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Psychotic disorders are a group of serious illnesses that affect the mind. They make it hard for someone to think clearly, make good judgments, respond emotionally, communicate effectively, understand reality, and behave appropriately. When symptoms are severe, people with psychotic disorders have trouble staying in touch with reality and often are unable to handle daily...

Impostor syndrome (IS) refers to an internal experience of believing that you are not as competent as others perceive you to be. While this definition is usually narrowly applied to intelligence and achievement, it has links to perfectionism and the social context. To put it simply, imposter syndrome is the experience of feeling like a...

Introduction Stockholm syndrome is an emotional response. It happens to some abuse and hostage victims when they have positive feelings toward an abuser or captor. Stockholm syndrome isn’t a psychological diagnosis. Instead, it is a way of understanding the emotional response some people have towards a captor or abuser. Sometimes people who are held prisoner...

Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a condition of the nervous system. TS causes people to have “tics”. Tics are sudden twitches, movements, or sounds that people do repeatedly. People who have tics cannot stop their body from doing these things. For example, a person might keep blinking over and over. Or, a person might make a...

Introduction Eating disorders are a range of psychological conditions that cause unhealthy eating habits to develop. They might start with an obsession with food, body weight, or body shape. In severe cases, eating disorders can cause serious health consequences and may even result in death if left untreated. Those with eating disorders can have a...

The majority of students with disabilities is now served in general education classrooms as we embrace inclusive practices in our schools. The primary dynamics of the general ed classroom is changing due to these inclusive measures. Continuing scarcity of special education teachers and movement toward team teaching or co-teaching impact the process that districts approach...

Nearly half of all married couples have attended some form of counseling. It’s more common than you may think—and couples counseling benefits can go a long way in preventing the full breakdown of a marriage. Especially in the midst of a global pandemic, everyone is under additional stress. The added time at home with our...

In the past, there were a number of articles posted about the value of service dogs for those with a variety of disabilities including PTSD and Depression. However, this article will discuss the value of owning a pet, particularly a dog. This is based on the fact that not everyone is in need of a...

Communication skills can be described as the ability to express ourselves clearly and confidently in all aspects and areas of our lives. Communication is for transferring information to other people and understand what is said to us, producing greater understanding among people. Good communication skills will possibly guarantee better understandings among individuals, lessen conflicts and...

Psychology is a subject that fascinates academics and the public alike, seemingly bridging the gaps between science and the human soul. When discussing the applications of psychology, UCT Professor Johan Louw described psychology as the hub of science that connects almost all of the biological, social, mathematical and behavioral sciences, making it an incredibly large...

You may come across many disabilities in your work life. Some examples of common disabilities you may find are: If your staff member’s disability is not clear to you, ask how it effects their work and if they need adjustments so they can work to the best of their ability. DO NOT ask the person...

Introduction Music therapy is an evidence-based approach that uses music within a therapeutic relationship to address a patient’s physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs. Historically speaking, the healing principles of music have been around for some time. From the biblical scene of David playing the harp in the Gnaoua ritual to 18th-century psychiatrist Philippe Pinel...

Overview Tourette (too-RET) syndrome is a disorder that involves repetitive movements or unwanted sounds (tics) that can’t be easily controlled. For instance, you might repeatedly blink your eyes, shrug your shoulders or blurt out unusual sounds or offensive words. Tics typically show up between ages 2 and 15, with the average being around 6 years...

Dyslexia is a learning disorder that involves difficulty reading due to problems identifying speech sounds and learning how they relate to letters and words (decoding). Also called reading disability, dyslexia affects areas of the brain that process language. People with dyslexia have normal intelligence and usually have normal vision. Most children with dyslexia can succeed...

The first IQ test wasn’t invented to measure IQ. In 1905, French psychologists developed the Binet-Simon test to identify children who needed individualized help outside of school. Yet, as time went on, psychologists refined the Binet-Simon test and developed many more — and started to attribute performance to someone’s “general intelligence.” The Validity and Unbiasedness...

Panic attacks can create various physical and emotional symptoms. Physical symptoms may include: Emotional symptoms may include: The sections below will look at 13 methods that people can use to help regain control and reduce the symptoms of a panic attack. 1. Remember that it will pass During a panic attack, it can help to...