Mentally Stronger with Therapist Amy Morin

There are a lot of misconceptions about therapy, mental health, and what to expect from treatment. Whether you're considering treatment or you know someone who could benefit from therapy, treatment won't feel as stressful when you understand how therapy works. Today, I'm clearing up some of these misconceptions and sharing what I wish everyone knew about therapy. Some of the things I talk about ar...

Minimalism can help you grow mentally stronger. When you clear the clutter, you make room for things that really matter in life. But it's not just physical clutter. Financial clutter, calendar clutter, and relationship clutter can also stand between you and your best life. Knowing what to get rid of and how to simply your life can feel like an uphill battle. Joshua Fields Millburn explains how to...

Life gets easier when you grow mentally stronger. Not only can mental strength help heal your emotional wounds, but it can also help you reach your greatest potential. But there are a lot of misconceptions about what mental strength is and how to build it. Some of the things I share today are the three parts to mental strength, the tools that can help you grow stronger, and how to give up the coun...

Working on your mental health is never convenient. But you may be forced to deal with a mental health crisis at the worst time if you don't practice self-care. Fortunately, there are small steps you can take to manage your mental health daily that can make a big difference to your overall well-being. And according to Hunter Hayes, 5-time GRAMMY-nominated singer/songwriter, you're never too busy to...

It's tough to switch your focus from things you can't control to things you can. But when you learn how to do it, you improve your life in so many ways. Some of the things I share today are how to identify what is within your control, what to do when your brain is worrying about things you have zero control over, and how to plan for worst-case scenarios in a healthy way. These strategies can reduc...

Change is tough. Whether you're trying to change a habit or you're trying to adapt to a changing workplace, you might waste a lot of energy resisting change. Best-selling author Brad Stulberg says we can learn to navigate life's challenges. And when we do, we're able to thrive in the face of change. Some of the things he discusses are how discomfort can lead to growth, how to change your mindset s...

Changing careers takes mental strength. From unsupportive friends and family to the risks associated with starting over, it's tough to transition from one career to another. But, doing so can also be a great opportunity for growth and it might be the key to living a more fulfilling life. Some of the things I share are how to manage the stress related to an involuntary career change, what to do whe...

Perfectionism takes a serious toll on your mental health and well-being. It's often driven by the fear of not being good enough and involves a desire to get validation from others. It often leads to anxiety, depression, and loneliness. Fortunately, there are some things that can help you give up the need to appear perfect. Thomas Curran, a psychology professor and the author of The Perfection Trap...

Our beliefs influence our thoughts, emotions, and actions. However, many of our core beliefs are inaccurate and can limit our potential. Many of our beliefs stem from things we learned in childhood that aren't necessarily accurate. But those beliefs often turn into self-fulfilling prophecies. Fortunately, there are a few simple strategies that can help you uncover unhelpful core beliefs. Once you...

Many kids feel like they aren't good enough because they're under constant pressure to achieve more. The toxic achievement mindset leaves them feeling worthless and causes them to lack resilience. Fortunately, journalist Jennifer Wallace has some solutions. After surveying thousands of parents, educators, and experts, she discovered how we can combat "toxic achievement culture" and teach kids resi...

Your problem-solving skills can directly affect mental health. Research shows people who learn better problem-solving skills reduce anxiety, depression, and insomnia while also improving their relationships. Yet, most of us weren't taught a strategy for solving problems even though we face problems every single day. Fortunately, there's a formula you can use to solve problems and improve your prob...

Major mental illnesses, like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and borderline personality disorder can make it hard to function. But Gabe Howard says it doesn't have to ruin your life. Gabe learned he had bipolar disorder when he was hospitalized in a mental health hospital at the age of 26. He thought his life was over. He has since learned that with the help of medication, therapy, and ongoing tr...

Mental health advice is everywhere. But not all of it is good advice. In fact, some common tips about how to improve your emotional well-being that get widely shared on social media are downright unhealthy. Following those strategies might actually increase your depression, worsen your anxiety, increase your stress, or damage your psychological well-being. Fortunately, there are some simple but ef...

The way you talk to yourself matters. You probably know it's important to talk to yourself with self-compassion and to try and reframe some of your negative thoughts. But what about the questions you ask yourself? You might be just one question away from a different life. Marc Champagne is a mental fitness strategist and the author of Personal Socrates. He's examined the questions successful peopl...

We all procrastinate sometimes. But procrastination, by definition, has negative consequences. Sometimes those consequences are emotional — like dread and anxiety. At other times, consequences mean we don't perform well or miss out on great opportunities. While there are many reasons we procrastinate, the solutions are the same. These five science-backed strategies can get you moving toward your g...

It's tough to know what emotional skills you should be teaching your kids these days. And you've probably heard that today's kids are struggling with their mental health more than ever. That's why I'm talking to Phyllis Fagell. She's a school counselor, licensed therapist, and author. Her new best-selling book, Middle School Superpowers, provides step-by-step strategies for teaching kids the cogni...

Intense emotions can cause you to become irrational and do things you wouldn't normally do. For example, anxiety will cause you to play it safe, and excitement will cause you to overestimate yourself. But it's tough to recognize how your emotions cause you to become irrational in the moment. Fortunately, you can take steps to balance out intense emotions to make better decisions. Here are four com...

Almost everyone knows someone who is battling a drug or alcohol problem. But most people have no idea what to do about it. Should you step in or step back? Support groups, like Al-Anon, encouraged people to detach from a loved one with a substance use disorder. But detachment doesn't help. Connection does. That's what Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) is about. It's a set of skil...

If you've ever felt frustrated by people who treat you poorly, you're not alone. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to empower yourself. But first, it's important to recognize why you allow yourself to be mistreated. You might be surprised by what the research says about the link between low self-esteem and mistreatment from others. Once you develop a better understanding of why mistreatmen...

Anxiety is meant to keep you safe. It alerts you to danger and helps you respond to life-threatening situations. But most of us have some faulty anxiety alarm bells that go off when we're not in life-or-death situations. You already have some strategies that help you cope with anxiety, like scrolling through your phone. Short-term solutions, however, aren't addressing the underlying cause of your...

Whether you're worried about what other people think of you or you worry a lot about all the bad things that could happen, worrying isn't good for you. It can take a serious toll on your health and your relationships. But knowing that worrying is bad for you won't stop it from happening. In fact, it may make you worry even more. Fortunately, you can learn to take stop worrying so much. When you do...

Whether you get stood up by a date or turned down for a job, rejection hurts. And while you might be tempted to pretend you don't care or to hide your rejection from others, minimizing your pain prevents you from healing. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to cope with rejection so you can work through the pain — and even heal some old emotional wounds in the process. Dr. Ronald Siegel is a...

There's a lot of information about the mind/body connection and the ways exercise, in general, is good for mental health. But there's a lot less information about the specific exercises that can target certain aspects of emotional well-being. For example, running is just as effective in combating depression as antidepressants. And one of the best ways to reduce anxiety involves lifting weights. Sw...

Traumatic events can leave lasting emotional wounds. And our natural reaction is to try and pretend like those wounds don't hurt because we don't want to talk about the pain. But according to psychotherapist Duygu Balan, you don't necessarily need to talk about your traumatic experiences to heal. Instead, a creative outlet like writing might be the therapeutic exercise you need to work through the...

Whether you struggle to speak up in meetings or feel anxious whenever you meet new people, social anxiety is common. For some people, it's a minor inconvenience. But for others, social anxiety can interfere with daily life. Regardless of where you fall on the spectrum, you don't have to live with social anxiety forever. If you struggle with anxiety in social situations, try these three science-bac...