as some individuals may only be mildly afraid, while others may possess a severe and incapacitating fear. A minor phobia might encompass a fear…
How to Deal With Stonewalling
Over time, conflict is inevitable in close, romantic relationships. How you choose to respond to these conflicts will determine whether they bring you closer together or pull you apart. While the obvious preferred way to handle discord would be to practice healthy communication skills and respectfully work out issues, emotions often get the better of people and…
Are Millennials the Most Depressed Generation?
It’s hard to think that adults born between 1981-1996 could be a generation more depressed than others. With fast growing technologies, lifestyle, the use of social media, and a new “hot” topic developing every minute, they’re probably too busy to be depressed, right? Wrong! Although there are a lot of common negative stereotypes attached to…
Are Online Psychological Tests Reliable?
How often do you come across online ads for psychological tests that claim to measure your intelligence, personality, or some other trait? Of course, it’s enticing to think that you can find out intriguing things about yourself in just a few minutes. It’s certainly easier when compared with having to consult with a mental health…
How to Spot Quiet Borderline Personality Disorder
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is one of the best-known, and sometimes most disconcerting, mental conditions. Many people wonder if they, or someone they know, suffers from BPD. Traditionally, this disorder has been identified through a fairly straightforward set of symptoms, involving problems with emotional regulation and sometimes lashing out at others. However, many people haven’t…
How to Cope With Depression at Work
Depression impacts nearly all aspects of a person’s life; from personal relationships to completing daily tasks. It’s therefore not surprising that it can have a major impact on work performance too.[1] Living with depression and trying to maintain your career can be challenging. However, you can still keep your career on track by identifying the…
What is Narcissistic Abuse?
A narcissist, or one with Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), is someone who lacks empathy, has an overblown sense of self-importance and an overwhelming desire for attention and esteem. Such a person may appear confident, but in reality suffers from low self-esteem and shatters under even the smallest critique. Friends, family members and romantic partners of…
Personality Disorders and Trauma: Is There a Link?
My new patient, a middle-aged man, sat in the chair opposite mine and stated in a somewhat aggrieved tone: “Hey doc, I hear you specialize in treating personality disorders. My partner looked on the internet and said that I am a narcissist and that there is not much hope for me. What do you think?”…
What Are Gestalt Therapy Techniques?
When providing therapy, there are various theories a professional can utilize to inform treatment. The theory of choice is dependent on the educational background of the therapist. It is similar to how certain cultures greet one another. In some cultures, it is a handshake whereas in other cultures, it is a kiss on the cheek….
6 Tips to Stop Overthinking
Do you tend to overthink or overanalyze things? Think back to a time you gave an important presentation, had a conversation with someone you wanted to impress, or went to a party and talked to people you had never met before. When it was over, did you find yourself mulling over the events and conversations…
Anger Management: How to Regain Control
Anger is a natural emotion. Everyone gets angry at some point in their lives. When you hear the word anger, you most likely picture someone hitting something or screaming at another person. What is important to remember, though, is that anger is a feeling; not a behavior. We control our behavior, so ultimately, it is…
What Is Grief Counseling?
Grief is a natural response to losing someone or something that was important to you. Although grief is an inevitable part of life, there is no real way to prepare for its impact on your life. Grief is often associated with an array of emotions and physical symptoms that can sometimes feel unbearable. Understanding Grief…
Is DBT Effective in Treating Eating Disorders?
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) is utilized to help individuals identify, understand, and manage difficult emotions. The major areas of focus in DBT include mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. The purpose of DBT is to help people become more mindful and present with their emotions, manage difficult or even painful emotions, regulate how…
What is Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)?
Do you have a strong-willed child who struggles to listen and follow directions? Do you feel like you have to repeat yourself over and over until you yell to get your child to do what you’ve asked? Does your child often exhibit tantrum behavior, including yelling and screaming? If so, you may be interested in…
BetterHelp Versus Talkspace: Which is Best?
We set out to conduct a thorough comparison of BetterHelp vs. Talkspace to determine how these two leading online therapy providers differ in features, pricing and more.
What is Agoraphobia?
Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder marked by the avoidance of locations or circumstances that can potentially bring about panic. Individuals experience intense fear about being confined, powerless, or uncomfortable in actual or projected situations. Agoraphobics fear that they will be unable to escape, which causes anxiety to intensify. Most people with agoraphobia develop the condition after experiencing…
Exposure Therapy: What Is It? How Does It Work?
When dealing with anxiety and trauma, people tend to avoid whatever it is that is causing them to feel pain or worry. For example, a soldier might avoid anything that reminds him of war. Someone with arachnophobia will avoid spiders. Although it is a natural response, it is that avoidance that causes symptoms to continue, and…
Overcoming the Monday Blues
The sad or anxious feelings many people experience as the weekend comes to a close are related to the dread they feel on Monday morning when you wake up for another work week. Everyone has likely experienced that emotion at some point. Even those that enjoy their jobs sometimes find themselves dragging their feet into…
What Is Atypical Depression?
The manner in which people experience depression can vary drastically between different individuals. There are several different types of depression, one of the most common forms being atypical depression, known clinically as major depressive disorder (MDD) with atypical features. Those with atypical depression are able to experience a reprieve from depressive symptoms when encountering a…
What is Emotional Blackmail?
Emotional blackmail is a relationship dynamic that involves a person instilling fear, obligation, and guilt into a relationship with another person.[1] As author and psychotherapist Susan Forward explains, people in intimate relationships will use such manipulation tactics as a form of punishment for their partners not doing what they want them to do.[2] While those in…
Tokophobia: Understanding the Fear of Pregnancy
Most women experience anxiety and fear about pregnancy and childbirth. It’s obviously understandable considering that the process is accompanied by significant pain and discomfort. However, when the fear becomes so severe that it becomes an obsessive dread that interferes with one’s daily functioning, it can be classified as a mental health condition.[1] This condition is…
Online Anger Management: Your Options Explained
Everyone gets angry. It’s a natural emotion. But it’s what you do with that anger that matters. Managing your anger can sometimes feel like an insurmountable challenge. Luckily, if you have difficulty managing your anger, there are numerous resources, both free and paid, that are available to help you, many of them being just a…
The Truth About Functional Fixedness
Functional fixedness refers to a type of cognitive bias that limits a person’s ability to see more than one use for an object. It’s a systematic error that can affect a person’s judgment or their ability to make a decision. When you notice that someone is unable to see any other use for a specific…
How to Stay Optimistic When You Feel Like a Failure
Have you tried incredibly hard at something, yet nothing seems to come of it? It’s a terrible feeling. That’s because trying your hardest means you care, and when you care about a goal or endeavor and don’t succeed, you end up feeling hurt and defeated. So when you commit all our energies to something that…
What Is Milieu Therapy and How Does It Work?
Today, the term milieu therapy refers to a protected treatment program environment, often in a short or long-term residential setting. Essentially, it’s a form of psychotherapy with a focus on using the setting and staff as part of the healing process. This therapy may be used as either one specific approach or as part of…