This article explores some of the factors you should consider before deciding to become a foster parent. It also suggests some signs that can help indicate you’re ready to take this step, as well as some indicators that you may not be ready yet. Foster Parenting Considerations These are some of the factors to consider before becoming a foster parent, according to Sabrina Romanoff, PsyD, a clinical psychologist and professor at Yeshiva University....

Friday Fix: Episode 231 Many people on social media this year discouraged others from setting a New Year resolution. Opting out of a resolution isn’t necessarily a bad idea. By mid-January, most people consider their resolutions failed. That means their intentions to hit the gym, wake up earlier, or save more money have already fallen by the wayside. As a therapist, I’ve worked with many people ready to declare the entire year a failure after giving up on their resolution....

In recent years, however, other views of intelligence have emerged, including Gardner’s suggestion that multiple different types of intelligence may exist. Theory of Multiple Intelligences This theory suggests that traditional psychometric views of intelligence are too limited. Gardner first outlined his theory in his 1983 book Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences, where he suggested that all people have different kinds of “intelligences.” Gardner proposed that there are eight intelligences, and has suggested the possible addition of a ninth known as “existentialist intelligence....

For many people, the color green has strong associations with nature and brings to mind lush grass, trees, and forests. Green is often described as a refreshing and tranquil color. Other common associations with the color green are money, luck, health, and envy. Green Color Meaning and Psychology In color psychology, colors made up of long wavelengths are considered “arousing or warm,” whereas colors such as green that have shorter wavelengths are “relaxing or cool....

The death of a loved one can cause both emotional and physical pain that can sometimes impair your ability to function. Grief counseling can involve working with a counselor, therapist, psychologist, or support group to address your feelings. In the short term, grief counseling can help you navigate the aftermath of a loss and make practical decisions, like funeral arrangements. In the long run, it can help you accept the loss of your loved one and adapt to life without them....

This article discusses the difference between grief and depression, focusing specifically on which symptoms overlap and which symptoms are different. It also presents the various treatment options that are commonly used to treat symptoms of depression and, in some cases, to treat the symptoms of grief. Clinical Perspectives of Grief and Depression The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) removed a “bereavement exclusion” from the diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD)....

Even people who love the holidays can experience the blues during this busy season. The holidays are often a time of high emotion and demands, which can leave a lot of people feeling stressed and exhausted. People with a prior mental health condition may be even more prone to experiencing holiday depression. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 64% of people with an existing mental illness report that the holidays make their condition worse....

The Effect of Alcohol on Hormones Hormones act as chemical messengers to control and coordinate the functions of the body’s tissues and organs. When the hormone system is working properly, the exact amount of hormone is released at exactly the right time and the tissues of the body accurately respond to those messages. Drinking alcohol can impair the functions of the glands that release hormones and the functions of the tissues targeted by the hormones, which can result in medical problems....

What Is Ego Depletion? People are often faced with urges, desires, and natural tendencies that demand satisfaction. Giving in to such feelings is not always realistic, socially acceptable, or even healthy. In order to deal with such challenges, people must exert self-control in order to regulate their actions. Very often, we need to delay gratification of these urges until a more appropriate time and place. Such self-management takes a great deal of mental effort, both cognitive and emotional....

Many people who self-report marijuana use claim that they are actually better drivers when they are high than when they are not. But, is that actually the case? The Effect of Marijuana on Attention Researchers at the University of Georgia have found that it could be true that smoking marijuana may indeed increase the user’s motor skills for a while. But, they conclude that over time any increase in skill level they may acquire is negated by serious attention problems....

How Much Does a Psychiatrist Cost Without Insurance? While the Affordable Care Act requires health plans to cover behavioral health services, coverage can be limited. If you don’t have insurance or your insurance doesn’t cover your psychiatry appointments, you could end up paying up to $500 or more for a full consultation, which may be necessary to receive a diagnosis. The costs will vary depending on your location, the psychiatrist’s qualifications and years in practice, and the length and frequency of sessions....

These treatment methods are used to help minimize, or even eliminate, distressing symptoms that people with PTSD often experience. Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts Medications Although there are no medications that have been specifically designed to treat PTSD, there are a variety of well-established medications currently used to treat other psychiatric conditions such as mood and anxiety disorders that have been found to be helpful in managing PTSD symptoms....

Childhood Needs and Maladaptive Schemas The theory underlying schema-focused therapy presumes that when our basic childhood needs (such as needs for safety, acceptance, and love) are met inadequately, we develop unhealthy ways of interpreting and interacting with the world, which is called maladaptive early schemas. Schemas are broad and pervasive patterns of thinking and behavior. These are more than just beliefs; schemas are deeply held patterns that are closely related to our sense of self and view of the world....

This sharing of personal details about your life—your feelings, thoughts, memories, and other such things—is referred to as self-disclosure. If you tend to share a lot right away, then you likely have a high level of self-disclosure. If you are more reserved about such things, then you have lower levels of self-disclosure. But this self-disclosure entails more than how much you are willing to tell others about yourself; it is also a crucial building block of intimacy and absolutely vital to a wide variety of social relationships....

However, research shows that, as a whole, queer people report higher rates of negative mental health concerns and outcomes related to the pandemic when compared to non-queer counterparts. This emotional and mental health toll will continue to impact the most vulnerable members of queer community as the world re-opens. Struggles at the Intersection of other Marginalized Experiences In a recent study about the effects of Covid-19 on the LGBTQ+ community, 74% of queer respondents said that worrying and stress related to the pandemic negatively impacted their mental health....

There are many different types of therapy, and the kind you need is dependent upon what you’re hoping to heal. This article will explain how you can choose the best type of therapy for yourself. The Importance of Choosing the Right Therapy for You Choosing the right kind of therapy for yourself is crucial in meeting your therapeutic goals, which gets you to feel better faster. Also, therapy can be very expensive, with a recent Verywell Mind survey stating the average cost per session is $178....

Meet Kristin Neff Kristin Neff is a pioneer in self-compassion research. She’s been studying self-compassion for more than 15 years. She’s the author of the bestselling book Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself and the co-creator of a training program called Mindful Self-Compassion. She’s also an Associate Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. She’s written a new book called Fierce Self-Compassion, in which she describes how to know when to practice tender self-compassion and when to practice fierce self-compassion....

Anger can take various forms and range in severity from mild annoyance to intense rage. However, it is important for anger to be processed in ways that are not harmful or destructive to ourselves or others. Getting angry frequently and being unable to control one’s rage could indicate that a person has anger issues. If this sounds like someone in your life, you may wonder how to help them with their anger issues....

More importantly, you don’t have to make big changes to feel happier; you can find feelings of happiness right now. Here are some quick strategies for instant feelings of happiness. Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts Use Music Music is known to have the ability to change one’s mood, which makes it an excellent stress reliever. In fact, music has been used therapeutically in hospitals for pain management and emotional well-being....