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Color Psychology: How Colors Shape Mood, Behavior, and Healing

Exploring the Therapeutic Power of Color in Mental Health Practice

Welcome to Taproot Therapy Collective’s exploration of how colors influence psychological experience, from the neurological mechanisms behind color perception to practical applications in therapeutic environments and creative healing approaches. Our color psychology content examines both scientific research and cultural meanings that shape how different hues affect mood, behavior, and mental health outcomes.

What You’ll Find in These Articles

Our color psychology articles explore how different colors trigger specific emotional and physiological responses, from the calming effects of blue and green to the energizing properties of red and yellow. We examine research on color’s impact on anxiety, depression, attention, and stress while investigating how therapeutic spaces, art therapy materials, and environmental design choices influence treatment outcomes.

You’ll discover content on cultural color symbolism and how different communities interpret color meanings, seasonal color therapy for mood disorders, and how color choices in personal environments can support mental wellness. We also explore the neuroscience behind color perception and its connections to memory, emotion, and psychological healing.

Therapeutic Applications and Creative Healing

These pieces translate color research into practical applications for the therapeutic approaches detailed on our main services page. From understanding how office color schemes affect client comfort to using color symbolism in art therapy and creative expression, our content shows how color awareness enhances therapeutic effectiveness.

We examine how color therapy integrates with traditional mental health treatments, exploring both evidence-based applications and cultural healing traditions that use color for psychological and spiritual wellbeing.

Birmingham Color Culture and Regional Applications

Our articles often connect color psychology with Birmingham’s cultural context, from the symbolic significance of colors in Southern traditions to how Alabama’s natural color palette influences regional mood patterns and seasonal mental health considerations.

Contact Taproot Therapy Collective: 📍 2025 Shady Crest Dr. Suite 203, Hoover, AL 35216
📞 (205) 598-6471
🌐 www.GetTherapyBirmingham.com
🎧 Podcast: gettherapybirmingham.podbean.com

Discover + Heal + Grow with Taproot Therapy Collective – Birmingham’s resource for understanding how color influences psychological experience and therapeutic healing.

What is a “Purple Hat Therapy”?

What is a “Purple Hat Therapy”?

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Purple Hat Therapy and the Evolution of Alternative: Psychotherapies From Energy Meridians to Polyvagal Stimulation Purple hat therapy, a novel approach claiming to heal through the power of colored headwear, has recently gained attention in the alternative therapy world. While its proponents assert that purple hats synchronize neural activity between brain hemispheres, this explanation lacks scientific evidence. However, purple hat therapy is not the first unconventional treatment to emerge in the history of...

Unlocking the Wisdom of Your Dreams: A Journey with the Authors of “Dream Wise”

Unlocking the Wisdom of Your Dreams: A Journey with the Authors of “Dream Wise”

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Unlocking the Wisdom of Your Dreams: A Journey with the Authors of "Dream Wise" Buy the book!   I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Deborah Stewart, Lisa Marchiano, and Joseph Lee, the hosts of the popular This Jungian Life podcast and authors of the new book Dreamwise: Unlocking the Meaning of Your Dreams. As a therapist interested in spirituality and mysticism, I was eager to explore their approach to Jungian dream work and learn about the inspiration behind their book. Key Takeaways from the...

What Does Mysticsim have to do with Therapy?

What Does Mysticsim have to do with Therapy?

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The Mystical Depths of the Psyche: Exploring the Intersection of Mysticism, Psychology, and Psychotherapy Throughout history, humans have sought to understand the depths of their own minds and souls through various mystical and spiritual traditions. In recent times, the fields of psychology and psychotherapy have also delved into the inner workings of the psyche, often drawing upon mystical concepts. This essay explores the fascinating intersection of mysticism, psychology, and psychotherapy, examining how these...

A Short Introduction to Jungian Psychology

A Short Introduction to Jungian Psychology

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Quick Introduction to Jungian Psychology Carl Jung was a Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst who founded the school of analytical psychology in the early 20th century. While Jung began his career as a close associate of Sigmund Freud, he eventually broke away to develop his own theories and approach, which came to be known as Jungian psychology. At the heart of Jungian thought is the idea that the human psyche is a self-regulating system that strives for wholeness and balance. Jung saw the psyche as composed of...

Schizophrenia, Trauma, and the Double Bind: Bridging Neurobiology, Depth Psychology, and the Spectrum of Psychosis

Schizophrenia, Trauma, and the Double Bind: Bridging Neurobiology, Depth Psychology, and the Spectrum of Psychosis

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Understanding Trauma Through Schizophrenia and Schizophrenia Through Trauma The relationship between schizophrenia and trauma has long been a subject of fascination and debate in the fields of psychiatry and psychology. While early theories often focused on developmental and psychodynamic factors, recent research has shed new light on the neurological and genetic underpinnings of the disorder. However, this does not mean that environmental factors, such as trauma, have been ruled out as contributing to the onset...

