Magic in the Ordinary: Finding Glimmers and Hope in Everyday Life
“If today gets difficult, remember the smell of coffee, the way sunlight bounces off a window, the sound of your favorite person’s laugh, the feeling when a song you love comes on, the color of the sky at dusk, and that we are here to take care of each other.” ~Nanea Hoffman The beach breeze […]
The Problem Isn’t Consensual Non-Monogamy—It’s the Judgment
Co-authored with Kylie Viala, BA (hons) and Allyson Klassen, BA This is the “Week of Visibility for Non-Monogamy,” but many people in non-monogamous relationships don’t feel safe being visible. Let’s clear up common misconceptions that complicate the lives of people in CNM relationships. Monogamy is idealized, but it isn’t the only way to have successful […]
Can We Have Better Classroom Conversations in…
When Shira Hofer arrived at Harvard in 2021, she was full of hope, not just about academics or independence, but about connection. As a graduate of a pluralistic Jewish day school, she had grown up in an environment that valued both shared identity and respectful disagreement. “I was super excited, because I thought that it […]
Mental Fitness Is the New Leadership Muscle
Mental fitness is often associated with the world of sports, separating the hall-of-famers from the rest. However, mental fitness is rapidly becoming recognized as the cornerstone of elite leadership. This is the edge that separates modern, successful CEOs from those who struggle more with navigating interpersonal dynamics and leadership demands. It’s not about therapy, and […]
Paranoid Personality Traits Should Capture Our Attention
Some suspiciousness is healthy. If we get a text, for example, we may resent the intrusion and question its legitimacy. What do they want? Access to an account? Our money? Too much suspicion sends other signals. Paranoia is that unwarranted feeling that people are out to do us harm. To rise to the level of […]
ChatGPT-Induced Psychosis and the Good-Enough Therapist
AI chatbots are becoming more common as replacements for or adjuncts to psychotherapy. Are there aspects of a therapeutic relationship with a human that can’t be replaced by AI? What can we learn about the nature of therapy itself by studying our interactions with AI? AI Companion Safety Concerns Although recent research suggests that AI […]
When Mental Health Is Medical: The Cost of Missed Diagnosis
As therapists, we’re trained to explore the psychological roots of emotional distress. We dig into trauma histories, family systems, attachment wounds, and patterns of regulation and dysregulation. We learn to validate complexity, especially with clients navigating dissociative identity disorder or posttraumatic stress disorder. And yet, the Mental health field still struggles to address these conditions […]
The Power of Paws | Psychology Today
In Western societies, dogs are more than pets—they’re companions, family members, and, in many cases, emotional anchors. The human-animal bond has long been the subject of fascination and study, yet research has often oversimplified this relationship by focusing on single dimensions like attachment or satisfaction. A recent, more nuanced study by Turcsán and colleagues, published […]
To My Narcissistic Friend: Thanks for Being My Toxic Mirror
“It’s okay to let go of those who couldn’t love you. Those who didn’t know how to. Those who failed to even try. It’s okay to outgrow them, because that means you filled the empty space in you with self-love instead. You’re outgrowing them because you’re growing into you. And that’s more than okay; that’s […]
Infidelity in Relationships and Recovery in Couples Therapy
Infidelity is probably one of the most painful and destabilizing events that can occur in a romantic relationship. It breaks trust, can lead to psychological trauma, emotional suffering, or even the onset of mental illness, and often raises questions about the future of the relationship. As a couples therapist, I’ve noticed that the meaning of […]