You are here in this world for a purpose. Even if that purpose isn’t entirely clear to you, it’s very likely that you have goals and dreams that you’re reaching for—a list of things you want to experience, to achieve, to offer and to share. But perhaps you, at times, find yourself making choices and…

In our collective mythologies, the tale of a hero usually involves fighting monsters and claiming divine prizes. But swords and stones aside, these stories are about overcoming obstacles in pursuit of greater purpose. It’s a universal human journey, says depth psychologist Carder Stout, PhD, and one that is ultimately internal. Each of us has a…

Here’s what therapists say you can do to control your emotions if you tend to tear up during arguments. Like so many of us, Rose Armitage, a 20-year-old from Las Vegas, is a crier during arguments. It doesn’t matter how well-reasoned her points are or how much of the moral high ground she has, when…

Is variety in a relationship the spice of life, or a groove-killer? LA-based therapist Carder Stout, PhD, weighs the pros and cons of the polyamorous movement. As a psychologist, I see so many couples on the brink of Armageddon. Close to 50 percent of marriages end in divorce, and much of the time it is…

If there’s a magic age to have kids, no one has found it yet. But psychotherapist Carder Stout’s account of approaching fifty with a pair of toddlers—and why he’s the better for it—makes a compelling read. Stout, who spent his thirties being single, getting sober, and developing a career as a therapist (see his insights…