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If you’ve ever looked into becoming a mental health professional, you’ve probably run into a variety of different role titles and wondered what each involves. Counselors, therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and more are all part of the treatment landscape, but the distinctions between them can be unclear. The dif
In an era of intense connectivity, constant demands on our attention, and concerns over our collective future, we need the healing power of gratitude more than ever. Gratitude meditation is a practice that can both harness the gratitude that already exists and cultivate even more. This practice brings with it all the b
Many practitioners feel pressure to “pick a camp”—to identify as a practitioner of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), or dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)—and to draw techniques mostly from that one tradition. But look closely at what these approaches are doing, and you’ll dis
Choosing a career in counseling is about more than earning a degree—it’s about developing the knowledge, skills, and compassion to help others navigate life’s challenges. As someone who has personally explored the possibility of entering this fascinating and meaningful profession, I understand the curiosity, questions,
Empathy can help us understand the experiences of the people around us and is therefore a key ingredient for healthy relationships (Arican-Dinc & Gable, 2023). In our previous article on building empathy in relationships, I explored how listening, curiosity, and validation can help us respond more empathetically to par
Meditation has been practiced at different rates in different countries, ranging from 20% in the US (Davies et al., 2024), 15% of Germans (Cramer, 2019) to 20% of Icelanders (Orlygsdottir et al., 2021), and up to 40% of Australians and New Zealanders (Davies et al., 2026). The practice of meditation has outgrown its sp
Empathy is a key ingredient in healthy relationships. It builds intimacy and connection, leaving us feeling more satisfied and loved (Arican-Dinc & Gable, 2023). But can we always understand and share another’s emotional experience, especially in times of stress, fatigue, or conflict? It may come more naturally to some
What is meditation, and what is it good for? It took nearly a decade of knowing about meditation for me to embrace it. As a student of positive psychology, I could rattle off a list of its benefits, tell you about its origins, and name-drop the most influential voices in meditation. But I still wasn’t practicing it reg
Like any skill, self-compassion is something you can choose to practice, not something you either have or don’t have. This practice can take effort, especially when old habits of self-criticism are deeply ingrained. That distinction matters, and the research on what practicing self-compassion can offer is more specific
Think about a time you made a mistake. You know, the kind that keeps replaying in your head. What did you say to yourself? For many of us, self-talk can be swift and harsh: “Careless, not good enough, should have known better.” The inner critic can get loud. Now think about your response if a friend made the same mista
You’ve probably already heard about the promise of meditation. It can help you feel more centered, balanced, and at peace. Meditating can also help with a host of specific symptoms and stressors. But what you may not be aware of is the variety in types of meditation techniques. Each one is different, and each one has i
Many of today’s teams are reaping the benefits of working remotely; however, there are real challenges for virtual collaboration. You’ve likely seen this scenario: Everyone is technically present for a meeting, but no actual connection is happening. People glance at their phones or look off camera, no one offers their
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