Catherine Boswell, PhD
Licensed Psychologist
wikiHow's Editorial Process wikiHow partners with over 1000+ experts from a wide range of fields to ensure our content is accurate and based on well-established research and testimony. Content Managers conduct interviews and work closely with each expert to review information, answer reader questions, and add credible advice. Learn more about our editorial process and why millions of readers trust wikiHow.
Co-authored Articles (38)
How to Stop an Addiction: Your Guide to Recovery
You may have heard the myth that addiction is inescapable, but that’s not true. In fact, more people succeed at beating their addiction than fail. We’ll walk you step-by-step through an addiction recovery plan so you...
Prayers for Surgery for a Friend + Prayers for Families and Physicians
Bring you and your friend peace through prayer If you have a loved one who’s about to go into surgery, you may be looking for a way to further show your support to them…or you may just be looking for peace of mind yo...
How to
Stop Feeling Empty
Do you wake up in the morning feeling like there's no good reason to get up and face the day? Emptiness is a feeling all humans experience from time to time, and it's not easy to pull yourself away from it. Feeling empty...
How to
Write a Journal
Journal writing is a creative form of recording your feelings free from the fear of judgement or criticism. Writing in a journal can allow you to work through complex issues in your life, exploring them thoroughly and ca...
14 Tips to Help You Deal with the Guilt after Cheating on Your Partner
Plus, how to talk to your partner and try to repair your relationship If you recently cheated on your partner and now feel guilty, you're not alone. You betrayed someone you love—it's only natural to feel bad about tha...
What Are Inner Child Wounds? Signs, Causes, and How to Heal
How to do inner child work to heal past traumaEven when you become an adult, your inner child is always with you in some way and is an important source of creativity and excitement. However, if your inner child has been ...
How to Respond to Threatening Texts: Staying Safe & Getting Help
Receiving threatening texts can be an unsettling and scary experience. Threats are a form of harassment, and whether you know who’s sending you these messages or not, harassment can shake your sense of security and we...
How to
Stop Taking Things Personally
Does someone else's bullying personality make you feel worthless? Do you mistake people's antics for subtle insults? Most of the time, the way a person acts has little to do with you personally. It has more to do with h...
How to
Keep a Journal
Keeping a journal is a great way to process your thoughts and emotions. Additionally, it helps you remember your life experiences. If you’re ready to start journaling, decide on what type of journal you want to keep. T...
How to Tell if Someone Has Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar Disorder, formerly known as manic depression, is a disorder of the brain that results in shifts in mood, activity, energy, and day-to-day functionality. Although nearly 6 million American adults have bipolar diso...
How to Accept Blame & Take Accountability (with Expert Tips)
A guide to taking responsibility for mistakes & bouncing back When you know you are at fault for a problem, it can be tempting to pretend it wasn’t your mistake or put the blame on someone else. But admitting your mis...
How to
Take a Joke
Everyone loves a good joke, but when the joke's on you, it can be hard to know how to react in the moment. Keeping your cool and laughing it off is usually the best response, but how do you do that if the joke hits a lit...
How to
Stop Hitting My Boyfriend
''“I hit my boyfriend…again. Now what?”'' Intimate partner violence (IPV) is always wrong, and you’ve taken an important first step by admitting you have a problem. The next step—stopping your violence—requir...
How to
Prevent a Suicide
It can be difficult to handle when someone you know is considering suicide. You may feel that you don’t know how to help them or prevent them from acting on their suicidal thoughts. However, if you recognize the risk f...
How to
Leave the Past Behind
Troubling memories from the past make make it hard to live in the present. If you are having a hard time moving on from something that happened to you, you can begin to heal by accepting how your past has shaped you into...
How to
Act Sane Even if You're Not
Trying some of these suggestions may help you feel more in charge of your life. If you aren't experiencing peace and serenity, here are several ideas. You may avoid some difficulties in daily life, and get food for thoug...
9 Effective Ways to Handle Passive-Aggressive Comments
Expert tips to deal with passive behavior in person or over textWhen someone directs a passive-aggressive comment your way, you may find yourself upset or angry. While passive-aggressive behavior isn’t fun to be on the...
Recognizing and Dealing with Emotional Immaturity
Handle emotionally immature people and boost your own maturity Being in a relationship with an adult who's emotionally immature can be frustrating and exhausting. Whether the person is your child, parent, friend, coworke...
How to
Redeem Yourself
Every now and again you may find yourself in a situation where you've done or said something you regret. After this situation you may feel embarrassed and wish you could take back what happened. Unfortunately you cannot ...
How to
Not Feel Bad Because of a Mistake
“Nobody’s perfect.” “Everyone makes mistakes.” We all know these truths, but feelings of guilt, regret, and shame over a mistake can linger and cause pain anyway. Self-forgiveness is often the most difficult...
