Part of my mission is to improve the quality of information and mental health advice out there in the world. To do this, I have put together a team of Psychologists with MSc’s and PhD’s to help me research, outline and fact-check the content here on the site. Each article has one of four icons: “Evidence-Based,” “Fact-Checked,” “Theory” or “Opinion.”
Evidence-Based
Content that has been marked “Evidence-Based” is built off of academic research in the fields of psychology, economics, political science and biology. In most cases, my team and I attempt to dig into studies to make sure that they have been well-replicated and/or are built upon solid research (large sample sizes, effect sizes, etc.) That said, if there are particularly interesting studies or ideas without as much robust data behind them, those are still put forward and their epistemic status is noted in the footnotes.
Evidence-Based is my most vetted and well-researched content. All advice given in “Evidence-Based” articles is confirmed through academic studies and is often part of a commonly accepted therapeutic framework such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy or Emotion-Focused Therapy. Psychoanalysis is only rarely mentioned in a poor attempt to make dick jokes.
Fact-Checked
Many articles on the site are descriptive rather than prescriptive — i.e., they describe certain issues or historical events, but they don’t necessarily give actionable advice. In these cases, the care is put into making sure that the arguments and ideas presented are based on true events or scientific facts. Therefore, these articles are labeled as “Fact-Checked” rather than “Evidence-Based.”
Theory
Some articles, while not based on academic research directly, are still rooted in expertise and knowledge of the field. Some of these articles are highly theoretical. Others offer more tangible ideas, they just haven’t been studied rigorously yet. When something is not based on empirical evidence, yet is based on what we know and understand about human psychology and behavior, it’s labeled, “Theory.”
Opinion
And finally, many articles on the site are merely perspectives, views or personal stories put forth by myself and the lessons and ideas that I’ve derived from them. These pieces are not based on research or scientific fact and are merely reflections of my own values and opinions. As such, these articles are labeled “Opinion.”