Therapeia

Expert insights and practical help in dealing with the emotional and psychological challenges of life

Disorders and difficulties Therapies and practical advice Perspectives and controversies

A cocktail in a coupe glass with an orange twist on a wooden table in front of a dark, tufted lounge seating

Addiction

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My great-grandfather poisoned drinkers during Prohibition

In a grim irony, his descendants – my grandmother and mother – struggled with drink. Here’s what I’d tell him about addiction

by Rebecca Lester

People at night in front of St Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow with a woman waving a large Russian flag in the foreground.

Conflict and conflict resolution

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Does national humiliation explain why wars break out?

For a nation, humiliation isn’t just a feeling – it’s a story. Understanding this can help countries move beyond aggression

by Raamy Majeed

Photo of a person walking past a mural of large, realistic teeth and lips on a wall, with the mural dominating the background.

Hallucinations and delusions

guide

If you hear voices, here are some empowering ways to respond

Hearing voices isn’t always a problem – but if they’re stressful or frightening, it is possible to regain a sense of control

by Mark Hayward

Sculpture of a human-like figure made of teal wool reaching towards a wooden chair on a light background.

Change and self-development

film

A wool puppet’s stirring journey from safety into the great unknown

A film by Kobi Vogman

The Sydney city skyline featuring the Opera House under a dramatic dark stormy sky with a sailboat on the water in the foreground.

Difficult emotions

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How to understand and cope with mood swings

Sudden mood changes can be unsettling, but getting to know them will help you regain balance and, if needed, find support

by Zindel Segal & Norman Farb

A person leaning against a wall under a light in a dimly lit alley with graffiti-covered walls.

Addiction

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The shame felt in addiction often isn’t toxic – it’s healing

The push to take shame out of recovery is well-meaning. But it overlooks the power this emotion has to motivate change

by Owen Flanagan

Photo of a woman in a floral blouse thinking deeply with her hands clasped near her face.

Cognitive and behavioural therapies

guide

Instead of wrestling with self-defeating thoughts, try this

When your own thoughts discourage and undermine you, it’s easy to get tangled. A change of strategy could get you past it

by Joe Oliver & Kristy Potter

Photo of a man sitting in a circle on a speckled background, focusing on an object in his hands, with a cosmic effect.

Trauma and PTSD

film

How small creatures helped James connect with the human-scale world

Directed by Spencer MacDonald

A woman on a laptop in a modern café with wall art, a large cactus and pendant lights above.

Worry and rumination

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What if your worry problem is really a planning problem?

Clinicians have long recognised the link between worry and planning. New research asks what this means for managing anxiety

by Paul B Sharp

Green spiky thistle plants with purple flowers against a blurred grey background.

Evaluating therapies

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In therapy or meditation, is it normal to feel worse at first?

A ‘no pain, no gain’ mentality might make sense when striving for change – but don’t confuse discomfort and distress

by Nicholas Van Dam

An aeroplane seen in silhouette, flying against a dramatic sunset sky with clouds.

Love

guide

How to make a long-distance relationship work

Whether an hour or an ocean apart, there will be challenges, but this therapist shows how to make the most of the upsides

by Charlie Huntington

Close-up of hands holding clear frogspawn with visible black eggs in a natural outdoor setting.

Creativity

film

A filmmaker’s never-realised ideas become an exploration of self-doubt

Directed by Cameron Nicoll