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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mother and baby

Psychology

Object Relations Theory: What It Is and How It Works

By Shannon V. McHugh, PsyD

relaxing on a hammock

How to Reduce Cortisol: Evidence-Based Strategies for Lasting Calm

By Tracy Smith, LPC, NCC, ACS

couple on a date at restaurant

Serial Monogamy: Definition, Signs, and Causes

By Katie Tyrrell, MS, LPCC

young girl coloring with father in PCIT session

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT): What It Is and How It Works

By Shannon V. McHugh, PsyD

middle-aged man experiencing a hot flash

Hot Flashes in Men: Causes, Anxiety to Connection, and How to Find Relief

By Dawn Ferrara, LPC, PsyD

favorite color

What Does Your Favorite Color Say About You?

By Shannon V. McHugh, PsyD

sociopathic child staring at a lake

Is My Child a Sociopath? Signs to Know and What to Do

By Kristen Frescoe, MSc

mother and young son playing

Psychology

The Oedipal Complex: Freud’s Theory and Modern Research

By Tracy Smith, LPC, NCC, ACS

A woman in glasses is wiping tears while seated at a desk

Angry Crying: Why Anger Makes You Cry

By Shannon V. McHugh, PsyD

living with anhedonia

Anhedonia Meaning: What It Is, What Causes It, and How It Is Treated

By Tracy Smith, LPC, NCC, ACS

sad woman walking on street

What Is a Covert Narcissist? Signs, Traits, and How to Cope

By Shannon V. McHugh, PsyD

Sociopath walking in the woods

Sociopath Meaning: Signs, Causes, and What the Research Shows

By Tracy Smith, LPC, NCC, ACS

Two young women and one man sitting on a beach

Polyamory vs Polygamy: Understanding the Key Differences

By Michelle Overman, LMFT

man releasing anger on a punching bag

Catharsis in Psychology: Definition, Types, and What the Research Shows

By MS Broudy, Ph.D

Peter Pan Syndrome

Psychology

Peter Pan Syndrome: What You Need to Know

By Michelle Overman, LMFT

man in street experiencing severe anxiety

Specific Phobias: Types, Symptoms, and Treatment

By Arnold Carpenter

rude man gesturing for silence

How to Spot a Misogynist

By Tracy Smith, LPC, NCC, ACS

psychopath sitting in car

Sociopath vs. Psychopath: Key Differences Explained

By Kristen Frescoe, MSc

Assertive choleric business man

What Is a Choleric Temperament?

By Shannon V. McHugh, PsyD

woman sleeping on couch

Somnophilia: Sexual Attraction to the Unconscious

By Tracy Smith, LPC, NCC, ACS

Type C Personality

What Is a Type C Personality? Traits, Strengths, and Risks

By Shannon V. McHugh, PsyD

therapy group in milieu therapy setting

Psychotherapy

Milieu Therapy: What It Is, How It Works, and Who It Helps

By Jennie Lannette, MSW, LCSW

married couple dealing with addiction

Can Your Marriage Survive Substance Abuse and Addiction?

By Jose Rosado, LGPC, MBA, RPS

the ocean

What Is Thalassophobia? Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

By Tracy Smith, LPC, NCC, ACS

woman with eating disorder in hospital bed

Eating Disorders: An Overview

By Dawn Ferrara, LPC, PsyD

blurred portrait of woman

What Is Deja Vu? What Does It Tell Us About Memory?

By Tracy Smith, LPC, NCC, ACS

types of love

The 8 Types of Love: What They Mean and Why They Matter

By Tracy Smith, LPC, NCC, ACS

Sanguine Personality

What Is a Sanguine Temperament?

By Shannon V. McHugh, PsyD

Security of Online Therapy Platforms

Teletherapy

Is Online Therapy Safe, Secure, and Confidential?

By Amanda Caswell

heavy drinking of alcohol

Is Alcohol a Stimulant or a Depressant?

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

eating disorder apps

Eating Disorder Recovery Apps: Can They Help?

