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Behind the professional facade, therapists are human beings who sometimes experience attraction to their clients. Understanding how therapists are trained to recognize, manage, and use these...
The digital revolution has fundamentally transformed how therapy is conducted and how therapeutic relationships are maintained. From online sessions to social media presence, technology creates new...
The prohibition against romantic or sexual relationships between therapists and clients is one of the strongest and most universal rules in mental health care. While this might seem obvious,...
The end of a meaningful therapeutic relationship can feel like one of the most profound losses you'll ever experience. Whether therapy ends because you've achieved your goals, circumstances require...
The rise of mental health content on TikTok has created a new phenomenon: people developing intense, one-sided relationships with therapist influencers they've never met. These "parasocial...
Defining the Holiday Blues The holiday blues refer to feelings of sadness, stress, or emotional overwhelm that many people experience during the holiday season. Some people also refer to these...
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) has gained recognition as an effective trauma therapy, but like any powerful therapeutic intervention, it can sometimes cause more harm than good...
Understanding the New York Mental Hygiene Law The New York Mental Hygiene Law is a comprehensive set of rules that govern how persons with a mental illness receive care and treatment in the state....
How Do I Talk to My Partner About Going to Couples Therapy (Couples Counseling) Couples therapy is a form of psychotherapy designed to help romantic partners improve their relationship, share their...
A comprehensive guide to maintaining your well-being while navigating an unavoidable relationship with someone who weaponizes empathy Sometimes leaving a relationship with a dark empath isn't...
We are sharing detailed scenarios and case studies to help you identify dark empathic patterns in everyday situations Understanding dark empathy becomes much clearer when we examine real-life...
Protecting yourself from those who weaponize emotional understanding Dark empaths represent one of the most challenging personality types to identify because their manipulative behaviors are masked...
Balanced Mind is a psychotherapy and counseling center offering online therapy throughout New York. We specialize in Schema Therapy and EMDR Therapy. We work with insurance to provide our clients with both quality and accessible care.
Behind the professional facade, therapists are human beings who sometimes experience attraction to their clients. Understanding how therapists are trained to recognize, manage, and use these feelings appropriately can provide insight into the professionalism required...
The digital revolution has fundamentally transformed how therapy is conducted and how therapeutic relationships are maintained. From online sessions to social media presence, technology creates new opportunities for connection while also presenting unprecedented...
The prohibition against romantic or sexual relationships between therapists and clients is one of the strongest and most universal rules in mental health care. While this might seem obvious, understanding the deep ethical reasoning behind these rules can help both...
Behind the professional facade, therapists are human beings who sometimes experience attraction to their clients. Understanding how therapists are trained to recognize, manage, and use these feelings appropriately can provide insight into the professionalism required...
The digital revolution has fundamentally transformed how therapy is conducted and how therapeutic relationships are maintained. From online sessions to social media presence, technology creates new opportunities for connection while also presenting unprecedented...
The prohibition against romantic or sexual relationships between therapists and clients is one of the strongest and most universal rules in mental health care. While this might seem obvious, understanding the deep ethical reasoning behind these rules can help both...
The end of a meaningful therapeutic relationship can feel like one of the most profound losses you'll ever experience. Whether therapy ends because you've achieved your goals, circumstances require a change, or your therapist is leaving, the grief can be intense and...
The rise of mental health content on TikTok has created a new phenomenon: people developing intense, one-sided relationships with therapist influencers they've never met. These "parasocial relationships" can feel surprisingly real and meaningful, sometimes even...
Defining the Holiday Blues The holiday blues refer to feelings of sadness, stress, or emotional overwhelm that many people experience during the holiday season. Some people also refer to these feelings as "holiday depression" or "holiday-related stress." Unlike the...
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) has gained recognition as an effective trauma therapy, but like any powerful therapeutic intervention, it can sometimes cause more harm than good when not implemented properly. While many people experience...
Understanding the New York Mental Hygiene Law The New York Mental Hygiene Law is a comprehensive set of rules that govern how persons with a mental illness receive care and treatment in the state. Think of it as New York's official guidebook for mental health...
How Do I Talk to My Partner About Going to Couples Therapy (Couples Counseling) Couples therapy is a form of psychotherapy designed to help romantic partners improve their relationship, share their concerns, and resolve conflicts. During sessions, a trained therapist...
