Psychology Today: Health, Help, Happiness + Find a Therapist

Neurodiversity

Nonspeaking, Losing Speech, and Selective Mutism

Amy Marschall, Psy.D. on May 27, 2026 in Neurodiversity-Affirming Therapy

Learn about different reasons why someone may use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and how to support someone with communication differences.

Learn about different reasons why someone may use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and how to support someone with communication differences.

Dreaming

The Uses of AI for Interpreting Dreams

Kelly Bulkeley Ph.D. on May 27, 2026 in Dreaming in the Digital Age

At their best, AI systems offer radically expanded access to a growing variety of high-quality methods of dream interpretation.

At their best, AI systems offer radically expanded access to a growing variety of high-quality methods of dream interpretation.

Aging

Social Benefits of Martial Arts Training in Older Adults

E. Paul Zehr Ph.D. on May 27, 2026 in Black Belt Brain

Martial arts training practices "drive neuroplastic change within motor, cognitive, and socio-emotional circuits, thereby providing a multilayered trajectory for successful aging."

Martial arts training practices "drive neuroplastic change within motor, cognitive, and socio-emotional circuits, thereby providing a multilayered trajectory for successful aging."

Race and Ethnicity

Child Mental Healthcare Was Not Built for Children of Color

Rupinder K. Legha M.D. on May 27, 2026 in Protective Care

Child psychiatry was not built to protect children of color. Understanding its racist origins is essential before parents of color pursue mental healthcare for their children.

Child psychiatry was not built to protect children of color. Understanding its racist origins is essential before parents of color pursue mental healthcare for their children.

Personal Perspectives

How Purposeful Listening Can Lead to Emotional Healing

Raymond Leone MMT, MT-BC on May 27, 2026 in Music Therapy, Music Musings

Personal Perspective: Music can engage multiple physiological and neural systems. It only helps the body, but mends the mind and lifts the soul.

Personal Perspective: Music can engage multiple physiological and neural systems. It only helps the body, but mends the mind and lifts the soul.

Leadership

Determining the "Meaningful Outside" of Your Organization

Bruce Rosenstein on May 27, 2026 in The Peter Drucker Files

Learn to determine the potential effects on your organization from competitors, customers, worldwide events, science and technology, and education.

Learn to determine the potential effects on your organization from competitors, customers, worldwide events, science and technology, and education.

Teamwork

Boost Your Team's Performance by Filling Emotional Tanks

Amy Saltzman M.D. on May 27, 2026 in Find Your True Flow

Most of us don’t practice supporting our teammates. But what if we did? Teams work best when each person feels seen, understood, and valued.

Most of us don’t practice supporting our teammates. But what if we did? Teams work best when each person feels seen, understood, and valued.

Suicide

The Creation of 988

John Bateson on May 27, 2026 in Goodbye, Suicide

In one important way, phone counseling can be more effective than face-to-face when it comes to suicide prevention.

In one important way, phone counseling can be more effective than face-to-face when it comes to suicide prevention.

Empathy

Is Reading Obscure Old Books a Bold Act of Rebellion?

S. Rufus on May 27, 2026 in Stuck

Personal Perspective: Researchers and social critics lament that people are forgetting how to empathize, converse and interact. Can reading old books teach us these crucial skills?

Personal Perspective: Researchers and social critics lament that people are forgetting how to empathize, converse and interact. Can reading old books teach us these crucial skills?

Sleep

How to Unlock Better Sleep Using Sunlight and Diet

Gary Wenk Ph.D. on May 27, 2026 in Your Brain on Food

Our daily behaviors with regard to light exposure and eating both influence how well we sleep at night.

Our daily behaviors with regard to light exposure and eating both influence how well we sleep at night.

Parenting

Parent Guilt: Letting Go and Learning Lessons

Robert Taibbi L.C.S.W. on May 27, 2026 in Fixing Families

As parents, it's easy to look back and dwell on the mistakes we've made. But mistakes say more about the present than the past and the lessons we need to learn.

As parents, it's easy to look back and dwell on the mistakes we've made. But mistakes say more about the present than the past and the lessons we need to learn.

Dementia

What Families Can Do After a Dementia Diagnosis

Kristie Wood Ph.D. on May 27, 2026 in Connection and Coping

A dementia diagnosis changes more than memory. Here’s how families can plan for care, protect connection, and support the caregiver before crisis hits.

A dementia diagnosis changes more than memory. Here’s how families can plan for care, protect connection, and support the caregiver before crisis hits.

Identity

ChatGPT and Political Correctness

Jennifer L Keluskar Ph.D. on May 27, 2026 in Alone Together

Personal Perspective: Fear of offending can lead to seeking quick answers at the cost of genuine human connection.

Personal Perspective: Fear of offending can lead to seeking quick answers at the cost of genuine human connection.

Appetite

'Food Noise' and the Science of Interoceptive Awareness

Erin Parks Ph.D. on May 27, 2026 in Hungry Minds

Eliminating "food noise" comes with a cost. True health requires mindful nourishment rather than total control.

Eliminating "food noise" comes with a cost. True health requires mindful nourishment rather than total control.

Laughter

Your Emoticons and Emojis Help Inform Laughter Theory

John Charles Simon on May 27, 2026 in Laughter and Humor 101

The use of laughter acronyms and emojis in our writing hints that laughter itself may be best understood as a means of conveying important, socially relevant information.

