Therapy
Can Virtual Reality Replace Psychedelic Drugs?
A new ayahuasca "experience" at the Tribeca Film Festival puts the question of whether drug trips can be artificially recreated to the test.
How I Discovered My Depression—and Began to Confront It
With suicide rising among undiagnosed American depressives, I recognized it was time to admit I needed help.
PS Picks: A Podcast Heavyweight
PS Picks is a selection of the best things that the magazine's staff and contributors are reading, watching, or otherwise paying attention to in the worlds of art, politics, and culture.
Can Underground Psychedelic Therapy Ever Go Mainstream?
The work of a large network of underground therapists has laid the basis for current FDA-regulated research into hallucinogenic therapy. Now they want to take that work mainstream.
'Married at First Sight,' Now in a Lasting Relationship
What couples who stick together after starring on reality TV can teach us about enduring romance.
The Messy Ethics of the Modern Advice Column
Internet forums have diminished the authority of the advice columnist—and raised new questions about who's qualified to counsel strangers.
How Do You Make a Living, Video Therapist?
Noah Davis talks to Vanessa Marin about writing as branding and why her model works.
Does Animal-Assisted Therapy Work?
A new study finds that a dog might be just what the doctor ordered.
Humiliating People With Addiction Is Not Treatment
My experiences at a "therapeutic community" in Florida where degrading practices were routine will always inform my continuing work as a therapist.
Psychotherapy's Go-To Method Isn't What It Used to Be
Cognitive behavioral therapy seems to be less effective than it was in the 1970s, but researchers aren't sure why.
Using Art Therapy to Open the Minds of Jihadists
A Saudi Arabian art therapist describes the techniques he and his colleagues use as part of a deradicalization program.
The Man Who Wants to Save Your Marriage
Hug longer, become a better listener, and stay together—at any cost.
Understanding Traumatic Brain Injury in Prisons
Offenders with brain injuries make up a huge percentage of prison populations; they also enter the criminal justice system earlier, and stay in it longer.
Harville Hendrix Wants to Save America, One Marriage at a Time
An early look at a Pacific Standard story that's currently only available to print and digital magazine subscribers.
The Outcast at the Gate
After a child molester has been set free, where does he go—and how can society ensure that he never strikes again? One program's answer flies against our every instinct: Welcome him back.
Whisper Wants You to Vlog Your Mental Health. Should You?
Your Voice, a video-sharing platform from social media site Whisper, is trying to raise awareness for mental health issues by asking people to post their personal stories. But, given stigmatization, online discrimination, and the sensitivity of medical records, does the platform do enough to protect its users?
Should We Take Away the Kids of Those Who Are Mentally Ill?
Mindi has never harmed her daughter and is capably raising a son, but authorities took her daughter under a concept sometimes called “predictive neglect.”
Can Animal-Assisted Therapy Be Used to Help At-Risk Boys?
If existing behavioral programs aren’t working, can therapeutic sessions with a dog help kids who have problems at school?
The 30 Top Thinkers Under 30: Dana Smith, 26, Psychology
For the month of April we're profiling the individuals who made our inaugural list of the 30 top thinkers under 30, the young men and women we predict will have a serious impact on the social, political, and economic issues we cover every day here at Pacific Standard.
Bringing a Therapy Dog Into a Children's Hospital Might Be a Bad Idea
Despite the popularity of animal therapy in American pediatric hospitals, a new research review reveals that there's little support for its health benefits.
Anxiety? There's an App for That
"Gamifying" stress therapy might make treatment a lot more fun.
How Do Psychiatrists Treat Werewolves?
With psychotropic drug cocktails, of course.
Is Watching 'Gone With the Wind' as Real Marriage Therapy?
A recent study reveals that watching relationship-themed movies and discussing them with your partner can be just as effective as visiting a marriage counselor.
The Power of the Creative Arts
A recent analysis of past studies highlights the health benefits of music, dance, and art therapy, which are now being used to ease cancer-related anxiety and pain.