Christina Neumeyer, M.A., LMFT

10/14/2025

“By positioning myself as someone merely seeking dialogue and connection, I eliminated the possibility that I would be perceived as an invader or coercive force undermining the congregation’s autonomy.

Nearly every faith tradition teaches of the universality of suffering and hardship. Research shows that sharing our experiences, especially deeply vulnerable ones, is highly effective at reaching people. As I approached the end of my speech, I told the congregants the story of my gay uncle who provided support to my parents when my stepmother was slowly dying from Alzheimer’s disease.”

Or: How to stop worrying and love thy neighbor.

10/06/2025

09/27/2025

“Yes, people can change, but it takes a dogged approach.”

Chris and Ty Tashiro discuss why we stay in relationships that we know aren’t good for us.Get a Free Sample Pack of all LMNT Flavours with your first purchas...

09/17/2025

Good watch.

The youth mental health crisis is getting a lot of attention, but there has been less emphasis on the gender gap that highlights the differing needs of girls and boys. While young women report high levels of anxiety and depression, they also tend to have richer networks of trusted friends and confid...

09/14/2025

A beautifully written piece.

“One reason that the experience of growing old can feel jagged and abrupt is that there is a disconnect between how old we feel and how old we are. You often hear people say “inside I still feel young.” It’s tempting to dismiss that as meaningless happy talk but actually it’s often true, and it’s one of the strangest things about growing older.”

Age is a strange thing to happen to a little boy.

08/07/2025

 A phenomenal opportunity!

According to Harvard researchers, chronic social isolation increases the risk of early death by more than 25%.

07/26/2025

My weekend post.

There are many ways to interpret this meme and commentary from Cathy Young, Russian-American journalist, feminism contrarian, cultural studies fellow and Libertarian, but I’ll take the direct shots: * Mate guarding is normal. Feelings of jealousy and possessive are evotlutionary responses to prote...

07/18/2025

Men in therapy and Masculine Psychology🖐🏽

Favorite photo I snapped of two male friends in Malta 🇲🇹

A blog about counseling and psychotherapy provided by Christina Neumeyer. Issues such as depression, anxiety, intimacy, and parenting.

07/06/2025

My article for the Reader 10 years ago this month.

Cults remain widespread, with thousands active and millions affected over time.
• Prevalence is difficult to pin down due to definitional ambiguity and secrecy.
• Transience is common — people join and leave relatively often.
• Main demographics: usually recruited between ages 18–25; often rural or semi‑rural locales; heavy use of social media and personal networks.

Recruitment tools prey on innocence and curiosity of young adults, a yearning for meaning and spirituality (one love idealism), with outreach at well-thought-out locations, such as farmers markets. “Eye candy,” (real) examples: a cool retro school bus that’s been modified to look inviting, a woodworking station, a welcoming meditation space, “natural” elixirs such as juices/homegrown products, anything folksy or old world.

Most cults are international  and run in violation of city, county, and state laws, making their criminal behavior difficult to shut down. Cults typically operate unsafe labor practices, violate employee rights, and tax obligations, incorporate, child abuse, and gender discrimination.

My favorite cousin lives in nearby Ocean Beach in a large home with ten other people (kids and adults). It’s something I might call a co-op, but it’s also referred to as shared living. Each resident comes and goes as he pleases. Each may or may not hold some form of job; meals might be shared, o...

06/27/2025

“A brain on revenge looks exactly like a brain on drugs.

From workplace violence to online rage to political targets, revenge is the new  national addiction,” James Kimmel, MD, violence researcher and Yale psychiatry lecturer.

There is a hidden addiction plaguing humanity right now: revenge. Researchers have identified retaliation in response to real and imagined grievances as the root cause of most forms of human aggression and violence. From vicious tweets to road rage, murder-suicide, and armed insurrection, ...