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Personality

Seinfeld Offered Insight Into Personality and Defenses

Anthony D. Smith LMHC on April 28, 2025

Readers looking for a fun way to recognize some core characteristics of personality disturbances and their psychological defenses, look no further than Seinfeld.

Readers looking for a fun way to recognize some core characteristics of personality disturbances and their psychological defenses, look no further than Seinfeld.

Psychosis

Psilocybin, Teens, and ADHD: A Prescription for Psychosis

Anthony D. Smith LMHC on March 27, 2025

Mushroom use is on the rise in youth, and some common factors, when combined with psilocybin use, could accelerate psychosis. There are ways to navigate the risk.

Mushroom use is on the rise in youth, and some common factors, when combined with psilocybin use, could accelerate psychosis. There are ways to navigate the risk.

ADHD

Advice for More Accurate ADHD Diagnosis

Anthony D. Smith LMHC on February 26, 2025

While ADHD is often misdiagnosed based on stereotypical ideas, there are two ADHD symptoms that can easily go undetected, rendering some to go undiagnosed.

While ADHD is often misdiagnosed based on stereotypical ideas, there are two ADHD symptoms that can easily go undetected, rendering some to go undiagnosed.

Personality

Why “Behavioral” Is a Bad Description for Difficult People

Anthony D. Smith LMHC on February 5, 2025

Calling someone "behavioral" fails to consider the complexity at hand. Understanding personality and defenses can help in interacting with such people and lead to better therapy.

Calling someone "behavioral" fails to consider the complexity at hand. Understanding personality and defenses can help in interacting with such people and lead to better therapy.

Parenting

The Problem of Perfect Parenting

Anthony D. Smith LMHC on January 15, 2025

Parenting perfection is more about image than practicality and can even contribute to kids' difficult behaviors. "Good enough" parenting can be the right alternative.

Parenting perfection is more about image than practicality and can even contribute to kids' difficult behaviors. "Good enough" parenting can be the right alternative.

Therapy

What You Need to Know About Internal Family Systems Therapy

Anthony D. Smith LMHC on December 18, 2024

Internal Family Systems isn't as odd as it may sound. See how our inner family of parts and Self interact, and how IFS brings homeostasis by transforming these inner relationships.

Internal Family Systems isn't as odd as it may sound. See how our inner family of parts and Self interact, and how IFS brings homeostasis by transforming these inner relationships.

Psych Careers

3 Tips for New Therapists

Anthony D. Smith LMHC on December 9, 2024

Obsessing about learning special skills can make new therapists feel overwhelmed and ineffective. Nancy McWilliams suggests focusing on your natural abilities for best outcomes.

Obsessing about learning special skills can make new therapists feel overwhelmed and ineffective. Nancy McWilliams suggests focusing on your natural abilities for best outcomes.

Therapy

Tips for Effective Conversations About Medications

Anthony D. Smith LMHC on November 27, 2024

Therapists aren't prescribers, but should discuss medication experiences in detail. It can be vital to fighting side effects and abrupt discontinuation with ensuing decompensation.

Therapists aren't prescribers, but should discuss medication experiences in detail. It can be vital to fighting side effects and abrupt discontinuation with ensuing decompensation.

Psychosis

"Delulu" Is Not a Mental Illness

Anthony D. Smith LMHC on October 30, 2024

If you think "delulu" is synonymous with the actual delusions of mental illness, think again. Learn how to differentiate this pop culture term from a real psychiatric symptom.

If you think "delulu" is synonymous with the actual delusions of mental illness, think again. Learn how to differentiate this pop culture term from a real psychiatric symptom.

Self-Harm

Why Self-Injury Can Be Hard to Quit

Anthony D. Smith LMHC on September 24, 2024

Self-injury is often seen as repulsive and manipulative, perpetuating stigma and shaming would-be help seekers. Would understanding biological contributors encourage more empathy?

Self-injury is often seen as repulsive and manipulative, perpetuating stigma and shaming would-be help seekers. Would understanding biological contributors encourage more empathy?

Mental Health Stigma

An Effective Way to Fight Mental Illness Prejudice

Anthony D. Smith LMHC on August 21, 2024

Pop culture ideas of mental illness can create stigma. Reading biographical accounts of sufferers can encourage empathy by immersing readers in accurate portrayals of the struggle.

Pop culture ideas of mental illness can create stigma. Reading biographical accounts of sufferers can encourage empathy by immersing readers in accurate portrayals of the struggle.

Psychosis

Mental Illness Isn't Just About Chemical Imbalances

Anthony D. Smith LMHC on July 26, 2024

Have you ever wondered why mental illnesses often can't be cured with medications alone? Psychosocial conflicts may be stronger influences than they're given credit for.

Have you ever wondered why mental illnesses often can't be cured with medications alone? Psychosocial conflicts may be stronger influences than they're given credit for.

Trauma

Dissociation Isn't Always About Trauma

Anthony D. Smith LMHC on June 29, 2024

Dissociation spans everyday experiences and many psychiatric disorders. See how it is more common than you might think and understand it's treatability.

Dissociation spans everyday experiences and many psychiatric disorders. See how it is more common than you might think and understand it's treatability.

Hallucination

Can Someone Negatively Hallucinate?

Anthony D. Smith LMHC on June 1, 2024

Hallucinations aren't always sensory perceptions of things that aren't there. Whether from hypnosis or psychosis, people can also "negatively hallucinate/"

Hallucinations aren't always sensory perceptions of things that aren't there. Whether from hypnosis or psychosis, people can also "negatively hallucinate/"

Depression

Why Mental and Medical Illnesses Co-Occur

Anthony D. Smith LMHC on May 14, 2024

If you've ever wondered why mental and physical illnesses often co-occur, understanding their bidirectional nature can help.

If you've ever wondered why mental and physical illnesses often co-occur, understanding their bidirectional nature can help.

Depression

3 Signs of Depression That Often Go Unnoticed

Anthony D. Smith LMHC on April 10, 2024

2. Uncharacteristic irritability.

2. Uncharacteristic irritability.

Depression

Springtime Can Instigate Seasonal Mood Problems

Anthony D. Smith LMHC on April 3, 2024

If you think seasonal affective disorder is limited to winter depression, think again. See how expansive it can be and what can be done about it.

If you think seasonal affective disorder is limited to winter depression, think again. See how expansive it can be and what can be done about it.

Autism

Is Masking Correlated to Suicide Risk in Autistic Girls?

Anthony D. Smith LMHC on March 3, 2024

Autistic girls have an uncanny ability to mask their symptoms. While this might seem adaptive, it leads to missed diagnoses and higher rates of suicide.

Autistic girls have an uncanny ability to mask their symptoms. While this might seem adaptive, it leads to missed diagnoses and higher rates of suicide.

Mental Health Stigma

Ignore Popular Culture Portrayals of Mental Illness

Anthony D. Smith LMHC on February 13, 2024

Pop culture portrays unpredictable and violent mental illness profiles, fueling stigma. The most stigmatized disorders are often much more subtle than their actor representations.

Pop culture portrays unpredictable and violent mental illness profiles, fueling stigma. The most stigmatized disorders are often much more subtle than their actor representations.

Personality

Could Treatment-Resistant ADHD Be a Matter of Personality?

Anthony D. Smith LMHC on January 31, 2024

Restless, easily frustrated, irritable, stimulation-seeking—sounds a lot like ADHD. But, think again! The hypomanic personality may hold the key to "treatment-resistant" ADHD.

Restless, easily frustrated, irritable, stimulation-seeking—sounds a lot like ADHD. But, think again! The hypomanic personality may hold the key to "treatment-resistant" ADHD.