Do you ever think about how people cope with life when life is too heavy?This month’s blog is a look back at the history of psychology, and at what Freud answered to this same question! Freud (generally considered the founder of psychoanalysis) devoted a lot of his life to understanding what people do when they are overwhelmed. He observed how people respond differently when they are overwhelmed. This idiosyncrasy is due to the way we were brought up, the people we surround o

From the Desk of Dr. Miller — January 2026 I write this blog on femicide a few weeks after Victoria, British Columbia experienced one of the first domestic violence homicides of 2026, on January 5. Throughout my career, I have worked across multiple areas of family violence, with a particular focus on intimate partner violence (IPV). In 2009, while working at the HIV clinic in Calgary, Alberta, we lost a patient to a domestic violence homicide–suicide (Miller et al., 2015). I

Is It Love or Limerence? Falling in love can feel like the greatest thing in the world. It brings butterflies in your stomach and a renewed excitement for things that once felt mundane. You might notice this when introducing your family or friends to a new romantic interest, feeling overwhelmed by anticipation, excitement, and the intoxicating promise of possibility. But what happens when those butterfly feelings aren’t just the product of a new crush, but become more intense

From the desk of Dr. Miller Today- I am writing to acknowledge those who have and do serve this country. Tomorrow is Remembrance Day- and today, I write to share my thoughts on the burden of this work, I have done on behalf of those who have served, and those who love those, who have and/or are serving. We must never forget this beautiful country- which has been protected by military personal, who serve and have served. Many hours of my clinical practice have been developed i

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While summer can be a time to enjoy the outdoors, it can also highlight the impacts of climate change. It is normal to feel anxious or...

One of the most common—and often most difficult—questions I’m asked is: “What is play therapy?” The Association for Play Therapy defines...