Sigmund Freud’s Psychology of Religion - Applications to Religious Scrupulosity
When it comes to the psychology of religion, Freud is a significant historical character. It has been said that Freud’s theories are the first of their kind; a divergence from religious explanations of the human mind.
Gender, Confidence & Conformity - What’s the Connection?
In their 2017 research about the intersection of gender, confidence, and conformity, Cross et al state that “confidence is implicated as a strong predictor of susceptibility to social influence, and wherever there is evidence for a sex difference in confidence, an indirect effect of sex on social influence via confidence is likely” (Cross et al, 2017).
Making Meaning with Logotherapy
Frankl wrote Man’s Search for Meaning in nine days following his release from a concentration camp in 1945. More importantly, he developed a therapeutic approach that continues to be used in clinical practice today.
Intolerance of Uncertainty & Faith -The Implications of Religiosity on Mental Health
The psychological concept of intolerance of uncertainty (IU) is related to how religion impacts mental health.
The Neuroscience of Religious Extremism
Religious extremism results from a rigid worldview that can entrap the mind. The question is: How can we escape the happy prison of the brain?
Godly Sadness - Biological Correlates of Spirituality & Depression
What is the biological correlation between depression and spirituality? And what is the connection between post-traumatic growth and spirituality?
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing - Evidence-Based Treatment for PTSD
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based treatment for PTSD. But how does it stack up against the well-known cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
Group Logotherapy - Improving Mental Wellness in Nursing Homes
Logotherapy was developed by psychiatrist and Nazi concentration camp survivor Viktor Frankl. His therapeutic approach shows promise for nursing home group therapy.
Thomas Szasz & Toxic Theology
The late American psychiatrist Thomas Szasz is a polarizing character. People either love his theories, or they place the entire blame for the current mental health crisis in America on his shoulders.
The Congruence of Carl R. Rogers
We can easily spot a genuine person. But, if a person is not genuine, it’s to precisely define the quality, let alone provide a framework to help the individual manifest it. This is where Carl Rogers comes in, the father of person-centered psychotherapy, and his theory of congruence.
Robert H. Kane’s Searches in the Realm of Aspiration
Aspiration requires a patient and intelligent search for what is aspired to. It is different than hope. It's actually a kind of quest.
An Argument for the Legalization of Psychedelics for Medical Use
Recent research of the psychiatric use of psychedelic substances has challenged the assumptions of the public and lawmakers alike regarding psychedelic substances. Legalizing psychedelics for medical use will provide new remedies for common mental illnesses and protect the rights of Americans to use mind-altering substances in their pursuit of happiness.
Psychology & Philosophy - Differing Approaches in the Quest for Human Understanding
Both psychology and philosophy center on contemplative topics including the nature of human beings, how they think and act, and how they acquire knowledge and wisdom. Because of this topical overlap, the question arises: How are these two fields of study differentiated?
Deconstructing the Gender Binary – Implications from Taoist & Buddhist Philosophy
For those who do not have regular contact with non-binary individuals, the very idea of questioning or deconstructing gender identity is something that they may have never considered. This is, no doubt, particularly the case for Americans raised in fundamentalist religious communities based on the Abrahamic faiths
Taking Back What Was Lost to Religious Fundamentalism - Reuniting With My Disfellowshipped Father
The divisive potential of my faith struck close to home when my father chose to assert his opposition to the religious beliefs of our community. Out of loyalty to the AlmightyCreator of the Universe, I shunned my father for 13 years.
A Voice from Inside - Notes on Religious Trauma in a Captive Organization
What is it like to suffer Religious Trauma Syndrome while still inside a High Demand Religious Organization? A Voice From Inside presents the rare voice of a critical insider of the Watch Tower Society, offering an account of the experience, how people are struggling, and what can be done to survive and move forward.
An Open Letter to the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses
My words may sting like a locust strike (Revelation 9:5), but the fact that I have not held back from publishing the criticisms in A Voice from Inside is evidence of my continued belief in the potential of your human kindness and courage.
Mental Health First Responders – Filling an Important Need for Americans with Suicidality
Law enforcement crisis response teams do not have the mental health training needed to offer assistance for individuals at immediate risk of suicide. Mental health first response teams in Europe are filling this and setting an example for the United States.
Psilocybin-Assisted Psychotherapy - New Remedies for Treatment-Resistant Mental Illness
Psychiatry is broken. Diagnoses of mental illness are increasing as the number of new psychiatric interventions decrease. A new framework leverages the healing properties of psilocybin for individuals with treatment-resistant mental illness.
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) - Does it really exist?
Skeptics call Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) a medical fad from the 80s. Recent YouTube drama has reignited criticism. However, clinical and neurobiological evidence points to its validity as an extreme response to trauma.