The Good Therapy Blog

Displacement Behaviors Can Lower Stress in Men

May 8th, 2013 . 4 Comments

A new study reveals that displacement behaviors, which are behaviors that are not direct results of stress, but rather behaviors used as coping methods for stress, can actually decrease the negative effects of stress for men. Displacement behaviors include actions like randomly touching the face, biting the lip, or even scratching oneself during a stressful experience. Some studies have begun to explore how this type of coping strategy, if it actually is a coping strategy,... Read More

transitions-tips-children-autism-0508135

Transitions: Three Tips to Make Them Easier for Children with Autism

May 8th, 2013 . 13 Comments

Transitions: What Are They? Why Are They Difficult for Children with Autism? A transition occurs when there is some sort of change to the parameters of an activity or situation, such as going from one activity to a different activity or changing plans. For example, going from playing computer to doing homework, riding the school bus home, going on vacation, going out for ice... Read More

New Study Examines Shifting Mental States in Families with Psychosis

May 8th, 2013 . 3 Comments

Cognitive impairment and specific neural deficits have been shown to be present in people with various forms of psychosis, including schizophrenia. However, until now, few studies have looked specifically at how these impairment and deficits translate to on a moment-to-moment basis. In other words, how do these variances affect behavior and mental states throughout the daily life of people with psychosis? Johanna T. W. Wigman of the Department of Psychiatry and... Read More

Five Lies Clients Learn from the Media About Therapy

May 8th, 2013 . 20 Comments

Chances are most of what you think you know about therapy is misrepresented in the media. Why? Because pop culture’s idea of what goes on in the therapy room is largely based on fictional therapists. In short, good TV and movies depict bad therapy. The dramas—made famous by fictional therapists—that interest viewers portray the qualities that would be harmful to real-life therapy clients (and most likely would get those therapists in legal trouble). Below... Read More

Mood Problems Increase Risk for Internet Addiction

May 7th, 2013 . 5 Comments

The research on Internet addiction has grown rapidly in recent years. Some evidence suggests that people who are addicted to the Internet demonstrate symptoms similar to those found in other addictions. For instance, existing psychological problems and maladaptive behaviors such as depression, low self-esteem, attention deficit hyperactivity, impulsivity, risk-taking, and sensation-seeking... Read More

Can a Stress Questionnaire Identify People at Risk for Depression?

May 7th, 2013 . 3 Comments

The Brief Job Stress Questionnaire (BJSQ) is a tool used for assessing stress in the workplace. The questionnaire consists of 57 questions relating to emotional stress, physical stress, social conditions, and quality of life at home and at work. It has been successfully used for years and is a reliable tool for identifying work-related stress. In fact, many companies and organizations have found that use of the BJSQ allows them to recognize what factors contribute... Read More

Five skydivers falling from plane. Plane large in background617050

The Psychology of Risk-Taking

May 7th, 2013 . 9 Comments

We all know an adrenaline junkie: the friend who jumps out of airplanes for fun, the sibling who spends her time traveling to war-ravaged countries, or the co-worker who spends her weekends speeding on a motorcycle. Adrenaline rushes are readily available at just about every turn. A number of factors can affect whether a person ends up a risk taker or a quiet homebody, but there’s evidence that a little risk-taking now and again is good for almost everyone. Effects on the Brain Risk-taking causes real changes in the brain, which might account... Read More

High Neural Connectivity Found in Children with Autism

May 7th, 2013 . 3 Comments

The anterior prefrontal cortex (aPFC) is a neurological region that affects a person’s ability to interpret others’ emotions. This area also influences attention and social expression. For people with autism (ASD) the aPFC has been shown to be impaired when compared to individuals without ASD. This impairment could potentially explain the social difficulties that individuals with ASD experience. Repetitive behaviors, ... Read More

coaches-parents-bullying-children-0507134

Bullying in the Culture of Sport Coaching, Part II

May 7th, 2013 . 4 Comments

Recently, I wrote about my observations of sport coaches that act as bullies and gave some suggestions for what parents may do in response. I know that there are many instances of parents acting as bullies as well: shouting angry directives from the sidelines, punishing or showing a lack of support after a “poor” performance, demeaning their kids after the games... Read More

Sleep Patterns Can Protect from and Predict Emotional Vulnerability

May 6th, 2013 . 4 Comments

Sleep has long been known to be closely associated with emotion. Dreams are tied to emotional states, and many theorize that dream content is based on emotional reactions during waking hours and, in particular, negative emotions such as fear, worry, and anxiety. Sleep patterns are also common predictors and symptoms of affective problems, such as depression and posttraumatic stress (... Read More

Affirming Success under Stress

May 6th, 2013 . 6 Comments

“If you think you can do a thing or think you can’t do a thing, you’re right.” This famous line, spoken by Henry Ford, has been applied in psychology and self-improvement arenas for decades. Self-affirmations are positive words of encouragement that people can say to themselves, out loud or silently. They have been used in various ways to help people overcome, achieve, and persist at many different things in life. However, few clinical studies have been conducted to see if self-affirmations actually help people with specific cognitive tasks... Read More

Forgiveness and Divorce: 14 Considerations

May 6th, 2013 . 13 Comments

This is a big topic. It may be at the core of why many divorces do not proceed well. The ability to forgive can be quite complex, depending on the events and issues under consideration. However, forgiveness may be one of the most important and perhaps most powerful experiences you may have when going through what can be a very difficult and painful event. Some things to consider when... Read More

Three Skills Needed for a Successful Relationship

May 6th, 2013 . 5 Comments

Everyone knows that in order to succeed in business, you have to be assertive. Resting on your laurels and expecting success to show up on your doorstep is not going to get you to the top. There are many other skills that people need to achieve professional success. Some of those are taught, some are acquired, and some are absorbed, almost through osmosis. Many people who attain these skills and apply them to business, however, often don’t ever think they need to do the same thing in their ... Read More

Is There a Link Between ADHD and Criminal Behavior?

May 6th, 2013 . 6 Comments

Attention deficit hyperactivity (ADHD) manifests with symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. In the criminal population, impulsive behavior is a common thread. However, few studies have sought to determine whether ADHD increases the likelihood that a person will engage in criminal behavior. The effects of ADHD are broad, varied, and long term. To accurately predict how ADHD will influence future behavior, one must look at other environmental and familial... Read More