Popular Culture & Current Events
Popular culture and current events have an indelible impact on therapy, influencing the issues and conversations therapists and clients explore together. After all, therapy doesn't happen in a vacuum; it's informed by the societal and global forces that shape our lives. These articles explore the intersection of therapy and culture. View topics ranging from the impacts of social media and political polarization to book and movie recommendations from therapy's thought leaders. Learn from Esther Perel, Gabor Maté, Bessel van der Kolk, Orna Guralnik, Matthias Barker, and others.
5 Popular Therapist Memes II
Humor and Insights Your Colleagues are Sharing
An Anxiety Expert's Take on "The Anxiety Club" Documentary
What Comedians in Therapy Can Teach UsBook & Movie Recommendations
Books, films, podcasts, and apps can all offer psychotherapists valuable tools for professional development and personal growth. These media provide opportunities to explore therapeutic themes, spark meaningful conversations, and offer a place for clients to see their struggles reflected in compelling narratives. Whether you're seeking resources for your own growth or looking for recommendations to share with clients, the articles in this collection offer recommendations for book, movies, podcasts, TV shows, and even memes that can deepen understanding and inspire change. Discover what therapy's thought leaders are reading, watching, and recommending.
Global Issues & Political Polarization
The fallout of political division, global crises, and societal turmoil continues to permeate the therapy room. Many clients arrive carrying well-founded anxieties about climate change, war, economic instability, and deepening polarization that strains central relationships. As therapists, we must help clients process these collective stressors while also navigating our own reactions and maintaining therapeutic neutrality. These pieces offer honest, nuanced perspectives on charged topics ranging from political polarization and conspiracy theories to gun violence and cross-cultural divides. Learn from Esther Perel, Terry Real, Bill Doherty, and others about holding space amid societal fracture.
Social Media & Cultural Trends
Mental health and psychotherapy are becoming topics of conversation in popular culture in ways we've never experienced before. Social media and cultural phenomena like "therapy speak" have begun to profoundly shape how clients understand mental health and interpret relationship dynamics. Understanding these trends helps therapists meet clients where they are and more effectively address contemporary challenges. These articles explore how cultural trends shape what occurs in the therapy room. Topics range from explorations of the effect of social media on teens to how therapist Instagram influencers are shaping our field. Learn more about what today's cultural landscape means for therapeutic practice.
Many clients misuse clinical terms to win arguments and avoid blame. How do we support them without invalidating them? Read more
In our quest for healing and connection in a chaotic world, a wacky meme can be a powerful tool. Read more
Four prominent therapists tell us about their favorite movies—and what makes them both memorable and healing. Read more
If empathy without action leads to despair, finding ways to metabolize the 24/7 news cycle is crucial to remaining well. Read more
We put a handful of legendary therapist quotes alongside sayings from world-famous philosophers, comedians, movie stars, and others to test your therapist's... Read more
A memorable, engaging film can be healing as well as entertaining. Here are movies four therapeutic movies prominent clinicians recommend. Read more
Esther Perel and her close colleagues explore the interesting parallels between intimate relationships and political divides. Read more
Bessel van der Kolk explores the impact of new policies on social wellness and the future of research in America. Read more
The founder of Brown Girl Therapy shares her countercultural secret to building an online community. Read more
One of the world's most popular Instagram influencers offers her evolving take on social media Read more
Discover the top therapist-recommended apps to improve your mental health and well-being, including an app that rates mental health apps! Read more
Being in relationship with those who are different from us can be difficult, but it’s what we need to build bridges that support connection and unity. Read more
We can all derive mental health benefits from podcasts. We asked a handful of therapists which mental health podcasts like best and why—here’s what they... Read more
What do therapy and comedy have in common? Therapist and comedian David Granirer has spent over two decades helping aspiring stand-up comics—many in... Read more
Unless we want to let down our clients and lose public trust, therapists need to figure out how to navigate a politically polarized world. Read more
In 'Wiser Than Me,' Julia Louis-Dreyfus's podcast, accomplished older women generate a free-floating sense of shared sisterhood—like an all-girls slumber... Read more
The Founder of Relational Life therapy Terry Real offers his reflections on how to make sense of Trump's reelection, and what we can do to promote an... Read more
Understanding what's at the root of dangerous misbeliefs like conspiracy theories is the key to countering them. Read more
Therapy is having a moment right now, with clinicians filling our social media feeds, bestseller lists, and concert halls. How did we get here? And where are... Read more
Maybe it’s time for therapists and planetary scientists to hang out more. Read more
Therapists share the books they've been recommending to clients for inspiration, entertainment, and healing between sessions. Read more
For therapists, the TV comedy Shrinking is a low-impact escape that still contains echoes of the messy, wrenching work they do. Read more
Catch the replay of our discussion about why your clients may be struggling with disillusionment in their professional lives. Read more
What are the cultural messages feeding younger generations’ ambivalence and anxiety about their professional lives? Read more
A wry exploration of how we handle challenges to our egos, even in therapy Read more
Here are the Psychotherapy Networker magazine articles that were the most read and most loved amongst our editors. 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
Acclaimed poet and essayist Ross Gay considers the “wild and unboundaried solidarity” that joy can bring into our lives. Read more
The Enneagram is an ancient self-help tool that seems to be experiencing a resurgence in popularity. Does it have a place in the therapy room? Read more
Influencer and clinician Matthias Barker gives his take on what therapists can do when clinical buzzwords morph into flippant or incorrect notions that clients... Read more
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