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The Good Therapy Blog

Adolescent Smoking May Increase Adult Anxiety

May 28th, 2013 . 1 Comment

Smoking is a global problem and has long been associated with negative mental health. People with psychological problems are much more likely to smoke than those without. Few studies, however, have looked at how adolescent smoking impacts vulnerability to mental health problems. Because rates of smoking are extremely high among people with anxiety, Steven Moylan of the School of Medicine... Read More

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Reworking Moments of Love and Suffering

May 28th, 2013 . 2 Comments

Consider the following brief moment in time: Mother sets child to rest and turns her attention away. Child reaches to reestablish touch but mother misses the cue. Child whimpers softly and redirects gaze elsewhere. Some children process a mother’s natural lapsing attention span with ease. Others may experience temporary internal disruption before reestablishing connection with... Read More

Comparing Retinal Impairment in ADHD and Depression

May 27th, 2013 . 2 Comments

The way in which the retina processes visual information from the optic nerve is measured with something called an electroretinogram. This method of assessing visual processing provides information related to any retinal gain contrast abnormalities. Visual impairments are common in some psychological and neurological conditions. Research has shown that people with depression have decreased... Read More

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Writing Through Mental Illness and Recovery

May 27th, 2013 . 4 Comments

Socrates famously said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” There are many paths to self-examination. The most obvious is psychotherapy, in which I wholeheartedly believe. I’ve spent the greater part of my adult life in therapy. Another type of self-examination comes with writing. This could mean journaling privately, writing poems or songs for a loved one, writing letters... Read More

Anxiety and Stress Hormone Implicated in Internet Addiction

May 27th, 2013 . 1 Comment

Internet addiction (IAD) has been the topic of much interest in recent years. Young people who develop IAD report significant social and academic difficulties, and may be at risk for other psychological issues as well. Some research has suggested anxiety and depression are higher among... Read More

The Psychology of Online Role-Playing Games

May 27th, 2013 . 3 Comments

While traditional video games typically require only brief periods of investment from players and don’t involve developing a new persona, online role-playing games tend to be much more time-intensive and require a strong emotional investment. These games encourage players to become a character—often one who is very different from a player’s real-life persona—and often have no end point. They can be played for hours, days, or even years, with characters... Read More

The ‘Work’ versus the ‘Challenge’ of Marriage

May 27th, 2013 . 12 Comments

Is raising a child hard work? Is housebreaking a new puppy hard work? Is losing those stubborn 10 pounds hard work? Or are all these things merely challenging endeavors? According to journalist Vicki Larson, marriage is what you make it out to be. Larson believes that no matter how you slice it, marriage... Read More

Brief Intimate Partner Violence Screening Tool Proves Effective

May 27th, 2013 . 2 Comments

The percentage of intimate partner violence victims and perpetrators in substance abuse treatment is estimated at about 50%. This alarmingly high rate has prompted the inclusion of partner violence screening at patient intake. Currently, the most commonly used assessment tools for partner violence in substance use treatment facilities are the Conflict Tactics Scales (CTS) and the Revised Conflict Tactics Scales (CTS2). Although these two measures have proven to highly... Read More

How Therapy Dogs Can Improve Well-Being

May 27th, 2013 . 12 Comments

Talk to any pet lover and he or she will tell you that pets make life richer and better. But pets aren’t just a source of fun and an occasional source of extra work. Animals can play important roles in helping people recover from illness, making medical visits less stressful, and relieving social... Read More

Coping Strategies for Individuals with Tinnitus: Acceptance Versus Suppression

May 24th, 2013 . 7 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 ... Read More

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Young Adults Recognize and Develop Core Gifts on Hikes

May 24th, 2013 . 17 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 ... Read More

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

May 24th, 2013 . 5 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... Read More

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

May 24th, 2013 . 2 Comments

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 ... Read More

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

May 24th, 2013 . 17 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... Read More