Our Devices, Our Selves

Family Dynamics

Does Your Partner Have a Mother or Sibling Complex?

Nicholas Balaisis Ph.D., RP on November 30, 2023

Do you often feel like a roommate or parent to your romantic partner? Some signs that you are drifting into a parental or sibling dynamic.

Do you often feel like a roommate or parent to your romantic partner? Some signs that you are drifting into a parental or sibling dynamic.

Gender

Why Are Men Contemplating Ancient Rome?

Nicholas Balaisis Ph.D., RP on November 24, 2023

Do you daydream about Ancient Rome or the Stoics? What these daydreams might be telling you about your experiences of masculinity.

Do you daydream about Ancient Rome or the Stoics? What these daydreams might be telling you about your experiences of masculinity.

Guilt

Is Guilt Negatively Affecting Your Relationships?

Nicholas Balaisis Ph.D., RP on September 26, 2023

Do you constantly feel guilty for ways that you have acted with others? Learning to distinguish negative and positive forms of guilt can help you repair close relationships.

Do you constantly feel guilty for ways that you have acted with others? Learning to distinguish negative and positive forms of guilt can help you repair close relationships.

Therapy

For the Therapy-Curious: 5 Things That Happen in Therapy

Nicholas Balaisis Ph.D., RP on August 23, 2023

Examining the unknowns about the activity of therapy itself.

Examining the unknowns about the activity of therapy itself.

Relationships

Can Our Relationship Survive a Conflict About Values?

Nicholas Balaisis Ph.D., RP on August 8, 2023

Do you and your partner frequently fight about issues, politics, or values? How do you survive these conflicts? When do you call it quits?

Do you and your partner frequently fight about issues, politics, or values? How do you survive these conflicts? When do you call it quits?

Relationships

What "Barbie" Gets Right About Male Psychology

Nicholas Balaisis Ph.D., RP on July 24, 2023

Can men learn self-care, emotional management, and self-acceptance? The new "Barbie" movie offers a surprisingly nuanced portrayal of male psychology and sexuality.

Can men learn self-care, emotional management, and self-acceptance? The new "Barbie" movie offers a surprisingly nuanced portrayal of male psychology and sexuality.

Relationships

What Happens When Therapy-Speak Creeps Into a Relationship

Nicholas Balaisis Ph.D., RP on May 26, 2023

Do you tend to diagnose yourself or others after reading online psychology articles or watching videos?

Do you tend to diagnose yourself or others after reading online psychology articles or watching videos?

Therapy

Should Therapy Make Us More Productive?

Nicholas Balaisis Ph.D., RP on May 15, 2023

Why trying to "optimize" your therapy to make yourself more productive might not be the best strategy.

Why trying to "optimize" your therapy to make yourself more productive might not be the best strategy.

Career

Using Mental Health as an Excuse for Bad Behavior

Nicholas Balaisis Ph.D., RP on January 5, 2023

Do you often blame a boss or a bad workplace for your poor mood or bad behavior at home?

Do you often blame a boss or a bad workplace for your poor mood or bad behavior at home?

Media

The Whiplash Effect of Social Media

Nicholas Balaisis Ph.D., RP on December 29, 2022

Does the validation you feel from a social media post come with an emotional dip?

Does the validation you feel from a social media post come with an emotional dip?

Relationships

Am I on My Phone to Avoid Conflict With My Partner?

Nicholas Balaisis Ph.D., RP on September 29, 2022

Does the idea of conflict with your partner make you anxious? Why letting things lie isn't always best.

Does the idea of conflict with your partner make you anxious? Why letting things lie isn't always best.

Loneliness

Is the Internet Making Me Lonelier?

Nicholas Balaisis Ph.D., RP on September 20, 2022

Is my online communication helping me feel more connected and less isolated?

Is my online communication helping me feel more connected and less isolated?

Relationships

How to Avoid Getting Triggered

Nicholas Balaisis Ph.D., RP on July 22, 2022

Are you often triggered by your spouse, your children, or your social media feed?

Are you often triggered by your spouse, your children, or your social media feed?

Sex

“Men Are Not Intimate” (And Other Sexual Myths)

Nicholas Balaisis Ph.D., RP on July 4, 2022

Do you get "stuck in your head" during sexual experiences? Are your emotional needs getting satisfied during sex?

Do you get "stuck in your head" during sexual experiences? Are your emotional needs getting satisfied during sex?

Jealousy

"My Partner Gets Jealous When I Text My Ex"

Nicholas Balaisis Ph.D., RP on June 13, 2022

When partners grow jealous of each other's online activities, some curiosity and reflection can help them manage these feelings.

When partners grow jealous of each other's online activities, some curiosity and reflection can help them manage these feelings.

Career

Will "Right to Disconnect" Laws Improve Our Mental Health?

Nicholas Balaisis Ph.D., RP on June 6, 2022

Commentary: A new "right to disconnect" law in Ontario could help us reconsider the impact of work on both our mental health and our interpersonal relationships.

Commentary: A new "right to disconnect" law in Ontario could help us reconsider the impact of work on both our mental health and our interpersonal relationships.

Attention

How to Protect Your ‘Couple Bubble’ in an Age of Distraction

Nicholas Balaisis Ph.D., RP on June 1, 2022

Is your cell phone getting in the way of your relationship? Being intentional with your devices can help maintain your couple bubble.

Is your cell phone getting in the way of your relationship? Being intentional with your devices can help maintain your couple bubble.