Make It Contributors
We’re therapists who’ve worked with 1,000 kids. Here are 6 things children worry about the most—that parents don’t realize
Being a parent has become an increasingly harder job, especially as anxiety levels keep rising, even among the youngest kids. As child and family therapists, over the years, we’ve worked with thousands of parents and children struggling with anxiety and stress. We get emails and calls from parents looking for guidance nearly every day. When […]
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I’m a therapist who’s worked with over 100 couples—the 5 most annoying habits I see in relationships
Even the strongest and happiest relationships can falter when seemingly small, frustrating habits are left unaddressed. They slowly pile up until, suddenly, their weight seems unbearable. When relationships end this way, exes often ruminate over the “straw that broke the camel’s back.” As a psychotherapist who has worked with over 100 couples, I’ve seen firsthand how some unchecked […]
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I’ve studied over 200 kids—and this is the most dangerous and ‘overused’ phrase in parenting
There are two words that slip out so easily when your child experiences an emotional event. Maybe they tripped and fell or had a fight with a friend. Their face crumples, and before they’ve even had a chance to speak, you say: “You’re okay.” It sounds comforting. Reassuring, even. But it’s not. As a conscious […]
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Stop being ‘too nice’ at work, says psychologist—this is what successful people do to be more genuine, trustworthy
Social discomfort is so universal that social psychologists like me have made careers out of studying it. We can find it almost anywhere, like in salary negotiations or small talk conversations that have one too many awkward pauses. Almost everyone will at some point find themselves in an interaction that makes them feel uncomfortable. And […]
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I became an AI prompt engineer after a layoff from Meta: Now I’m ‘on the cutting edge of the newest tech obsession’
I didn’t know it at the time, but getting laid off from Meta was about to be my springboard to a new career — one at the cutting edge of the newest tech obsession. I frequently get asked how I pivoted into AI prompt engineering, particularly when it was so new. At the time, most […]
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This is a ‘powerful predictor of long-term success,’ says expert—and parents who do 5 things give kids an edge
When we think of raising a reader, we often picture a child snuggled in bed, bathed in the soft glow of a nightlight, listening to a parent read a story aloud. That scene is magical. But after more than 10 years of studying how kids become readers and interviewing literacy and child development experts, I’ve learned […]
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I’ve been a psychologist for 20 years—parents who raise emotionally savvy kids do these 4 things
When it comes to protecting your child’s mental health, emotional resilience is key. Not only do resilient kids bounce back from disappointment, but they’re also less likely to become depressed, anxious, or self-critical. As a psychologist with nearly 20 years of experience, I’ve seen how kids with emotional grit often have one thing in common: […]
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I’ve studied over 200 kids—parents who have the closest relationships with their adult kids do 7 things early on
Every parent hopes their child will grow up and still want a close relationship with them. But close bonds don’t happen by accident — they are built through small, everyday interactions that make a child feel safe, seen and valued. As a conscious parenting researcher and coach, I’ve studied over 200 families. I’ve found that the way […]
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I’m a psychologist who studies couples—5 ‘hard truths’ about marriage most people learn too late in life
Marriage is one of the most rewarding yet challenging journeys in life. While we often enter it with high expectations, the reality is that marriage is a lifelong learning process. As a psychologist who studies couples every day, I’ve worked with many people who only come to understand the toughest marriage lessons after they’ve experienced […]
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‘We are facing an epidemic of demoralization,’ says happiness expert—here’s how to fight that feeling
“I’m overwhelmed.” “I’m just one person. There’s nothing I can do.” “I want to give up.” As a happiness researcher who’s spent a decade studying the science of well-being, I’ve received hundreds of messages like these. I see the same feeling expressed, over and over again — but never with a name attached to it. […]
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