The use of laughter acronyms and emojis in our writing hints that laughter itself may be best understood as a means of conveying important, socially relevant information.

Emotions

Your Brain's Emotional Map

William A. Haseltine Ph.D. on May 27, 2026 in Best Practices in Health

Emotions often seem unpredictable. But neuroscience suggests the brain organizes them into a coherent system to better navigate your environment.

Emotions often seem unpredictable. But neuroscience suggests the brain organizes them into a coherent system to better navigate your environment.

Self-Help

The Hardest No Isn’t the One You Say to Others

Robyne Hanley-Dafoe Ed.D. on May 27, 2026 in Everyday Resilience

We often think boundaries are about saying “no” to other people. But what about the behaviors within ourselves that we keep allowing, even when they come at our expense?

We often think boundaries are about saying “no” to other people. But what about the behaviors within ourselves that we keep allowing, even when they come at our expense?

Personal Perspectives

When a Parent Suffers Moral Injury

Erik Raschke on May 27, 2026 in What Will You Do When I’m Gone?

Personal Perspective: A parent "losing control" in a meeting is often something else—the slow accumulation of being correct in rooms designed to overrule them.

Personal Perspective: A parent "losing control" in a meeting is often something else—the slow accumulation of being correct in rooms designed to overrule them.

Neuroplasticity

How Breath Rewires Stress Through Neuroplasticity

Arun Chutani MBBS, MD, FACP, FASN on May 27, 2026 in Mind-Body Connections

How structured SKY breathwork may help retrain the brain for resilience by improving focus, emotional regulation, sleep, and recovery from chronic stress.

How structured SKY breathwork may help retrain the brain for resilience by improving focus, emotional regulation, sleep, and recovery from chronic stress.

Relationships

When Unhealthy Relationships Feel Familiar

Kaytee Gillis, LCSW on May 27, 2026 in Invisible Bruises

Many survivors of abuse blame themselves for "missing the signs." But when abuse was normalized in childhood, harmful behavior can feel familiar.

Many survivors of abuse blame themselves for "missing the signs." But when abuse was normalized in childhood, harmful behavior can feel familiar.

Wisdom

What if Everyone Else’s “Story” Could Also Be True?

Nancy Colier LCSW, Rev. on May 27, 2026 in Inviting a Monkey to Tea

Unraveling your personal stories includes seeing the "truths" you were taught.

Unraveling your personal stories includes seeing the "truths" you were taught.

Philosophy

Why Does the World Exist?

Neel Burton M.A., M.D. on May 27, 2026 in Ataraxia

Both ancient philosophy and modern physics help us solve the mystery of existence.

Both ancient philosophy and modern physics help us solve the mystery of existence.

Artificial Intelligence

When It Feels Like AI Checked Your Work

Trond Arne Undheim Ph.D. on May 27, 2026 in The Adaptive Mind

I sent a paper revision to a model. It came back clean. Later, I realized I hadn't actually read it. Here is the problem that creates, and three ways to solve it.

I sent a paper revision to a model. It came back clean. Later, I realized I hadn't actually read it. Here is the problem that creates, and three ways to solve it.

Dementia

Shielding the Brain From Alzheimer’s

James M. Greenblatt M.D. on May 27, 2026 in The Breakthrough Depression Solution

Alzheimer’s doesn’t begin with memory loss. It starts decades earlier. New research reveals that a simple trace mineral may help protect the brain long before symptoms appear.

Alzheimer’s doesn’t begin with memory loss. It starts decades earlier. New research reveals that a simple trace mineral may help protect the brain long before symptoms appear.

Emotional Intelligence

The Number One Sign Your Child Is Emotionally Intelligent

Mark Travers Ph.D. on May 27, 2026 in Social Instincts

Naming emotions teaches kids that they have agency over their feelings.

Naming emotions teaches kids that they have agency over their feelings.

Identity

When Roles Swamp Our Identities

Peg O'Connor Ph.D. on May 27, 2026 in Philosophy Stirred, Not Shaken

We run the risk of losing ourselves to the roles we play in life. We take them to be all-defining, which is a form of self-deception aided and abetted by others.

We run the risk of losing ourselves to the roles we play in life. We take them to be all-defining, which is a form of self-deception aided and abetted by others.

Anger

Is It You or Them? Understanding the Blame Game

Mark Rego M.D. on May 27, 2026 in Modern World, Modern Mind

Innate biases shape your emotional responses to life's challenges. Here's how to turn it around.

Innate biases shape your emotional responses to life's challenges. Here's how to turn it around.

Therapy

The Stories Trauma Therapists Carry in Silence

Adrian Fletcher Psy.D., M.A. on May 27, 2026 in Keeping It Real and Resilient

Trauma therapists often carry an invisible emotional weight while helping others heal. Here's how they can take care of themselves and their clients.

Trauma therapists often carry an invisible emotional weight while helping others heal. Here's how they can take care of themselves and their clients.

Anxiety

Think You Look Younger Than Your Age?

Maria Baratta Ph.D., L.C.S.W. on May 27, 2026 in Skinny Revisited

"You don’t look your age, you look younger"—and other niceties that cause anxiety.

"You don’t look your age, you look younger"—and other niceties that cause anxiety.