The Couch

Insights, how to’s and guides on improving your mental health with professional therapy. Read about treating conditions, improving your relationships, therapy trends and more. Educating yourself is the first step toward achieving better mental health.

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woman sleeping on couch

Mental Health

What is Somnophilia?

By Tracy Smith, LPC, NCC, ACS

loss of identity

6 Signs You Have Lost Your Identity

By Shannon V. McHugh, PsyD

What Does Your Favorite Color Say About You?

By Shannon V. McHugh, PsyD

married couple holding hands

15 Tips for Falling Back in Love With Your Partner

By Amanda Caswell

Type C Personality

What Is a Type C Personality?

By Shannon V. McHugh, PsyD

young girl working on a puzzle

Fluid Versus Crystallized Intelligence

By Emily Mendez M.S., Ed.S.

peacock showing it's feathers

Does Briffault’s Law Apply to Human Relationships?

By Michelle Overman, LMFT

infantilization in parenting

Mental Health

What Are the Causes and Symptoms of Infantilization?

By Shannon V. McHugh, PsyD

Sociopath staring without emotion

What Is a Sociopath? Definition, Traits and Treatments

By Tracy Smith, LPC, NCC, ACS

couple holding hands

7 Reasons Open Relationships Don’t Work

By Tracy Smith, LPC, NCC, ACS

What Is Triangulation in Psychology?

By Karen Doll, Psy.D., L.P

sociopath staring at lake

Signs Your Child May Be a Sociopath

By Kristen Frescoe, MSc

objects submerged under water

What Is Submechanophobia?

By Shannon V. McHugh, PsyD

Assertive choleric business man

What Is a Choleric Temperament?

By Shannon V. McHugh, PsyD

Sanguine Personality

Psychology

What Is a Sanguine Temperament?

By Shannon V. McHugh, PsyD

elevator

What is Cleithrophobia?

By Michelle Overman, LMFT

store with vegetables on display

Lachanophobia: Understanding the Fear of Vegetables

By Amanda Caswell

couple on the beach

What is Gamophobia?

By Alexis Dent

Strong Sense of Self

How to Gain a Strong Sense of Self

By Amanda Caswell

mother and baby

Object Relations Theory: An Overview

By Shannon V. McHugh, PsyD

man standing outside

How to Foster Better Self-Awareness

By Stacey Leibowitz-Levy, Ph.D.

psychodynamic talk therapy session

Psychotherapy

What is Psychodynamic Therapy?

By Emily Mendez M.S., Ed.S.

living with anhedonia

Anhedonia: What Is It? How Can It Be Treated?

By Tracy Smith, LPC, NCC, ACS

beautiful women

Venustraphobia: The Fear of Beautiful Women

By Shannon V. McHugh, PsyD

agoraphobia staring out window

What is Agoraphobia?

By Tracy Smith, LPC, NCC, ACS

speaking to someone with PTSD

20 Things Not to Say to Someone With PTSD

By Alexander Draghici, MS, LCPC

Couple walking holding hands

Dating Someone With Anxiety: Tips and Advice

By Michelle Overman, LMFT

Man running in a race

Is Success Anxiety Real?

By Tracy Smith, LPC, NCC, ACS

Daith Piercing

Anxiety

Can Daith Piercing Reduce Anxiety?

By Tracy Smith, LPC, NCC, ACS

Crippling Depression

What Is Crippling Depression?

By Lisa Batten, PhD, CPT, PN1

lost appetite

How Is Anxiety Linked to Appetite Loss?

By Tracy Smith, LPC, NCC, ACS

people together on a mattress

Polyamory and Polygamy: Understanding the Difference

By Michelle Overman, LMFT

women suspecting husband of texting with another woman

If There Is No Sex, Is It Considered Cheating?

By Amanda Caswell

empty chair at therapist office

What Are Gestalt Therapy Techniques?

By Michelle Overman, LMFT

man sitting on couch

Exposure Therapy: What Is It? How Does It Work?

