If you struggle with social anxiety, you’ve probably been inundated with advice about forcing yourself into uncomfortable situations. But I want to share my favorite tip for navigating social spaces, and it completely flips the traditional advice on its head. Don't bother facing fears unless you want to. Instead, do what feels nourishing. To YOU. You don't have to expect yourself to do what you're "supposed" to do if it isn't nourishing. When we force ourselves into social boxes out of...

I’ve worked as a clinical psychologist specializing in anxiety and traumatic stress. I’ve published dozens of peer-reviewed scientific articles focused on what actually makes therapy effective. If there is one overarching truth I wish I could hand to everyone in the world, it’s this: Shame is the worst source of willpower. We live in a world where many people have adversarial relationships with themselves. The more authoritarian our parents were, the harsher and more demanding those inner...

Lately, I’ve noticed a shift in the questions I get in clinical practice. They often sound something like this: "I’ve worked hard to overcome my PTSD, and I still love my high-intensity job. It gives my life meaning. But my partner says if I don’t quit, it means I haven't actually healed. Is that true?" "I’ve had OCD since I was a little kid. I had a wonderful, safe childhood, but I saw online that OCD is always a trauma response. Am I missing something? Do I have repressed memories?" "I’m a...