Positive psychotherapy: the term almost seems self-contradictory. The word “psychotherapy” often evokes images of nerve-wracked patients reclining on couches, a stern therapist with furrowed brows and a notepad, and a deep uneasiness linked to the identification and analysis of every childhood trauma you have suffered, whether you remembered it before […]
Dialectical Behavior Therapy or DBT is an evidence-based therapy that is effective in treating a wide range of disorders. DBT is a recognized form of therapy that is accepted by the American Psychological Association (APA) and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). In this article, we explain what DBT […]
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a mindfully-oriented behavioral therapy that uses an eclectic and humanistic approach to help people fight their demons. It originally developed within the concept of functional contextualism in Relational Frame Theory (RFT), and slowly grew to provide wholesome benefits to individuals in all walks of […]
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a “third-wave” cognitive behavioral intervention aimed at enhancing our psychological flexibility (Hayes et al., 2006). Rather than suppress or avoid psychological events, ACT is based on the belief that acceptance and mindfulness are more adaptive responses to the inevitabilities of life. By experiencing our […]
Historically mental illness has been ‘treated’ in a host of dangerous and sometimes horrifying ways. Around 7000 years ago trepanation was the treatment de jour. It was thought that mental illness was caused by evil spirits and could be cured by drilling small holes into the brain. While trepanation and […]
Music is a ubiquitous human endeavor that cuts across diverse cultural differences. Whether it’s actively participating in making music or just listening to our favorite songs, we have probably all felt the impact that music can have on our mood. Maybe you have a favorite ‘chill’ playlist to help you […]
Since the earliest days of humankind, music and the power of music, has been evident to us. After World War II, a new profession entered the arena - music therapy. With far-reaching benefits and in a variety of settings, the types and methods of music therapy have had a profound impact. […]
Have you ever been going about your daily business, when all of a sudden you hear a song that takes you right back to a significant time in your life? Perhaps the music leaves you feeling calmer. Or happy. Or, let’s face it, downright sad. I am sure all of […]
When you consider the word “strength” what comes to mind? Hold on to that for a moment. For me, the word and image of “strength” make me think of synonyms like “sturdy” “solid” and antonyms like “weak”. I also think of my personal strengths. For example, a person can believe […]
Recent years have seen self-therapy become much more of a talking point in international media. The concept refers very broadly to the idea of treating one's own emotional or psychological problems, without the help of a therapist. But what does it really mean? In this article, we look at the […]
Child therapy is not always easy for parents to discuss. With the stigma of mental health, nobody wants their child to "need therapy," which is unfortunate because therapy can change lives. Whether kids have traumatic issues or are struggling with the brave and simple act of being human, qualified professionals […]
If you’re like most people (including me!), you were probably not familiar with the concept of drama therapy before landing on this page. That’s a real shame, and you’ll see why by the end of this piece. Drama therapy is an established and validated form of therapy that can be […]
You’ve almost certainly heard of Sigmund Freud and psychoanalysis, but if you’re like most people, you’re not really sure what psychoanalysis really is. You might also wonder how psychoanalysis differs from other forms of talk therapy, and how the theories behind psychoanalysis and other forms of talk therapy differ. In […]
Unfortunately, grief is an inevitable, inescapable part of life. We will all lose someone we love at some point in our life—most of us at many points—and the loss can often hit us harder than we expect. If we feel really knocked off our feet or are struggling for a […]
Have you ever thought about the amazing ability of humans to create associations between words—which are really just arbitrary combinations of sounds—and objects, events, and complex ideas? Other species are able to make simple associations, but our ability surpasses theirs by leaps and bounds. We are able to extend and […]
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common psychological disorder that, as the name suggests, is characterized by obsessions and compulsions. These obsessions and compulsions are much more prevalent and debilitating than they are in the general population. This article will cover the ways that OCD symptoms present themselves, as well as […]
Behavioral activation (BA) is a therapeutic intervention that is often used to treat depression. Behavioral activation stems from a behavioral model of depression that conceptualizes depression as a consequence of a lack of positive reinforcement. BA is highly customizable and is a very personal treatment plan. This article will cover […]
As humans, we will never have complete control over what we feel, but we have a lot more influence over how we feel than you might have heard. The skills that allow you to manage and direct your emotions are called emotion regulation skills (see self-regulation), and it doesn’t take […]
