Josh Dodes, Licensed Psychotherapist

03/24/2026

I’m honored to have been invited to be a keynote speaker for the upcoming Global Mental Wellness Summit, a free online conference taking place on March 27. I'll be speaking on the topic, “Unhappy Achievers: From Proving Yourself to Being Yourself”.

Join us here: https://iriswoerner.com/josh-dodes

04/10/2025

I'm happy to share a new interview I did about Unhappy Achievers with the popular podcast "Impostor Syndrome Files." Host Kim Meninger and I had a great conversation about how people become Unhappy Achievers and how they can start to find their way to more fulfilling lives. Check it out and let me know what you think! Links to the episode are in the comments.

12/03/2024

UCal's psychology podcast "Let's Get Psyched" just released a two-part interview they did with me, about how I work with Unhappy Achievers. It's a little bit too "inside baseball" for a lay audience, but I thought fellow practitioners might find it interesting! The links are in the comments.

11/15/2024

Unhappy Achievers abound in corporate America, reaching C-suites at many of the nation's top companies. My latest article, in business magazine Fast Company, explains this hidden epidemic and offers a new path forward for people who feel anxious or empty.

Link is in the comments. Please read and share!

10/31/2022

Zencare (a great therapist site I work with) has just published a brief interview they did with me about my personal background, my practice, and my focus on Unhappy Achievers. Check it out!

Josh Dodes is a therapist in New York. We spoke with Josh about his background, his therapy philosophy, and what to expect in sessions with him.

10/13/2022

Is achieving so essential to you that you can't allow yourself to simply "do nothing"? Do you feel guilty and ashamed when you're not being productive? Do you fear that if you do things just for yourself, things that have nothing to do with achievement or performance, that people stop respecting or even loving you?

My latest blog post for Psychology Today deals with these questions, and proposes a short-term strategy that can help Unhappy Achievers. Please check it out and share it with anyone you think might benefit.

07/13/2021

Many Unhappy Achievers accomplish things consistently, and at a very high level. But sometimes they can't get themselves to work at achieving at all. Is this laziness? Far from it.

My new blog post for Psychology Today is on Unhappy Achievers and procrastination. Please read and share!

When Unhappy Achievers struggle to achieve.

06/04/2021

On the surface, Unhappy Achievers are often proud of their accomplishments. On a deeper level, however, they often experience frustration and rage about having to achieve, just to be worthwhile. If this feels familiar to you, I encourage you to read and share my latest blog post for Psychology Today.

Achieving something should feel good. So why do you feel so frustrated?

08/19/2019

My latest Psychology Today post is about how seductive social media can be for Unhappy Achievers. (You may recognize yourself or loved ones here.) Please read and share!

Why social media can be seductive and dangerous for Unhappy Achievers.

04/08/2019

I'm pleased to announce my new blog on Psychology Today, "Unhappy Achievers." The inaugural post is live at https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/unhappy-achievers/201904/why-do-achievements-leave-me-feeling-empty. Please share!

A new blog for Unhappy Achievers.

10/11/2017

On this World Mental Health Day, a reminder that mental health issues should never be taboo, and that psychotherapy is a brave, important, self-compassionate step that can create lasting change in your life and relationships. I am available to help if you need it.

Psychodynamic psychotherapy is effective for a wide range of mental health symptoms, including depression, anxiety, panic and stress-related physical ailments, and the benefits of the therapy grow after treatment has ended.

08/31/2017

Psychology Today invited me to guest-post on my psychoanalyst father's longtime PT blog, "The Heart of Addiction." If you know people who might fit the description in this piece, please feel free to share it with them.

When the quest for success leaves you empty