Grief, Acceptance, Getting Over It:

Grief, Acceptance, Getting Over It:

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Moving On from Trauma When Perpetrators Can't Understand "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Jesus as he was being crucified, encapsulates a profound truth about the nature of harm and healing. Very often, those who hurt us most deeply are acting out of their own unresolved wounds, defenses, and blindspots. They literally don't understand the impact of their behavior, because they lack the self-awareness, empathy, or emotional capacity to truly take in the devastation they've caused. This is a...

PTSD and Intuition: Did Our Reptile Ancestors have a Literal Third Eye?

PTSD and Intuition: Did Our Reptile Ancestors have a Literal Third Eye?

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The Subcortical Brain and the Roots of the Unconscious The human mind is a vast and complex landscape, with conscious awareness representing only the tip of the iceberg. Beneath the surface lies a realm of unconscious processes, instincts, and archetypal patterns that profoundly shape our perceptions, emotions, and behaviors. In recent years, advances in neuroscience and depth psychology have begun to shed light on the evolutionary roots of the unconscious mind and its intimate connection to the subcortical brain...

Science or Science-Flavored Capitalism? Deconstructing the Evidence-Based Practice Paradigm

Science or Science-Flavored Capitalism? Deconstructing the Evidence-Based Practice Paradigm

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Evidence-based practice (EBP) has become the dominant paradigm in healthcare and mental health, promising to ground clinical decision-making in rigorous scientific evidence. Proponents argue that by privileging data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews, EBP can optimize treatment outcomes, standardize best practices, and eliminate waste from the healthcare system. However, a closer examination of the EBP movement reveals a number of epistemological, methodological, and political issues...

Generational Cycles and Parts-Based Therapy: Understanding Generational Differences as Overreactions

Generational Cycles and Parts-Based Therapy: Understanding Generational Differences as Overreactions

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The Generational Cycles of Trauma: A Parts-Based Perspective It has long been pointed out be different schools of therapy that the patterns that repeat in the individual psyche on a micro level also mirror the family system at a mezzo and the society at a macro level. Parts-based therapy, a post-jungian modality rooted in the recognition of distinct internalized aspects of the self, offers a valuable lens through which to understand these generational cycles. Parts-based therapies represent an evolution of...

The Perennial Philosophy and Depth Psychology: Uncovering Universal Patterns of Wisdom and Healing

The Perennial Philosophy and Depth Psychology: Uncovering Universal Patterns of Wisdom and Healing

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Throughout history, mystics, philosophers, and wisdom traditions from around the world have independently arrived at strikingly similar insights into the nature of the human psyche, the path to healing and wholeness, and the fundamental structure of reality. These recurring patterns and themes, often referred to as the perennial philosophy, point to a universal substratum of human experience that transcends cultural and historical boundaries. In the 20th century, the pioneering work of depth psychologists such as...

The Development of Carl Jung’s Psychology: A Biographical and Intellectual Journey

The Development of Carl Jung’s Psychology: A Biographical and Intellectual Journey

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Carl Gustav Jung (1875-1961) was a seminal figure in the history of psychology, whose original and wide-ranging thought laid the foundations for the field of analytical psychology. Over the course of his long career, Jung developed an extensive theoretical framework that encompassed such concepts as the collective unconscious, archetypes, psychological types, and the process of individuation. In this article, we will trace the development of Jung's ideas through the major periods of his life, exploring the...

The Psychology of Magenta: Emotional Integration, Wholeness, and Spiritual Transcendence

The Psychology of Magenta: Emotional Integration, Wholeness, and Spiritual Transcendence

What does Magenta Mean in a Dream? Magenta, a captivating and enigmatic color, occupies a unique place in the spectrum of human perception and experience. Not found in the traditional sequence of visible light, magenta arises from the combination of red and violet wavelengths at opposite ends of the spectrum. As the last color humans evolved to perceive, magenta engages more recently developed and integrative brain networks, hinting at its profound capacity to promote emotional healing, self-acceptance, and...

The Psychology of Red: Passion, Power, and the Primal Self

The Psychology of Red: Passion, Power, and the Primal Self

What Does Red Mean in a Dream? Red, the color of blood and fire, is perhaps the most primal and visceral of all the hues on the spectrum. Associated with intense emotions, vital life force, and the very essence of human survival and power, red evokes a raw, instinctual response that cuts straight to the core of our being. In this comprehensive exploration, we will dive deep into the multifaceted nature of red, examining its profound impact on our physiology, psychology, and behavior. We will investigate the...

