The Good Therapy Blog

Coping Strategies for Individuals with Tinnitus: Acceptance Versus Suppression

May 24th, 2013 . 3 Comments

Tinnitus is a condition in which people are highly distracted by sounds that most people do not hear. People with tinnitus often hear ringing or buzzing even though there is nothing external causing the sound. This can result in distraction and emotional reactivity. When this occurs, cognitive resources may become depleted. Strategies for managing tinnitus include suppression, acceptance, and avoidance, among others. But how do these unique methods affect cognitive ... Read More

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Kids Recognize and Develop Core Gifts on Hikes

May 24th, 2013 . 2 Comments

The practice of young people going off on a trek to find themselves is ancient. Recently, though, we’ve found ways to integrate walking treks into the Core Gift Process framework. In my educational counseling practice, I became aware that some clients needed something extra: a catalyst that would lead to a life-changing revelation and move them to a new place in life. We felt that... Read More

Surprising Health-Related Behaviors Revealed in New Study on Chronic Illness

May 24th, 2013 . 2 Comments

People who live with a chronic illness may be able to influence their outcome through a number of strategies. Health-related behaviors, such as monitoring nutritional intake, exercise, and medication adherence, all contribute to the course of the illness. The internal beliefs one has about the illness and his or her own control over it, as well as their beliefs in the ability of others to control their illnesses, such as medical professionals, is all part of the... Read More

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Does Your Personality Style Put You at Risk for Postpartum Depression?

May 24th, 2013 . 1 Comment

You’ve read all the books. You feel you’re prepared for bringing home your new baby. And, of course, you’ve heard about postpartum depression, although you may or may not see yourself as particularly at risk. The commonly known risk factors for postpartum depression (and other perinatal mood and anxiety ... Read More

Sexual Abuse and Trauma Haunt Me … How Can I Move Forward?

May 24th, 2013 . 2 Comments

You have been through a great deal, and you seem so alone in your letter. I hope that by asking these questions you’re preparing for the beginning of the end to this pain—may you never have to go through anything like this again. You have experienced repeated betrayals by many of the important male figures in your life, and that makes it hard to know whom to trust, and if it is even wise to trust men at all. Molested by a family member and by your best friend’s dad—you were attacked from all sides. Where was your father? You don’t mention... Read More

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My Way or the Highway: Is Control Controlling Your Relationship?

May 24th, 2013 . 2 Comments

Partners come together with unique and distinct personalities. Usually, two people in a relationship have many differences and similarities. But when someone in the relationship, or worse yet, both partners, are “control freaks,” it can be a recipe for disaster. Rabbi Daniel Schonbuch, an author and family and ... Read More

Do People with Anorexia and Autism Process Information Similarly?

May 24th, 2013 . 2 Comments

Some research has indicated similarities between autism spectrum (ASD) conditions and anorexia (AN). Although the two have very different physical and emotional symptoms, recent studies have suggested that they share cognitive similarities. Anorexia is characterized by distorted body image ... Read More

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Finding the Meaning Behind What Your Partner Is Saying

May 24th, 2013 . 2 Comments

“I know you believe you understand what you think I said, but I’m not sure that what you heard is really what I meant.” This unattributed quotation graced the walls of my dad’s office at the university where he taught, and as a child I spent many hours staring at it, pondering it, and even memorizing it. Something about the seeming absurdity of it spoke to 7-year-old me. I just thought it was funny. It is only recently that the true meaning and deep insight of that statement have become clear to me. This statement encapsulates so much of... Read More

Teens Respond Well to Multiple School-Based Anxiety Intervention Programs

May 23rd, 2013 . 13 Comments

Adolescents are vulnerable to various psychological conditions, partly because of the biological changes occurring to them, but also because of the emotional and social changes they experience. Social anxiety (SAD) usually firsts manifests during adolescence and, if untreated, can put teens at risk for significant mental health challenges in adulthood. They can have problems socially, with interpersonal relationships, ... Read More

Mental Illness to Mental Health: How I Turned 40 And Finally Reclaimed My Life

May 23rd, 2013 . 15 Comments

When I was 6 years old, I used to lie in bed at night and wish that, for just ten seconds, I could be every person in the world. I imagined that overnight the “essence” that was me could whip around the world, assimilating into the mind of every man, woman, and child just long enough to know what it felt like to be him or her. I don’t know where this idea came from, or why I was obsessed with it. Simply, I wanted to be connected to people around the world. Working out the details of the plan was what I did each night before falling asleep. Needless... Read More

Marijuana Users More Sensitive to Positive Than Negative Reward Stimuli

May 23rd, 2013 . 3 Comments

In the research on substance use (SUD), reward and risk processing has been studied at length. Experts believe that people with addictions to drugs and alcohol may have distorted reward processes that make them more susceptible to substance use. In fact, risk/reward is often the center of drug and alcohol treatment programs. People who are trying to overcome these addictions may be less able to control the desire for rewards and disregard risks associated with ... Read More

When Your Partner Won’t Go to Therapy

May 23rd, 2013 . 15 Comments

Couples counseling can work wonders in a relationship, helping each partner to see the other’s perspective and empowering a couple to adopt love-affirming habits that meet one another’s needs. Relationship experts and therapists may recommend couples counseling for a broad variety of issues... Read More

Overlapping Features Discovered in Schizophrenia and Autism

May 23rd, 2013 . 1 Comment

Schizotypal personality and autism spectrum (ASD) have many similarities. In childhood, Asperger’s, which is part of the autism spectrum, is manifested by unusual communication, cognitive rigidity, and eccentric behavior. Schizotypal personality in childhood also presents with similar symptoms. Although there has been some research into the differences and similarities of these two psychological issues, little research has looked specifically at the overlap... Read More

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The Importance of Validation in Dialectical Behavior Therapy

May 23rd, 2013 . 1 Comment

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) combines cognitive and behavioral therapies with Eastern mindfulness practices. Developed by psychologist Marsha M. Linehan, DBT is useful in treating individuals with a wide variety of issues, including depression, ... Read More