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Psychosis

How to Talk to Someone Who Is Hearing Voices

Anthony D. Smith LMHC on March 19, 2022

If you feel unprepared to clinically encounter someone hearing voices, remembering not bluntly to ask these three reflexive questions can help.

If you feel unprepared to clinically encounter someone hearing voices, remembering not bluntly to ask these three reflexive questions can help.

Personality

3 Major Signs of Dependent Personality Disorder

Anthony D. Smith LMHC on March 7, 2022

It may sound a lot like borderline personality, but think again.

It may sound a lot like borderline personality, but think again.

Psychopathy

What Was a Constitutional Psychopath?

Anthony D. Smith LMHC on February 25, 2022

Constitutional psychopathy is an old term with some modern relevance.

Constitutional psychopathy is an old term with some modern relevance.

Anger

Anger Management Takes More Than Coping Skills

Anthony D. Smith LMHC on February 15, 2022

Ever wonder why some people's anger continues to seethe, despite all their anger management programming? There's likely more than anger at hand.

Ever wonder why some people's anger continues to seethe, despite all their anger management programming? There's likely more than anger at hand.

Defense Mechanisms

3 Common Subconscious Defenses and How They Work

Anthony D. Smith LMHC on February 3, 2022

What happens when someone is consumed by what began as adaptive, protective functions? Learn how psychological defenses can help us weather problems, or create their own.

What happens when someone is consumed by what began as adaptive, protective functions? Learn how psychological defenses can help us weather problems, or create their own.

Personality

10 Core Beliefs of Personality Disorders

Anthony D. Smith LMHC on January 23, 2022

Personality disorders are often baffling, but we can better understand them by simply knowing the lens through which people with these disorders view life.

Personality disorders are often baffling, but we can better understand them by simply knowing the lens through which people with these disorders view life.

Child Development

2 Childhood Diagnoses You Should Think Twice About

Anthony D. Smith LMHC on January 16, 2022

Kids "acting out" may swiftly attract disruptive disorder diagnoses. Asking what is being acted out and observing diagnostic protocol can make you reconsider their accuracy.

Kids "acting out" may swiftly attract disruptive disorder diagnoses. Asking what is being acted out and observing diagnostic protocol can make you reconsider their accuracy.

Personality

Why Personality Disorder Diagnoses Can't Depend on Gender

Anthony D. Smith LMHC on January 7, 2022

Think gender should be a deciding factor of personality disorder diagnoses? Think again.

Think gender should be a deciding factor of personality disorder diagnoses? Think again.

Therapy

3 Things Therapists Shouldn't Say

Anthony D. Smith LMHC on December 31, 2021

Three little phrases could be standing in the way of a better therapeutic alliance. Up your helper communications game by avoiding these repelling comments.

Three little phrases could be standing in the way of a better therapeutic alliance. Up your helper communications game by avoiding these repelling comments.

Personality

Splitting: It’s Not Just for Borderline Personality

Anthony D. Smith LMHC on December 26, 2021

Not all splitting is malignant, nor is it safe to assume pathological splitting indicates borderline personality disorder.

Not all splitting is malignant, nor is it safe to assume pathological splitting indicates borderline personality disorder.

Personality

The Foundation for Working With Difficult Personalities

Anthony D. Smith LMHC on December 16, 2021

Learning not to take challenging behavior personally and maintaining clear boundaries sets the stage for successful work with demanding personalities.

Learning not to take challenging behavior personally and maintaining clear boundaries sets the stage for successful work with demanding personalities.

Personality

Why an Adult May Still Have an Infantile Personality

Anthony D. Smith LMHC on December 4, 2021

Infantile personality is no longer a common term, but you may have encountered this curious subtype of the histrionic.

Infantile personality is no longer a common term, but you may have encountered this curious subtype of the histrionic.

Personality

Can a Person Have More Than One Personality Disorder?

Anthony D. Smith LMHC on November 26, 2021

Many personality disorders, even some that appear to have nothing in common, co-occur and play surprisingly well together. How does this happen?

Many personality disorders, even some that appear to have nothing in common, co-occur and play surprisingly well together. How does this happen?

Personality

5 Tips for Effective Work With Personality Disorders

Anthony D. Smith LMHC on November 18, 2021

Effective clinical encounters with personality disorders require special considerations. Dr. Joseph Shannon, a 40-year veteran of personality disorder work, shares five essentials.

Effective clinical encounters with personality disorders require special considerations. Dr. Joseph Shannon, a 40-year veteran of personality disorder work, shares five essentials.

Personality

Rediscovering the Hypomanic Personality

Anthony D. Smith LMHC on November 11, 2021

Many personality disorders are not included in the DSM. Perhaps the most obscure of these is the hypomanic or exuberant personality.

Many personality disorders are not included in the DSM. Perhaps the most obscure of these is the hypomanic or exuberant personality.

Depression

Three Seasonal Depression Myths

Anthony D. Smith LMHC on October 27, 2021

Depression sidelines some people in the winter. Referring to them as having seasonal affective disorder may represent a misunderstanding of seasonal moods.

Depression sidelines some people in the winter. Referring to them as having seasonal affective disorder may represent a misunderstanding of seasonal moods.

Depression

Is it Peripartum Major Depression or Just the Baby Blues?

Anthony D. Smith LMHC on October 25, 2021

Many peripartum women experience at least some scattered depressive symptoms. Sometimes, it becomes major depression, bringing unique challenges to mothers and therapists alike.

Many peripartum women experience at least some scattered depressive symptoms. Sometimes, it becomes major depression, bringing unique challenges to mothers and therapists alike.

Depression

The Spinning World of Major Depression With Mixed Features

Anthony D. Smith LMHC on October 20, 2021

What do you call it when major depressive disorder gets energy, rapid thoughts, and scattered affect? Give up? Mixed features.

What do you call it when major depressive disorder gets energy, rapid thoughts, and scattered affect? Give up? Mixed features.

Depression

How to Recognize Catatonia in Major Depressive Disorder

Anthony D. Smith LMHC on October 18, 2021

Catatonic states are common in mood disorders, but often unnoticed. Identifying major depression with catatonic features takes a trained eye and could be a lifesaving observation.

Catatonic states are common in mood disorders, but often unnoticed. Identifying major depression with catatonic features takes a trained eye and could be a lifesaving observation.

Bipolar Disorder

Can Atypical Major Depression Signify Bipolar Disorder?

Anthony D. Smith LMHC on October 14, 2021

Not every depressive spell is totally sad, agitated, and sleepless. Mood reactivity, leaden paralysis, and hypersomnia are atypical features, highly associated with bipolar disorder.

Not every depressive spell is totally sad, agitated, and sleepless. Mood reactivity, leaden paralysis, and hypersomnia are atypical features, highly associated with bipolar disorder.