The Psychology of Orange-Red: Exploring the Paradox of Intensity and Transcendence

The Psychology of Orange-Red: Exploring the Paradox of Intensity and Transcendence

What does Red Orrange mean in a Dream? When the color red-orange appears in a dream, it often carries profound symbolic weight, representing a liminal space between the primal instincts of red and the expansive, illuminating qualities of orange. This hybrid hue suggests an interplay of forces: passion and transformation, desire and enlightenment, vitality and volatility. Red-orange frequently signals an urgent need for balance between action and reflection, between consuming intensity and the necessity for...

The Psychology of Orange: Igniting Passion, Creativity, and Transformation

The Psychology of Orange: Igniting Passion, Creativity, and Transformation

What Does Orange Mean in a Dream Vibrant, energetic, and captivating, the color orange has long been associated with the fires of passion, the spark of creativity, and the alchemy of personal transformation. From the warm glow of a sunset to the bold brushstrokes of an abstract painting, orange hues seem to embody the very essence of vitality, enthusiasm, and the courage to embrace change. In this comprehensive exploration, we will delve into the multifaceted nature of orange, examining its profound effects on...

The Psychology of Yellow: Illuminating the Mind, Empowering the Self

The Psychology of Yellow: Illuminating the Mind, Empowering the Self

What Does Yellow Mean in a Dream? Radiant and energizing, the color yellow has long been associated with the power of the mind, the clarity of thought, and the assertion of the self. From the golden hues of the sun to the vibrant shades of blooming flowers, yellow seems to embody the very essence of illumination, both in the physical and the metaphysical sense. In this comprehensive exploration, we will delve into the multifaceted nature of yellow, examining its profound effects on our cognitive functions, its...

The Psychology of Yellow-Green: Promoting Balance, Harmony, and Emotional Resilience

The Psychology of Yellow-Green: Promoting Balance, Harmony, and Emotional Resilience

What Does Yellow-Green Mean in a Dream Yellow-green, the vibrant hue that bridges the lush tranquility of green and the radiant vitality of yellow, holds a unique place in the spectrum of human emotion and experience. This dynamic, dual-natured color seems to embody the very essence of balance, growth, and transformation. In this in-depth exploration, we will delve into the multifaceted nature of yellow-green, uncovering its profound effects on our neurophysiology, its rich symbolic and archetypal meanings, and...

The Psychology of Green: Nurturing Emotional Bonds, Healing, and Harmony

The Psychology of Green: Nurturing Emotional Bonds, Healing, and Harmony

What Does Green Mean in a Dream? Green, the color of life, renewal, and balance, holds a special place in our collective psyche. From the lush foliage of forests to the emerald hues of a calm sea, green hues speak to something deep within us - a primal longing for connection, peace, and vitality. Green in dreams often symbolizes growth, renewal, and emotional balance. It is a color deeply tied to the natural world, representing harmony, fertility, and the cyclical nature of life. When green appears in dreams, it...

The Psychology of Blue-Green

The Psychology of Blue-Green

What does Blue Green Mean in a Dream?  Have you ever found yourself captivated by the soothing hues where blue meets green - in the shimmering scales of a fish, the iridescent feathers of a peacock, or the tranquil waters of a mountain lake? This mesmerizing color, occupying the liminal space between cool and warm, water and earth, sky and sea, seems to hold a key to unlocking profound states of emotional healing, balance and wholeness. In this deep dive article, we'll explore the multifaceted significance of...

Blue: The Color of Authentic Communication, Self-Expression and Inner Truth

Blue: The Color of Authentic Communication, Self-Expression and Inner Truth

The Psychology of Blue: Authentic Communication, Self-Expression and Inner Truth Blue, the color of the clear sky and deep ocean, has long been associated with calm, trust, and expansive awareness. From midnight indigo to tropical turquoise, blue hues invite us to explore realms of introspection, intuition, and profound self-expression. In this comprehensive article, we'll dive deep into the multi-layered meaning of blue - from the latest research on how blue light affects brain function, to the rich symbolism of...

Violet: The Color of Spiritual Transformation and Transcendent Awareness

Violet: The Color of Spiritual Transformation and Transcendent Awareness

What Does the Color Violet Mean in a Dream? Violet, a color that sits at the edge of the visible spectrum, has long been associated with spirituality, creativity, and altered states of consciousness. From its effects on neurobiology to its rich symbolic significance across cultures and religions, violet invites us to explore the frontiers of human perception and experience. In this article, we'll delve into the science and symbolism of violet, examining how this enigmatic hue relates to Jungian psychology,...

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