A comprehensive guide to maintaining your well-being while navigating an unavoidable relationship with someone who weaponizes empathy Sometimes leaving a relationship with a dark empath isn't immediately possible or practical. You might be married with children,...
We are sharing detailed scenarios and case studies to help you identify dark empathic patterns in everyday situations Understanding dark empathy becomes much clearer when we examine real-life examples. The following scenarios are composites drawn from clinical cases,...
Protecting yourself from those who weaponize emotional understanding Dark empaths represent one of the most challenging personality types to identify because their manipulative behaviors are masked by genuine empathic abilities. Unlike traditional manipulators who may...
A comprehensive guide to navigating shared custody, communication, and child protection when your co-parent weaponizes emotional understanding Co-parenting with a dark empath presents unique and complex challenges that go far beyond typical post-divorce difficulties....
Understanding the complex psychological and emotional effects of being in a relationship with someone who weaponizes empathy Being in a relationship with a dark empath creates a unique and profoundly confusing emotional experience that can be difficult to articulate...
Strategies for protecting yourself while navigating the complex dynamics of dark empathic relationships Discovering that someone in your life is a dark empath can be profoundly disorienting and emotionally devastating. Unlike dealing with more obvious manipulators,...
Dark empathy represents one of psychology's most paradoxical phenomena—individuals who possess genuine empathic abilities but use them as weapons rather than bridges. While often confused with narcissism, dark empathy is a distinct psychological profile that requires...
Red flags, warning signs, and protective strategies for the vulnerable world of modern romance Dating in the modern world presents unique challenges, and perhaps none more dangerous than the dark empath. These individuals combine sophisticated emotional intelligence...
An updated exploration of empathy's darker expressions and their representation in literature and psychology Empathy—the ability to understand and share the feelings of others—is typically viewed as one of humanity's most noble traits. It forms the foundation of...
An expanded exploration of literature and media's most manipulative empaths The world of fiction is rich with characters who demonstrate the troubling phenomenon of dark empathy—individuals who possess deep emotional intelligence but use it to manipulate, control, and...
A comprehensive guide to recognizing the characteristics of those who weaponize emotional understanding In the landscape of human personality, few phenomena are as paradoxical—or as dangerous—as the dark empath. These individuals possess a unique and troubling...
How to identify when someone's understanding of you becomes a weapon As a therapist, I've seen countless clients who've been deeply wounded by relationships that started with the most intoxicating feeling imaginable: being truly, deeply understood. They describe...
The Basics: Therapy vs Medication Studies show that both therapy and medication can be effective, but the best option really depends on your specific mental health condition, symptom severity, and other factors. Here’s a quick rundown of how both treatments work:...
Amber's Story Amber was the first-born child to her mother and father. By the time she turned five, her parents had four more children, and the weight of responsibility settled on Amber far too soon. While other kids her age were playing with friends and exploring,...
What Is Couples Therapy? Couples therapy is a form of psychotherapy designed to help romantic partners improve their relationship, deepen their emotional connection, and navigate challenges together. Whether couples are dating, engaged, cohabiting, or married, therapy...
What is EMDR Therapy? Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a structured, evidence-based psychotherapy designed to help individuals heal from trauma, distressing memories, and negative self-beliefs. Developed by Francine Shapiro, EMDR...
What is Unresolved Trauma? Unresolved trauma refers to psychological and emotional distress that remains unprocessed or unhealed after a traumatic experience. When trauma is unresolved, the individual may continue to experience intense emotions, intrusive memories, or...
The human imagination has birthed our greatest artistic achievements, scientific breakthroughs, and technological innovations. Yet for those experiencing maladaptive daydreaming, this same creative faculty becomes both gift and burden—a wellspring of boundless...
Maladaptive daydreaming—the tendency to become absorbed in vivid, detailed fantasy worlds for hours at a time—can significantly disrupt daily functioning and relationships. While not yet officially recognized as a disorder in diagnostic manuals, research increasingly...
When someone you love seems physically present but mentally elsewhere, the experience can range from puzzling to deeply painful. For partners of individuals with maladaptive daydreaming, this scenario plays out repeatedly, creating unique relationship challenges that...
Introduction: The Discovery of a Unique Psychological Phenomenon In 2002, a groundbreaking paper published in the Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy introduced the world to a previously unnamed psychological phenomenon: maladaptive daydreaming. The term was coined...
