The Good Therapy Blog

Stereotyping Has Long-Term Psychological Repercussions

August 14th, 2010 . 6 Comments

A new study looks at how being stereotyped influences people’s mental health and behavior, even after leaving the negative environment. In the study, people were given a task to perform, and half received subtly-stereotyped instructions that indicated they would do poorly because of their gender, ethnicity, religion, age, or other factor. Afterward, they participated in a number of other activities. Those who had experienced the stereotyping showed a marked trend toward... Read More

Depression: Do Our Habits Make Us More Vulnerable?

August 13th, 2010 . 5 Comments

A GoodTherapy.org News Summary Depression is a very common problem, with some estimates stating that one in four Americans will experience a major bout at least once in their life. In some cases, depression develops during a low period in one’s life, such as the loss of a loved one, the end of a long relationship, or the loss of a job. But other times, depression can seemingly come out of nowhere. Now that antidepressants have been in use for a number of years, many people are recognizing that depression is not so easily “solved.” Often,... Read More

India Observes First National Mental Health Awareness Day

August 13th, 2010 . 6 Comments

NPR recently ran a two-part series about mental health in India, exploring various cultural and religious beliefs that influence how mental health issues are perceived. Statistically, India has just one psychiatrist for every 400,000 people, but many say that stigma is a larger deterrent than access. Few people who would benefit from therapy receive it, and some are even cast out by their families.... Read More

Body Dysmorphic Disorder and Cosmetic Surgery

August 12th, 2010 . 12 Comments

People dealing with body dysmorphic disorder, or BDD, often pursue cosmetic surgery and other procedures in an attempt to control or ‘improve’ an element of their physical appearance that they perceive to be defective. BDD is characterized by a preoccupation with such elements, but a new study shows that “correcting” the trait rarely causes BDD to subside. The person may feel the procedure is insufficient, or their preoccupation may spread to another aspect of... Read More

Social Networking and Sex Addiction Challenges

August 12th, 2010 . 11 Comments

Social Networking is a great way to connect with so many individuals! It connects you with your family, friends from the past, current friends, and even allows you to make new friends. With so many benefits, are there any potential dangers with social networking? Well, not if you are someone who has strong boundaries, is careful in what you share with others, and gets your emotional needs met in a healthy way. However, if you are someone who has struggled with being inappropriate... Read More

Cancer and Sexuality Part II

August 12th, 2010 . 3 Comments

As noted last month, cancer treatments can have a significant effect on a person’s sexuality and desire to be intimate. Common side effects of chemotherapy include nausea, which may be worsened by sexual activity, and fatigue, which may persist for months after treatment is finished. Hair loss is another common side effect of chemotherapy, and it can be particularly distressing to women. One woman described feeling like “an old man” because of her mastectomy and baldness. Chemotherapy... Read More

Domestic Violence Perpetrators Share Personality Traits Across Both Genders

August 12th, 2010 . 2 Comments

A GoodTherapy.org News Summary A new study conducted by the University of British Columbia looks at the characteristics and behavioral patterns of female perpetrators of domestic violence. Most studies of people who become abusive have looked predominantly, if not exclusively, at males. But a substantial number of women are harmful to those around them. According to the study, which was published in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology, female batterers fall into the same three common categories... Read More

Inadequate Sleep Impedes Physical and Mental Health

August 12th, 2010 . 2 Comments

Plenty of research over the past few decades has addressed the immediate impact of acute sleep deprivation, such as “all-nighters,” on the human mind. But a new study shows that chronic sleep restriction (consistently inadequate sleep several nights in a row) is equally harmful to a person’s mental and physical health. Scheduling work and social obligations to facilitate healthy sleep should be a priority whenever it is possible... Read More

The Mental Health and Well-Being of Children of Incarcerated Parents

August 11th, 2010 . 2 Comments

Children who have a parent in jail or prison are prone to unique stresses that do not impact many of their peers whose parents are not incarcerated. An estimated 1.7 million children have a parent in prison at any given time within the United States. Correlation has been found between incarcerated parents (both present and past) and higher rates of arrest, substance abuse, and school and behavioral problems. Children of incarcerated parents are also more than twice as likely to be... Read More

Coming Out as an Adult

August 11th, 2010 . 3 Comments

In the development of most teenagers there is a natural moment where the bounds of sexuality are explored and roles and sexual identity are created. For LGBT teens this natural part of growing up can often be confusing and overwhelming, resulting in a variety of responses. Some individuals experience such intense negative emotions about their sexual feelings that they repress and push those feelings as far away as possible and choose to ignore their sexuality. By hiding... Read More

Have Faith: How Spiritual Psychotherapy Can Help Heal Wounds From the Past

August 11th, 2010 . 1 Comment

At times during the past decade in my Spiritual Psychotherapy practice, I’ve advised a skeptical patient to have faith in the process. This is usually in response to a question about how and when he/she will know whether or not the therapy is working. When I think of my response, it really is a paradox, considering that many if not most people who come to me for help have lost faith – in themselves, in their parents long ago and sometimes in the God of their understanding. To deal... Read More

Managing Workplace Stress Through Stress Counseling

August 11th, 2010 . 4 Comments

A GoodTherapy.org News Summary Stress of any kind can easy leak into other areas of life, and can have a marked impact on one’s overall mental health. Workplace stress in particular has seen a significant rise over the past decade. Pronounced stress at work can cause mental health strains (including anxiety, depression, and irritability) which can in turn impact marital, family, and social relationships. Stress also has physical manifestations, including raised blood pressure, sleeping problems, stiffness, muscle tension, and headaches. Already... Read More

Preparing for Times of Stress: The Mindfulness Practice

August 10th, 2010 . 5 Comments

Joseph, the beloved son of Jacob was famous for his ability to interpret dreams. The biblical story tells us that when he was in Egypt the Pharaoh had two dreams. In the first he saw a field with seven healthy and ripe sheafs (bundles) of grains and seven thin sheafs of grain consumed them. In the second dream there were seven healthy, fat cows coming up from the Nile and after them, seven lean, bad looking cows came up and ate the healthy ones. No one knew the meaning of the dreams until Joseph was called to the palace. His interpretation of the... Read More

Addressing Psychological Health Needs Within the Foster Care System

August 10th, 2010 . 5 Comments

A GoodTherapy.org News Summary Children in the foster care system are at risk for a number of both short- and long-term mental health issues. This is even more the case for kids who were maltreated before entering foster care. Among these kids, depression is particularly prominent, and untreated through therapy and other intervention, it can lead to a risk of suicidal behavior. Post traumatic stress disorder is also quite common. Other mental health risks for children in foster care include dissociation, ADHD, conduct disorders, and social problems.... Read More