Professor Caleb Lack

01/20/2026

A new report from the Brookings Institute on the use of generative AI in the classroom finds there could be some benefits…but the downsides - like stunted cognitive and emotional development - likely outweigh them.

Report: The risks of AI in schools outweigh the benefits

https://www.npr.org/2026/01/14/nx-s1-5674741/ai-schools-education

01/20/2026

Especially as our society in the US becomes even more uneven, with more and more wealth and political power in the hands of the economic elite, I am reminded that Dr. King did not just talk about racism, but was killed not long after he started advocating more and more for economic justice and equity.

01/17/2026

If you're like me, you enjoy employing a good swear word (or seven) on occasion. While this may be seen as being socially inappropriate at times, there is some really interesting research on the benefits of swearing. A new study by Stephens and colleagues from Keele University (“Don’t Hold Back: Swearing Improves Strength Through State Disinhibition" in American Psychologist) shows that swearing can help to maximize effort and help you not "hold back" during times of physical effort:

"In many situations we hold ourselves back and, in doing so, limit our opportunities for success. Here we propose swearing as a cheap, readily available intervention that appears to encourage us to “not hold back” and instead to “go for it” a little more, with positive benefits on physical performance. This study shows that swearing can improve physical performance, and it works by helping people feel focused, confident, and less distracted."

Why do I bring this up? Because I often employ swearing during exposure with response prevention (ERP)! Having clients take their anxiety and channel it to anger instead, telling OCD to "F@CK OFF!" or the like can really help them overcome some of their most challenging situations. Just like we can use humor during exposures for great effect, we can also use some good curses!

01/15/2026

If you value teaching critical thinking skills, I'd recommend looking into the Lilenfeld Alliance and attending their annual conference!

"The Lilienfeld Alliance is an independent 501(c)3 non-profit organization, the purpose of which is to connect instructors who teach critical thinking at the college and university level, to advocate for course content that promotes rational skepticism, and to encourage further study of best practices in the pedagogy of teaching such courses. It is named after the late psychologist Scott Lilienfeld, who championed teaching approaches that explicitly challenge and correct false beliefs.

Membership is open to those who teach in a college or university, people retired from such work, or who are preparing for it. More information about the Alliance, the upcoming conference, and how to join, can be obtained on the website https://www.lilienfeldalliance.org/ or by writing to info@lilienfeldalliance.org"

01/15/2026

Proper identification and diagnosis is critical for getting proper care, especially for OCD. This new paper shows that both the OCI-4 and the FOCI-II are very reliable and valid measures to use for screening OCD symptoms, with high predictive validity.

01/13/2026

A new book out that you are going to want to get - “What to do when you have a Tricky, Sticky, Picky Brain”!

01/13/2026

What's that? You want your state of the art OCD information in Spanish? We got you.

https://a.co/d/b680EVd

01/13/2026

If you are a mental hearh clinician that sees children and adolescents , I would really encourage you to check out the Child Therapist Hub! My colleague Angela has made an incredible resource in this site and community.

https://youtube.com/shorts/g_Oyzf6SLR8?si=BM45L00i7FebnQuYlge

Are you a child therapist who knows evidence-based treatment but still finds yourself wondering, “What do I actually SAY or DO in session?”Welcome to The Chi...

01/13/2026

Fostering hope, both before and during treatment, is regarded as crucial to progress. This new prospective study provides more support for that idea: "Findings suggest that hope is a prospective predictor of anxiety reduction during exposure-based therapy, supporting its role as a common factor promoting positive treatment outcomes."

01/12/2026

If you have a child with OCD, consider attending this online OCD camp coming up!
"The Online OCD Camp sponsored by Mclean OCD Institute is a weekend full of interactive sessions, educational activities, and FUN for youth aged 6-17 who have OCD or a sibling with OCD.

In addition to programming for elementary, middle, and high schoolers, OCD Camp also offers support for caregivers and families. Including strategies and education about caring for a child with OCD and socialization with families with similar experiences."

01/10/2026

If your child struggles with pulling their hair or picking their skin, there is effective treatment out there. But, as my colleague Dr. Marla Deibler explains, it needs to be targeted to be effective.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/from-surviving-to-thriving/202601/treatment-for-young-children-with-bfrbs-the-essentials

When a young child struggles with hair-pulling or skin-picking, it’s tempting to focus on stopping the behavior. But what if lasting change starts somewhere else?

01/09/2026

Are you stressed and depressed, or is your government responsible for huge amounts of systematic abuse and corruption that strain your ability to function adaptively in today’s world?

Inspired by tongue in cheek memes like “Therapy is not enough - I need to fight my dad” my friend and colleague made this shirt, which you can order at a link in the comments.