By Alexander Draghici, MS, LCPC

anxiety apps

The 4 Best Anxiety Apps of 2026

By Dawn Ferrara, LPC, PsyD

sad lonely woman

Can Lack of Sex Cause Depression? Understanding the Link Between Sexual Frustration and Mental Health

By Alexander Draghici, MS, LCPC

fear of being alone

Autophobia: Fear of Being Alone

By Michelle Overman, LMFT

Nomophobia

Understanding Nomophobia: The Modern Crisis of Digital Attachment

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

dating someone with depression

Relationships

Dating Someone With Depression: 23 Tips From a Therapist

By Lisa Batten, PhD, CPT, PN1

personality disorders and trauma

Personality Disorders and Trauma: Is There a Link?

By Jeffrey J. Magnavita, Ph.D.

family walking together

Is Mental Illness Genetic?

By Adebolanle Ade, MSW, RBT

anger management

Online Anger Management: Your Options Explained

By MS Broudy, Ph.D

personality test

The Myers-Briggs Personality Test: An Overview

By Alexander Draghici, MS, LCPC

Panic Attack

How to Stop Panic Attacks: 9 Helpful Tips

By Shannon V. McHugh, PsyD

Pavlov's Dog and Conditioned Stimulus

Conditioned Stimulus and Its Role in Psychology

By Michelle Overman, LMFT

Angry sweaty man

Mental Health

Does Hot Weather Make People Aggressive?

By Shannon V. McHugh, PsyD

Strong Sense of Self

How to Gain a Strong Sense of Self

By Amanda Caswell

PTSD Service Dog

An Overview of How PTSD Service Dogs Can Help

By Tracy Smith, LPC, NCC, ACS

man with anxiety rash

How to Identify and Treat an Anxiety Rash

By Amanda Caswell

ACT therapist

What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy?

By MS Broudy, Ph.D

smelling something

Grounding Techniques for Coping With Anxiety

By Lisa Batten, PhD, CPT, PN1

play therapy

What is Play Therapy: An Overview

By Adebolanle Ade, MSW, RBT

traumatic event with ambulance

PTSD

What You Should Know About PTSD Triggers

By MS Broudy, Ph.D

loss of identity

6 Signs You Have Lost Your Identity

By Shannon V. McHugh, PsyD

fear of crowds

How to Deal With Enochlophobia (Fear of Crowds)

By Alexander Draghici, MS, LCPC

Animal-Assisted Therapy

What is Animal-Assisted Therapy?

By Dawn Ferrara, LPC, PsyD

bulimia

An Overview of Bulimia Nervosa

By Shannon V. McHugh, PsyD

anger management

Anger Management: How to Regain Control

By MS Broudy, Ph.D

grieving woman being consoled

What Is Grief Counseling?

By Lisa Batten, PhD, CPT, PN1

frustrated man working on a laptop

Mental Health

Stress vs. Frustration: What’s the Difference?

By Tracy Smith, LPC, NCC, ACS

Traumatic event

How Does Trauma Therapy Work?

By Tracy Smith, LPC, NCC, ACS

man grieving at cemetery

Online Grief Counseling: Your Options Explained

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

College Students Looking at a Cellphone

What is Social Comparison Theory?

By Tracy Smith, LPC, NCC, ACS

couple on the beach

Gamophobia: Understanding the Fear of Commitment

By Alexis Dent

Lady Gaga

Celebrities Who Have Struggled With Depression

By Amanda Caswell

older man talking down to younger woman

Mental Health

How to Spot People Who Use People

By Tracy Smith, LPC, NCC, ACS

Bipolar Hypersexuality

Living and Coping With Bipolar Hypersexuality

By Michelle Overman, LMFT

depressed teenager on a bench

Teen Depression: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

By Dawn Ferrara, LPC, PsyD

marriage counseling session with couple

Does Marriage Counseling Really Work?

By Dawn Ferrara, LPC, PsyD

mental health professional

How Are Therapists Different From Psychologists?

By Michelle Overman, LMFT

Female Psychopath

Signs of a Female Psychopath

By Shannon V. McHugh, PsyD

Grief during the holidays

How to Cope With Grief During the Holidays

By Tracy Smith, LPC, NCC, ACS