Savvy Psychologist

The winter blues can sap your energy, disrupt your sleep, and destroy your concentration, but there's a simple key to defeating it—light. Read the transcript . Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows . Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/health-fitness/mental-health/beat-winter-blues https://...

From forest bathing to napping to belly laughing, cultures from around the world have cultivated well-being in many fascinating ways—and science agrees that they're effective! Better yet? They won't cost you a thing. Read the transcript . Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows . Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Links: https://ww...

Finding a good therapist shouldn't be like finding an empathic needle in a haystack. We'll walk step-by-step through the process of finding potential therapists, narrowing down your list, evaluating whether someone is a good match, and finding affordable therapy options. Read the transcript . Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows . Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Join the c...

Imagine a medical treatment based on cutting edge science. I bet what came to mind wasn't doing double dares and playing detective with your diary. But these are just what the doctor orders for treating a range of psychological disorders, like anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, insomnia, and more in a type of psychotherapy called cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Today, we take a behind-the-scenes...

Pop culture portrays therapy in a way that usually misses the mark ... by a lot. Let's demystify the idea of going to therapy with a down-to-earth overview of what types of therapy there are and which problems they can help with. Read the transcript . Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows . Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Link...

Resentment is a poisonous, slow burning feeling that's bad for our mental health and even worse for our relationships. How can we let go of resentment when situations are unfair or we feel left behind? Let's take a break from grumbling to consider five ways to get a healthy perspective shift. Read the transcript . Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows . Subscribe to the newsletter for regul...

You've heard how amazing and effective mindfulness is, but it sounds intimidating. Worry not! There are simple and sustainable ways to add mindfulness practices to your life and reap real benefits. You don't even need a meditation rug. Read the transcript . Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows . Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter...

Can mindfulness treat cancer? Help you fall asleep? Everyone's talking about mindfulness and how it can improve well-being and performance. But through all the hype, we may be losing sight of what mindfulness actually is ... and is not. Let's take a balanced look at mindfulness science to bust some myths. Read the transcript . Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows . Subscribe to the newslet...

Have you ever had to deal with someone who seems to think they're better than you or that the world owes them? Uh-oh! That's entitlement rearing it's ugly head. Here are five ways to protect yourself and avoid conflict by setting boundaries, being consistent, and showing compassion. Read the transcript . Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows . Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates...

In this year of collective grief, we mourn the people, the stability, and the life experiences we have lost. How do we cope with this grief and help each other through it? How do we talk about it with kids? I talked to Dr. Patti Ashley about going through grief to reach the grace on the other side. Read the transcript . Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows . Subscribe to the newsletter for...

Have you ever haggled over the price of a car? Negotiated a salary? What strategies did you use in these interactions? Whether you're an employee, a parent, or an FBI hostage negotiator, psychological science can give us tips for how to successfully navigate a negotiation. Read the transcript . Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows . Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Join the...

Whether to have kids or not is a monumental decision, and the pros and cons are hard to predict or quantify. How do you decide? Borrowing ideas from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) can help. Read the transcript . Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows . Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytip...

Sleep paralysis is a freaky phenomenon that has inspired ghost stories and alien abduction conspiracies. Fortunately, there's a scientific explanation for why it happens, and also ways to prevent it. Read the transcript . Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows . Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Links: https://www.quickanddirtyti...

Wouldn’t it be nice if our brains let us be happy and calm all the time? The science of emotions tells us that negative emotions like fear, anger, and sadness are actually healthy and useful. Read the transcript . Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows . Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/h...

Sarcastic people can be hilarious, but when their barbs are pointed at you, they can be annoying or even hurtful. How should you respond? Read the transcript . Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows . Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/health-fitness/mental-health/how-to-deal-with-sarcastic...

Worried about bills? Not sure if you're saving enough? Feeling uncertain about your financial future? Many are worried about their personal finances. We talked to Money Girl Laura Adams for advice on how to reduce your money anxiety by setting the right priorities and knowing some insider tips. Read the transcript . Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows . Subscribe to the newsletter for reg...

Becoming an antiracist starts with an important first step—losing our defenses. Confronting the implicit biases we all have means getting uncomfortable ... and it's the only way to grow. Read the transcript . Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows . Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/health...

Racist encounters are stressful and detrimental to Black and African American mental health. It shouldn't be Black people's burden to right these wrongs—it's everyone's job to be anti-racist. But until there is equity, here are some tools to protect against the toxic effects of racism on your mental health. Read the transcript . Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows . Subscribe to the newsl...

You may be surprised by how many ways racism impacts mental health, from the way trauma is transmitted from parents to kids, to how racism affects the way people see themselves, to its impact on the very building blocks of the mental healthcare system. Today we take an unflinching look at racism and how it affects Black and African American people's mental health. Read the transcript . Check out a...

The screen casts an eerie glow on your face. You can't tear your eyes away from the bad news. You feel depressed and angry, but you can't stop scrolling. Why do we do this to ourselves, and how can we stop? Read the transcript . Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows . Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Links: https://www.quickand...

Do you fall into existential dread when you're reminded that you'll die someday? You may be surprised by the factors that subtly (or not so subtly) change our attitudes toward death. We may even be able to control some of them to master our fear. Read the transcript . Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows . Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Join the conversation on Facebook a...

There's more to postpartum mental health than "baby blues." These lesser-known challenges may not get as much attention as postpartum depression, but they're no less real to new moms who experience them. Read the transcript . Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows . Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Links: https://www.quickanddir...

When tragedy befalls those around us but leaves us unscathed, some of us feel guilty. Here's how to understand and cope with survivor guilt. Read the transcript . Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows . Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/health-fitness/mental-health/6-ways-to-survive-survi...

Are you getting your needs met? The classic Maslow's hierarchy can help you understand why you might be feeling unfulfilled and what to do about it. Read the transcript . Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows . Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/health-fitness/mental-health/maslows-hierarc...

Does your otherwise sensible friend believe "chemtrails" are part of a sinister government plot? The psychology behind believing in conspiracy theories is fascinating. Some may even have biological causes. Read the transcript . Check out all the Quick and Dirty Tips shows . Subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates. Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter . Links: https://www.quickandd...