The Shrink Tank

Psychotherapy in practice, research, and pop culture.

Jared DeFife, Ph.D. specializes in psychodynamic psychotherapy and research in clinical psychology with the Cambridge Health Alliance and Harvard. See full bio

July 11, 2009

The NSA suspects that you're a terrorist: How the Bush administration implemented unprecedented domestic wiretapping programs

Late last night, a report was released about the Congressional investigation of unprecedented domestic spying and wiretapping programs secretly implemented by the Bush administration in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. For any human being concerned about privacy, information security, U.S. history and constitutional law, the revelations are hair raising. How this happened and why it's a problem...
Read More

June 29, 2009

Diversity in Entertainment - Why it Matters

When an open-letter to Pixar asked about the surprising lack of female leading characters, many readers asked "why does it matter?" Here's why it matters. Read More

June 13, 2009

Hey Pixar, What’s Up? Try Finding an Incredible Story about a Girl’s Life

...and one who isn't a princess, please. NPR.org blogger Linda Holmes identifies a notable omission from Pixar's cinematic corpus: a lack of a single leading female character. Read More

June 11, 2009

Should Insurances Pay for Therapy?

This is one of the most widely discussed and hotly contested debates in the field of mental health. So let's gather your thoughts and opinions:

Should health insurance providers pay for psychotherapy, and why?

June 6, 2009

Eating Disorders On The Rise, Part II: Weighing The Evidence For Psychotherapy

As a social culture, we can't seem to find a healthy balance when it comes to weight. On one hand, we're an increasingly obese nation with all of the added weight of health complications. On the other hand, we're either heralding or demonizing celebrities for drastic shifts in body weight.

Given our perpetual fascination with and raging envy of thinness, the prevalence of eating disorders should come as no surprise. Communities have emerged in celebration of Pro-Ana or Pro-Mia lifestyles, promoting "thinsporation" and advice. But eating disorders are not fashionable and glamorous. They are not lifestyle choices or spiritual experiences. They are devastating illnesses with severe consequences. Read More

April 4, 2009

Eating Disorders On The Rise, Part I: How Do We Find Out If Psychotherapy Helps?

The eating disorders are particularly frightening and complicated forms of mental health distress. The Agency for Health Care Research and Quality has released a report identifying a sharp rise in eating disorder hospitalizations. Can psychotherapy help with these debilitating disorders? Read More

February 22, 2009

Improving Access to Mental Health Care: Is There a Shrink in the House?

The difficulties involved in obtaining mental health services can be maddening and demoralizing. Placing phone calls, obtaining referrals, finding a provider who accepts new patients, insurance troubles, long waiting periods. How can access to mental health care be improved? Dutch researchers may have an answer. Read More

February 20, 2009

Being single ain't all it's cracked up to be

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Higher levels of loneliness, depression, anxiety, sexual dissatisfaction?? It's enough to make a guy want to sign up for match.com right away.
Read More

February 14, 2009

Those ideas go back further than you think... neglecting the heritage of psychoanalytic theories

Stepping aside from the style of my usual postings, this post is a sort of slap-dash academic reaction to a statement in "Love Sick on Valentine's Day? You Already Have the Cure".

It's a great post about how we come equipped with implicit processes for managing affect. I wanted to supplement it by noting some neglected historical antecedents.

February 12, 2009