First Person

How far is friendship from the special type of closeness we call the therapeutic relationship? Read more

Grown men don’t say things like “I’ve got nobody to play with.” Or do they? A journalist explores what therapists are seeing across the country: the... Read more

A therapist reflects on her cancer journey and what her diagnosis meant for not only the rest of her life but also her mental health. Read more

"There’s an unfamiliar pressure around my brain that’s been building since Hamas’s attack last month. My worry isn’t just for my family, it’s for... Read more

A new approach embraces the somatic wisdom and indigenous knowledge of BIPOC clients. Read more

When a journalist and rock climber decides to become a therapist, he embarks on a new understanding of himself. Read more

An anxious mom steps out of her fortress of solitude and onto the martial-arts mat. Read more

What is a death café? And why do so many people find them therapeutic? Read more

Many beginning therapists are burning out and leaving the field before they’re able to gain their professional footing. How can we support them better? Read more

There’s a big, hairy problem shadowing our field: what, exactly, is a mental disorder? Is using diagnostic language helping or hurting our clients? The way... Read more

Getting old is often a surprise, even when we’ve spent decades trying to get comfortable with the vicissitudes of aging. Read more

"Like my father before me I’ll continue to wage war against racism, confident that awareness will hold my aim steady." Read more

Is there anything trickier for modern-day parents than separating a 13-year-old from an iPhone, even if it’s just for a few days? Read more

What would you do differently if you could rekindle love with your ex? Read more

We all dissociate in some way to cope with the uncertainties of life, so why are people with dissociative identities often feared and misunderstood, even by... Read more

When mental health professionals compare their problems to that of their clients, they risk falling into the trappings of comparative suffering and missing the... Read more

When losing your spouse in a bookstore helps you find perspective. Read more

Even when you've spent your entire career teaching people how to have relationships, finding love is still a risky, humbling, and unpredictable... Read more

When his wife texts to say she’s running late to pick him up at the airport, a renowned trauma expert reexperiences a life-altering moment from his past. Read more

When a hoarding mother won’t face her illness, what choice does a daughter have? Read more

After this experience, I knew I needed to share what I’d learned with my clients, and soon afterward decided to get training to become a ketamine-assisted... Read more

"Gohyang" is a Korean word that means "hometown" but translates to so much more. Read more

Playing a traditional boardgame in a nontraditional romantic arrangement. Read more

The strongest couples are the ones who are open to help—the ones who can surround themselves with allies, inviting others into the trenches with them. Read more

Many spousal dementia caregivers struggle emotionally watching their life partners slowly decline. But I also knew that male caregivers, especially spouses... Read more

A tale about fatherhood and the pleasures of ice cream. Read more

A nightmare camping trip exposes the limits—and possibilities—of male bonding. Read more

A grandmother’s indelible spirit inspires a therapy practice. Read more

Getting old is hard. But sometimes, as the body becomes more vulnerable, the spirit becomes fiercer. Read more

At 92, a pugnacious client discovers that it’s never too late to change. Read more