Verified by Psychology Today

Home Base

The science of parenting, kids, and families

Depression
How to Fight Depression by Gearing Up

Darby Saxbe Ph.D. on May 9, 2024

Behavioral activation is a powerful treatment for depression that focuses on increasing opportunities for rewarding experiences. Here's how it works and why it is so effective.

Behavioral activation is a powerful treatment for depression that focuses on increasing opportunities for rewarding experiences. Here's how it works and why it is so effective.

Therapy
Not Hungry for the Alphabet Soup of Psychotherapy?

Darby Saxbe Ph.D. on March 27, 2024

Choosing between therapies can feel like wading through alphabet soup. The Unified Protocol, a transdiagnostic approach, targets emotion and integrates multiple therapy principles.

Choosing between therapies can feel like wading through alphabet soup. The Unified Protocol, a transdiagnostic approach, targets emotion and integrates multiple therapy principles.

Anxiety
Accommodating Anxiety in Romantic Relationships

Darby Saxbe Ph.D. on February 14, 2024

Do you want to support an anxious partner, but are you unintentionally encouraging their anxiety? Here's how to recognize the signs of anxiety accommodation and break the cycle.

Do you want to support an anxious partner, but are you unintentionally encouraging their anxiety? Here's how to recognize the signs of anxiety accommodation and break the cycle.

Stress
A Quick Way to Help Your Child Master Stress

Darby Saxbe Ph.D. on April 11, 2023

Does your kid need help winding down and coping with stress? Progressive muscle relaxation can help. Here's how to help your kid learn this proven stress management technique.

Does your kid need help winding down and coping with stress? Progressive muscle relaxation can help. Here's how to help your kid learn this proven stress management technique.

Health
How Can We Make Science More Inclusive?

Darby Saxbe Ph.D. on December 1, 2022

Scientific research often fails to include participants from diverse backgrounds. Community-based participatory research helps to bring community members into the research process.

Scientific research often fails to include participants from diverse backgrounds. Community-based participatory research helps to bring community members into the research process.

Alcoholism
Drinking to Party or Cope?

Darby Saxbe Ph.D. on October 31, 2022

Members of the LGBTQ+ community are at heightened risk of alcohol use problems. Here's why and how therapy to promote coping can help.

Members of the LGBTQ+ community are at heightened risk of alcohol use problems. Here's why and how therapy to promote coping can help.

Trauma
Putting the Brakes on Trauma

Darby Saxbe Ph.D. on October 18, 2021

It's normal to hit the brakes in the face of a threat, but your brakes can get stuck if you overuse them. Trauma responses are similar, and you may need to relearn how to ride.

It's normal to hit the brakes in the face of a threat, but your brakes can get stuck if you overuse them. Trauma responses are similar, and you may need to relearn how to ride.

Depression
Feeling Depressed? Tweaking Daily Life May Help

Darby Saxbe Ph.D. on May 25, 2021

Feeling depressed? Your everyday routines may be to blame. Tracking your activities and moods can help you learn how to restructure your daily life to be more rewarding.

Feeling depressed? Your everyday routines may be to blame. Tracking your activities and moods can help you learn how to restructure your daily life to be more rewarding.

Sleep
Sleep Your Way to Healthier Aging

Darby Saxbe Ph.D. on May 18, 2021

Sleep problems affect many older adults and can compromise health and cognitive function. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia can help get sleep back on track.

Sleep problems affect many older adults and can compromise health and cognitive function. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia can help get sleep back on track.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Things to Consider When Shopping for Therapy

Darby Saxbe Ph.D. on May 4, 2021

Looking for a therapist, but not sure where to start? Here are some considerations to have on your radar and questions you can ask your therapist when you start your search.

Looking for a therapist, but not sure where to start? Here are some considerations to have on your radar and questions you can ask your therapist when you start your search.

Depression
What Therapy Is Right for Me?

Darby Saxbe Ph.D. on August 23, 2019

Need mental health help but not sure what type of treatment to try? Whether you're dealing with anxiety, grief, depression, or trauma, we've got you covered.

Need mental health help but not sure what type of treatment to try? Whether you're dealing with anxiety, grief, depression, or trauma, we've got you covered.

Adolescence
Is Your Teen In a Stress TRAP?

Darby Saxbe Ph.D. on April 22, 2019

If your stressed teen has fallen into a TRAP (trigger/response/avoidance pattern), these concrete steps will help them get right back on TRAC (trigger/response/approach coping).

If your stressed teen has fallen into a TRAP (trigger/response/avoidance pattern), these concrete steps will help them get right back on TRAC (trigger/response/approach coping).

Relationships
The Psychology of Cycles

Darby Saxbe Ph.D. on April 10, 2019

Stuck in interpersonal relationship patterns that you can't break? Time-limited dynamic psychotherapy might offer a fix.

Stuck in interpersonal relationship patterns that you can't break? Time-limited dynamic psychotherapy might offer a fix.

Anxiety
I Think I Just Had a Panic Attack: What Do I Do Next?

Darby Saxbe Ph.D. on February 22, 2019

There's no need to panic about a panic attack. Find out what steps to take, whether you've just experienced your first panic attack or your twelfth.

There's no need to panic about a panic attack. Find out what steps to take, whether you've just experienced your first panic attack or your twelfth.