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Woke and Broke: How MFT Programs Traded Therapy Skills for Ideological Thrills
In an era where feelings have replaced facts, it seems Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) programs have joined the cultural march toward prioritizing ideological purity over clinical competence.
Once designed to train therapists to effectively treat individuals and families, MFT programs are now preoccupied with turning out social justice warriors armed with advocacy jargon rather than therapists armed with practical skills.
But hey, who needs to understand how to actually help a family when you can sit around discussing privilege for hours on end?
What Does A Post-Trump MAGA Look Like?
To explore how the MAGA movement (Make America Great Again) might evolve, we can draw on historical patterns of populist movements, psychological theories of group dynamics, and current political and cultural shifts.
In this post, I’ll speculate on how MAGA might change or adapt in the years ahead, perhaps even productively.
Make your bed before you take over the world
“Make your bed before you take over the world" is deceptively simple advice with roots in both ancient wisdom and modern psychology.
It’s not just about tucking in some sheets and fluffing pillows. It’s about the human need for control, structure, and the kind of discipline that eventually leads to bigger accomplishments.
As a seasoned family therapist, I’ve come to see this idea as a brilliant metaphor for life—and believe me, I’ve heard enough chaos and emotional bedlam over the years to know a good metaphor when I see one.
Anxious Attachment Anonymous: How r/AnxiousAttachment SubReddit Turns Our Relationship Anxiety Into Solidarity
If you’ve ever caught yourself staring at your phone, wondering why it’s taking your partner more than 30 seconds to respond, you might be familiar with anxious attachment. The good news? You’re not alone.
Enter Reddit’s r/AnxiousAttachment, where relationship anxiety meets the comfort of knowing that plenty of others are unraveling at exactly the same time.
For anyone who’s ever spiraled into overthinking because of a "seen" message that never led to a reply, or had their entire day thrown off by a partner’s neutral response (seriously, what does “sure” even mean?), this subreddit is a kind of therapy, mixed with humor and a hefty dose of "we're all in this together."
Avoidant Attachment Anonymous: How r/AvoidantAttachment Subreddit turns Our Relationship Avoidance into Solidarity
If you’ve ever found yourself emotionally distancing from someone at the first sign of intimacy, or if you’ve perfected the art of ghosting as a method of self-preservation, you might just find a home in the world of the Avoidant Attachment subreddit.
Yes, that’s right—there’s a thriving community of people who get that look of panic in their eyes at the word “vulnerable” and would rather jump out of a moving car than have “the talk.”
The Avoidant Attachment subreddit (r/AvoidantAttachment) is a safe haven for those who dance the delicate tango of keeping relationships at arm’s length while simultaneously pondering why they feel so alone.
What Traits Make Someone Morally Exceptional?
As a family therapist, I’ve spent a lot of time pondering what makes a person “morally exceptional.”
Is it their ability to empathize, their sense of fairness, or maybe their knack for handling those chaotic PTA meetings with grace?
Turns out, these questions are at the heart of a new study published in the Journal of Personality, which sheds light on the traits that separate morally exceptional individuals from the rest of us mere mortals.
And guess what? Empathy, guilt-proneness, and moral identity top the list—so, maybe your grandma who never lets anyone leave the dinner table hungry was onto something all along.
How Different Types of Early-Life Adversity Shape Brain Development: Insights from New Research
Recent research published in Biological Psychiatry reveals intriguing insights into how different types of early-life adversity can lead to unique patterns of brain development.
The study found that children who experience emotional neglect tend to have younger-looking brains.
In contrast, children exposed to more severe adversities, such as caregiver mental illness or socioeconomic hardship, often show signs of older-looking brains. These findings shed light on how diverse early-life experiences shape the brain in distinct ways.
The Compelling Allure of Quiet Hope: Navigating Cultural Narcissism and Empathy in a Post-Trump World
In an era characterized by Cultural Narcissism, where self-promotion and the relentless pursuit of personal validation often overshadow collective well-being, the notion of quiet hope emerges as a powerful antidote.
This concept, subtle yet profound, speaks to the resilience found in everyday moments, the belief in gradual change, and the deep-seated trust in the possibility of a better future.
As we navigate the complexities of a post-Trump world, marked by division and disillusionment, the role of marriage and family therapists becomes increasingly crucial.
What is Circle of Security Parenting? A Review of the book "Raising a Secure Child"
If you're a parent, you've probably heard that building a secure relationship with your child is one of the best things you can do for them. But how exactly do you go about doing that?
That’s where the Circle of Security Parenting (COSP) model comes in.
It’s a simple yet powerful way to help parents understand and meet their child’s emotional needs.
In the book Raising a Secure Child, authors Kent Hoffman, Glen Cooper, and Bert Powell walk us through this model, offering practical advice on how to raise children who feel safe, loved, and ready to take on the world.
The Impact of Insecure Attachment to Fathers on Mental Health: Understanding the Roots and Finding Our Way Forward
Attachment plays a fundamental role in our emotional well-being, influencing how we navigate relationships and cope with life’s ups and downs.
When it comes to the bond between fathers and their children, especially during those crucial adolescent years, the quality of that connection can have lasting effects on mental health.
How Your Brain Falls In Love
Our brains are wild when it comes to love.
It turns out that when you're cozying up with your partner to watch a tear-jerker or a horror flick, your brains might be more in sync than you think—literally!
Recent research published in NeuroImage reveals that romantic couples show greater synchronization in both behavior and brain activity compared to their close friends when watching emotional videos together.
So, while your BFF might understand your love for pineapple on pizza, it's your partner who's really vibing with your brainwaves.
Neo-Prudism vs. Hookup Culture: A Cultural Shift with Deep Implications
In recent years, a fascinating cultural shift has been slowly and quietly gaining momentum—neo-prudism.
This emerging trend represents a pushback against the pervasive hookup culture that has dominated the social landscape, for over a decade, particularly among younger generations.
But what exactly is neo-prudism, and why is it gaining traction now?
Let’s dive into the nuances of this slow-moving idea explore its roots in evolutionary psychology and feminist thought, and consider what its rise might mean for society at large.