Psychotherapy Process
Explore the dynamics and stages of the psychotherapy process, from the initial client assessment to the therapeutic interventions that promote healing. This section provides insights into the complexities of therapeutic relationships and strategies to enhance treatment effectiveness.
254 articles found
Reel Reflections: Movies for Cultural Awareness and Psychotherapy
In a refreshing and knowledgeable manner, the authors present a thesis on social justice, identity and anti-racism through the use of media. Drs. Comas-Díaz, Abdulrehman, and Wedding combine film and miniseries as lenses through which to “witness ourselves and others,” and as ways to increase cultural awareness in a manner that is both poignant and […]
Jerrold Lee Shapiro, Ph.D.
November 14, 2025
The Impact of Divorce on Families and Therapeutic Resolutions
Divorce disrupts family structures and emotional bonds, creating lasting effects for both children and parents. It alters roles, routines, and relationships within the family system and impacts each family member differently. This paper explores the psychological and interpersonal impacts of divorce, especially on children and parents, and outlines therapeutic methods to support post-divorce adjustment. The […]
Samer Shebak, MA
November 11, 2025
The Maintenance of Self-Preservation in Narcissistic Personalities: Suggestions for Partners, Family Members, and Friends
Abstract This paper examines narcissistic personality disorder as a psychological reaction against internal fragmentation brought on by the activation of unresolved core maladaptive emotional states that shape a foundational sense of self. The goal for the individual exhibiting narcissistic behavior is to maintain self-preservation. Restorative regression can cause interpersonal damage that may leave partners, family […]
Michael Pica, PsyD
October 20, 2025
A Primer on Educative-Experiential Psychotherapy
The Educative Aspect of the Educative-Experiential Model The educative-experiential (EE) model is educative in that the knowledge of human behavior embedded in the fundamental disciplines of this approach is thoughtfully and thoroughly explained to clients within an experiential framework. For instance, to normalize teen behaviors, clinicians might introduce the work of Erikson (1950), Marcia (1966), […]
Michael Pica, PsyD
September 10, 2025
From Data to Intervention: Four International Case Studies of Practice-Research Networks in Mental Health
Abstract The gap between psychotherapy research and clinical practice remains a significant challenge, hindering the translation of evidence into real-world settings and the generation of practice-based evidence. Practice-research networks (PRN) have emerged as a powerful collaborative model to bridge this divide. This paper presents and synthesizes insights from four distinct international PRNs to illustrate their […]
Stewart E. Cooper, Ph.D., ABPP + 5 more
September 10, 2025
A Meeting of Brains: Inter-Brain Synchrony and Plasticity in the Clinic
The in-session relationship between therapists and clients has been widely recognized as an essential component of the therapeutic meeting (Baier et al., 2020). One of the key relationship-building mechanisms used across interpersonal interactions is synchrony, or the tendency to coordinate their verbal and non-verbal behaviours. There are a variety of types of behavioural synchrony that […]
Haran Sened, PhD + 1 more
September 8, 2025
“You Have to Be It to See It” – And Other Phrases to Improve Psychotherapist Well-Being
The work of a psychotherapist can be emotionally taxing. Psychotherapists must deal with the day-to-day micro-stressors, such as treating people with unpleasant emotions and difficult interpersonal situations. In addition, many psychotherapists will experience, at some time in their careers, a macro-stressor, such as having patients die from suicide, being threatened with an assault from a patient, […]
Samuel Knapp, Ed.D., ABPP + 2 more
August 10, 2025
Mental Health Impacts of Climate Change: A Transdiagnostic Approach – Part II
As discussed in Part I (link), mental health can be significantly impacted by climate change. Part II will describe how various mental health disorders intersect with climate change Symptoms of Depression, Major Depressive Disorder, and Climate Change Climate change can have both direct and indirect effects on symptoms of clinical depression (Ellis & Albrecht, 2017; […]
Maggie Grandsire, BS + 1 more
June 24, 2025
Mental Health Impacts of Climate Change: A Transdiagnostic Approach – Part I
Undoubtedly, climate change is causing lasting impacts on our natural environment (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2023). The climate crisis is exacerbating unprecedented extreme weather events, like Hurricane Helene in North Carolina in 2024 (Thiem & Lindsey, 2024) and the devastating Los Angeles wildfires in 2025 (Smith, 2025). It is increasing the risk of more […]
Maggie Grandsire, BS + 1 more
June 24, 2025
The Effects of Social Media on Self-Esteem
This paper will discuss the impact of social media on an individual’s self-esteem in different stages of development through a psychosocial lens. Psychosocial theory of human development focuses on the inner world of an individual who is trying to find a sense of self in society. “The process of growth results from the interaction of […]
Hannah Belisle, BA + 1 more
June 3, 2025
Empathy in Chinese Culture: The Role of Differential Mode of Association
Empathy is a fundamental concept in psychotherapy. As a robust predictor of client outcomes (Elliott et al., 2018), its importance is self-evident. Most therapists are able to recognize the significance of empathy when they first begin their training, and additionally spend a significant amount of time learning how to practice empathy. However, both trainees and […]
Xu Zhu, PhD + 2 more
April 9, 2025
Understanding the Core Principles and Techniques of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Part II
Goal of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy CBT’s primary objective is to equip clients with the skills necessary to become proficient in the management of their own psychological well-being. To assist clients in comprehending the ways in which their negative thought patterns influence their emotions and actions, therapists aim to provide them with guidance (Newman, 2008). During sessions, therapists […]
Ray Lynn Kaidbay, MSc, DTLLP
March 17, 2025