by Joel Blackstock LICSW-S MSW PIP no. 4135C-S | Jan 3, 2026 | Psychology, Psychology Topics and Articles
The Origin of a Word The term “gaslighting” traces to Patrick Hamilton’s 1938 stage play “Gas Light” and its celebrated 1944 Hollywood adaptation starring Ingrid Bergman and Charles Boyer. In the film, a husband systematically manipulates...
by Joel Blackstock LICSW-S MSW PIP no. 4135C-S | Jan 3, 2026 | Psychology
You’ve probably experienced it: a coworker corners you at the coffee machine and launches into graphic details about their divorce. A new acquaintance at a party shares their childhood abuse within minutes of meeting you. A friend calls and talks for an hour...
by Joel Blackstock LICSW-S MSW PIP no. 4135C-S | Jan 2, 2026 | Psychology
You were the easy one. The one who didn’t need much. The one who got good grades, stayed out of trouble, and never complained. While your parents rushed to doctors’ appointments, managed medications, navigated meltdowns, or sat vigil at bedsides, you...
by Joel Blackstock LICSW-S MSW PIP no. 4135C-S | Dec 26, 2025 | Uncategorized
Most of us know the classic trauma responses: Fight (aggression) and Flight (avoidance). We even know Freeze (shutting down). But there is a fourth response that is often missed because it looks so polite: Fawn. This is the “people pleaser” response. It is...
by Joel Blackstock LICSW-S MSW PIP no. 4135C-S | Apr 30, 2025 | Psychology Topics and Articles, Recovering from Abuse
Understanding the Lasting Impacts of Toxic Relationships The double bind theory, first proposed by Gregory Bateson and his colleagues in the 1950s, describes a type of dysfunctional communication and relationship pattern that can have devastating psychological...
by Joel Blackstock LICSW-S MSW PIP no. 4135C-S | Feb 25, 2025 | Psychology Topics and Articles, Therapy Resources, Tips and Tools
How can I get over on Past Anger? Anger is a powerful and often misunderstood emotion. Many of us have been taught to view anger as a purely negative force – something to be suppressed, avoided, or released in cathartic outbursts. But what if anger could be more...
by Joel Blackstock LICSW-S MSW PIP no. 4135C-S | Feb 21, 2025 | Color Psychology
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,...