By MS Broudy, Ph.D

Anatidaephobia

Phobias

Is Anatidaephobia a Real Condition or Just Quackery?

By Shannon V. McHugh, PsyD

Serial Monogamy

Serial Monogamy: What You Should Know

By Katie Tyrrell, MS, LPCC

teddy bear

What is Regression in Psychology?

By Tracy Smith, LPC, NCC, ACS

therapy for anxiety

Therapy Treatments for Anxiety Disorders

By MS Broudy, Ph.D

Nomophobia

Nomophobia: Cellphone Separation Anxiety

By Karen Doll, Psy.D., L.P

smelling something

Grounding Techniques for Coping With Anxiety

By Lisa Batten, PhD, CPT, PN1

woman sitting calmly

How to Calm Down When Life Is Too Stressful

By Adebolanle Ade, MSW, RBT

jealous girlfriend suspiciously watching her boyfriend

Relationships

How Jealousy Can Ruin Your Relationship

By Karen Doll, Psy.D., L.P

heavy drinking of alcohol

Is Alcohol a Stimulant or a Depressant?

By Karen Doll, Psy.D., L.P

Hot flashes in men

Are Hot Flashes in Men Anxiety-Related?

By Dawn Ferrara, LPC, PsyD

group of people together in a kitchen

Can Extroverts Experience Social Anxiety?

By Katie Tyrrell, MS, LPCC

Overthinking

6 Tips to Stop Overthinking

By Michelle Overman, LMFT

grieving woman being consoled

What Is Grief Counseling?

By Lisa Batten, PhD, CPT, PN1

man worrying about work

How to Stop Worrying About Things You Can’t Control

By Amanda Caswell

marriage counseling session with couple

Relationships

Does Marriage Counseling Really Work?

By Dawn Ferrara, LPC, PsyD

Neurotic Behavior

Common Examples of Neurotic Behavior

By Michelle Overman, LMFT

parsimony psychology

What Is Parsimony in Psychology?

By Karen Doll, Psy.D., L.P

Sad man sitting in front of computer at work

Overcoming the Monday Blues

By Michelle Overman, LMFT

mother holding her baby

Coping With Stay-At-Home Mom Depression

By Alexis Dent

depressed woman laying in bed

What Does Depression Feel Like?

By Adebolanle Ade, MSW, RBT

Lady Gaga

10 Celebrities Who Have Struggled With Depression

By Amanda Caswell

mother and daughter cooking

Mental Health

How to Deal With an Overbearing Mother

By Amanda Caswell

woman trying to recall an image in her mind

What is Aphantasia?

By Michelle Overman, LMFT

man looking in the mirror saying positive affirmations

44 Positive Affirmations for Depression to Inspire Change

By MS Broudy, Ph.D

sad lonely woman

Can Sexual Frustration Lead to Depression?

By Alexander Draghici, MS, LCPC

sad woman sitting alone on a pier

What Is Atypical Depression?

By Lisa Batten, PhD, CPT, PN1

sad looking birthday cake

Birthday Depression: How to Cope With the Birthday Blues

By Lisa Batten, PhD, CPT, PN1

depressed man working at desk

How to Cope With Depression at Work

By Katie Tyrrell, MS, LPCC

man practicing yoga

Psychotherapy

Somatic Therapy: Engaging the Mind and Body

By Adebolanle Ade, MSW, RBT

depressed teenager on a bench

Understanding Teen Depression: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

By Dawn Ferrara, LPC, PsyD

Emotional Blackmail

What is Emotional Blackmail?

By Shannon V. McHugh, PsyD

pregnant woman

Tokophobia: Understanding the Fear of Pregnancy

By Karen Doll, Psy.D., L.P

therapy session

CBT vs. DBT: Understanding the Difference

By Alexander Draghici, MS, LCPC

man with anxiety rash

How to Identify and Treat an Anxiety Rash

By Amanda Caswell

smiling depression

Smiling Depression: What You Should Know

By Yocheved Golani