Any kind of abuse—whether it be physical, emotional, mental, sexual, etc.—can lead to PTSD, as abuse is a highly emotionally distressing experience. The overactivation of stress hormones causes the victim of abuse to experience a fight, flight or freeze response, which makes it near impossible for the individual to focus…
Whether they’re single or married, people tend to idealize their own relationship status when they feel that it’s not going to change. This natural bias can lead to relational prejudice, judging the coupled or solo lifestyle of others. Singlism is discrimination against unmarried people, like when they’re not included in…
Child discipline is tricky business: as there is a wide range of strategies and techniques that can (or actually can’t) get the job done. So which one’s do get the job done? According to science, the authoritative parenting style proves the most effective; this involves encouragement and clear communication. Another…
It’s hard to believe, but our closest friends are capable of manipulating us in ways we’d prefer not to imagine. One very dangerous form of this manipulation is gaslighting: or manipulating someone using psychological means into questioning what they know to be true. In close relationships, gaslighting involves shaming someone…
Gaslighters use manipulative tactics to make their victims question their sense of reality, their intuition, and often everything they know to be true. Your partner might be gaslighting you if they lie consistently, cause you to distrust yourself, use your weaknesses against you, or bully you. If you suspect that…
A working alliance in therapy, otherwise known as the therapeutic relationship, is simply the relationship that exists between the client and his or her therapist. In this alliance, both parties have the same goal: for the client to make improvements and benefit from great change throughout the therapeutic process. It’s…
A key to finding success in therapy is building a positive relationship with your therapist and feeling comfortable enough to open up to them. Counselors use different techniques to help their clients feel more comfortable in therapy, and in turn, make for a successful therapy journey. First, it helps to…
When exploring different options for therapy and therapists, it’s important that you acknowledge the importance of a healthy therapeutic relationship and therefore avoid several types of therapists. The first kind of counselor you should avoid is the Conflict of Interest Therapist: or in other words, a counselor that your close…
A range of techniques used in emotionally focused therapy help couples (and others) to better understand each other and address issues in their relationship. An emotionally focused therapist, Jennine Estes, identifies her favorite techniques: leaning in, repeating, joint roadmaps, and organization. To make her clients feel more comfortable in opening…
One unfortunate result of splitting from your significant other is feeling lonely; you’re used to putting all of this time and effort into another, but now you have that time and effort at your disposal. Look at this newfound time and energy in a positive light: Dedicate it to healthy,…
You can set your child up for success by teaching them how to live a happy, healthy life and equipping them with beneficial tools. One parenting technique that can help you accomplish this mission is simply being honest with yourself—are you being the supportive parent or the pushy parent? Practicing…
While it’s important to prioritize your newborn’s health, it’s equally as important that you take care of yourself as well. Keep your physical health on track by staying hydrated and eating nutritious foods. You should also maintain open communication with your doctor and continue to listen to your body’s cues….