Phillips cautions, “To say that a person is toxic is to reduce them to only bad qualities and dismiss any redeeming qualities or strengths. When we understand that ‘hurt people hurt people,’ we can ...

Alexandra Stratyner, Ph.D., is a New York City-based licensed psychologist specializing in cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy and mindfulness skills training. Dr. Stratyner ...

Healthy friendships enrich and energize; toxic ones drain and diminish. Learn how to spot the difference—and how to end friendships that harm your well-being.

We all know the importance of fostering close social connections. Friends are great—until they’re not. Psychologists say they hear often about so-called toxic friendships, which veer away from the ...

It’s normal if you don’t love all of your child’s friends. Your kids are allowed to have friends that aren’t exactly your cup of tea, and it’s important to let your child explore different kinds of ...

Realizing a friend is toxic is tricky because initially toxic folks are nice. Yet, slowly and methodically, the toxic person often convinces the other person in the friendship that they are the ...

Friends are the cornerstone of a fulfilling and happy life. But some friendships can veer into toxicity, leaving emotional scars that make us want to withdraw altogether. As a psychologist and expert ...

Dear Eric: I have been in a wonderful relationship for a year now with a man who treats me like a queen, and we have plans to eventually get married. We happen to have a mutual friend, whom I have ...