An Antidote to Toxic Positivity
Everywhere we look, it seems like we are bombarded with platitudinous messages such as “good vibes only”, “just stay positive”, or “happiness is a choice.” If seeing another glib post saying “look on the bright side” or “everything happens for a reason” is making your eyes water and blood boil, know that your reaction is normal. One study showed that participants who were asked to suppress negative emotions regarding an upsetting event experienced more negative emotions compared to those who were not receiving any instructions to control their emotions (Dalgleish et al., 2009).
Therapy in the digital age: Why sharing our stories matters more than ever.
Technology is increasingly present and unavoidable in our lives. As a therapist, I find myself regularly thinking about the impact of technologies—some potential, and some already here—on how we live and engage with one another in an increasingly digital world. For example, it is now common for people to meet with therapists over chat and text lines through providers that primarily rely on textual exchange as the medium for “listening” and intervention.