Blog posts, news articles, and other resources from The Center • A Place of HOPE
Human beings come from all different walks of life. But one thing that most – if not all – of us have in common is, at some point, we will lose someone we love. This is a sad fact of life. People die. And the rest of us are left...
Have you ever thought about what type of people are the most successful in life? Initially, you might think it’s someone who’s intelligent. We tend to think of intelligence as being knowledgeable or educated; someone who’s able to think on their feet and solve problems with ease. Someone who is...
Cognitive dissonance is a term used in social psychology to understand how we make sense of situations in which our thoughts, values or beliefs do not align with our behaviors or actions. Cognitive dissonance has been said to be “one of the most influential and widely studied phenomena in the...
This article explains the concept of defense mechanisms. It defines the term, details a short history of the origins of defense mechanisms within psychology and psychotherapy, and gives descriptions of each of the main defense mechanisms. What should you do if you recognize aspects of these defense mechanisms in your...
When it comes to relationships, understanding how your partner gives and receives love is paramount for fostering deeper connections and nurturing emotional well-being. In his 1992 book, The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate[1], Gary Chapman, renowned marriage counselor and author, introduced the concept of...
Social media usage is becoming increasingly common. Now, over 75% of the world’s population uses some type of social media platform. Reports show that narcissistic personality traits are also growing in young people[1]. The question is: Are the two related? Are young people becoming more narcissistic due to social media...
Bargaining is one of the five stages of grief. The five stages of grief is a model also known as the Kübler-Ross model after Swiss-American psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, who coined the phrase in her 1969 book, On Death and Dying[1]. Although the Kübler-Ross model was developed to support terminally ill...
On the road to success, there are many obstacles. But what happens when the biggest obstacle is…ourselves? Many people experience this, and it’s called self-sabotage. We might stay up late the night before an important event or start picking fights with a new partner even though we really like them....
Have you ever felt like you don't belong in your family? Maybe you don't have anything in common with them, or you feel like you can't relate to them. Maybe you've been rejected by your family. Maybe your family doesn't accept you for who you are. This is sometimes called...
Have you had this experience? You’re trying to focus on the task at hand – perhaps it’s studying for an important exam, or finishing work for an upcoming deadline. You know that finishing this task will bring you a lot of recognition, which is important to you. You will feel...
We get married believing we will be with our partner “until death do us part.” But for so many of us (nearly 50% of married couples, according to research), this isn’t how the story always goes[1]. There are many valid reasons to decide to end a marriage. But whether you...
As much as we all love to scroll social media, most of us don’t think of it as something that’s good for our mental health. You’ve probably heard claims about how too much social media use can negatively impact you, especially if you’re a teen or a young adult. But...
Some people are fortunate to have a positive relationship with their siblings. Your siblings might be the people you turn to whenever you’re in trouble or need support. For some people, though, the sibling relationship isn’t as agreeable. Toxic siblings manipulate and gaslight you. They take a normal level of...
Have you ever looked at a photo on social media and thought, “That person is so beautiful, they look almost inhuman”? That’s because many photos on social media aren’t real – they’re filtered or edited to wipe out signs of imperfections. Teeth are whiter, fine lines are erased, and noses...
‘Toxic’ is becoming an increasingly used word when discussing dysfunctional behaviors. As with its more traditional definition, toxic behavior describes actions or attitudes that are harmful, destructive, or negative to others, oneself, or the environment. Toxic behavior can have serious consequences for individuals, relationships, and communities, leading to stress, conflict,...
Everyone feels lonely sometimes – but that doesn’t make this emotion any less painful to deal with. There is a difference between being alone and feeling lonely. When you feel lonely, it may start to feel like you will never be loved again. Even if there are people in your...
Stress is a normal part of life. Stressful events can range from minor, easy-to-manage moments, to major or life-changing events that are difficult to cope with. You’ve probably faced many different life events that have been stressful to some degree. Stress isn’t always a “bad” thing – it’s simply a...
Have you ever felt more worried or restless when you haven’t drank enough water in the day? It turns out there may be a scientific explanation for this. You may have heard the saying that 75% of the human body is made up of water. While that percentage varies depending...
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The whole person approach to treatment integrates all aspects of a person’s life: