Timothy Schmutte PsyD

04/25/2026

Body image used to be a problem faced mostly by girls and women, but recently, we are seeing it in boys, too. The NY Times offers this description of what teen boys are hearing from peer influencers online.

Braden Peters, known as Clavicular, has emerged as a beacon for a group of narcissistic, status-obsessed young men. He wants to take his fixation with “looksmaxxing” mainstream.

04/21/2026

Usually I talk about mental health, but today's New York Times opinion article about a Mom who lost her daughter to measles complications is a reminder that health is whole. Get vaccinated and make sure your children's vaccinations are current. Anxiety about vaccines is understandable, but overcoming it to keep your family safe is paramount.

If more people had gotten the vaccine, she might still be here.

03/26/2026

Finally, some accountability in the world of social media. More than 10 years after platforms like Facebook and YouTube were launched, we are coming to grips with the harm they can do.

A pair of verdicts held social media companies accountable for harming young users, highlighting a growing backlash as Congress struggles to pass legislation.

03/08/2026

Sharing a book I recommend to some of my clients who have gone through sudden, painful, unexpected life events like the death of a parent or spouse. "The Reality Slap," by Russ Harris, focuses on acceptance and commitment therapy as a way to deal with losses far beyond our control. Highly recommend.

Buy a cheap copy of The Reality Slap 2nd Edition: How to... book by Russ Harris. The reality slap takes many different forms. Sometimes, it's more like a punch: the death of a loved one, a serious illness, a divorce, the loss of a job, a freak... Free Shipping on all orders over $15.

03/05/2026

I really enjoy articles like this one from The New York Times about how to know when you've hit a "rut" in therapy, when you are not feeling better or failing to make the progress you expect. One of the many things I love about modern psychology clinical practice is that we set therapeutic goals with clients. Setting measurable goals tells you and me whether you are making progress. Great therapists and their clients sometimes need to adjust the therapeutic modality or sometimes it's time to change therapists, but success starts with being able to clearly say why you came to therapy in the first place. Read on for more great insights.

Psychologists share ways to dig yourself out of a therapy rut.

03/04/2026

This opinion piece from the NYTimes is a little bleak. The idea that one in three gen Z adults may never marry (or live the equivalent by finding a long-term romantic partner) is concerning. Kids need to get out into the world doing activities that introduce them to other people, practice relating to others, and learn more about themselves. Looksmaxxing is not the long-term path to self-confidence or fulfillment.

Clavicular is a symptom of a larger disease.

03/03/2026

Recently, a Father reached out to me because his wife had recently passed away. The Father and his son are both struggling with grief. Grief is a normal response to loss of many kinds and losing a loved one is one of the most profound losses. Check out CNN Anderson Cooper's series on grief. He points to actor Andrew Garfield's beautiful explanation of what grief is.

Anderson Cooper sits down with actor Andrew Garfield, whose mother died from pancreatic cancer in 2019, to discuss lessons learned through grief. For more of “All There Is with Anderson Cooper,” listen and follow wherever you get your podcasts.

02/28/2026

I keep watch of social media developments. Mark Zuckerberg recently told Congress that, of course, a metric of Instagram's success is the amount of time teens spend on it, and that measuring their progress against TikTok would be natural. Social media companies don't hide their intentions that well.

Today, we explored Trout Brook Valley Reserve in Weston. Lots of nudging was required but as soon as we got there, the boys started scaling the steep rocks at the top of the red trail. Get out there. It's beautiful.
https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/19/tech/takeaways-mark-zuckerberg-testifiessocial-media-child-mental-health

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg for the first time testified in court about accusations that social media, including Instagran, harm children’s mental health.

02/11/2026

I wanted to share more details about a client whose made significant progress. Brian (not his real name or photo) was a college junior when his recreational drug use spun out of control. My latest blog post, "Unmasking ADHD: Brian's journey out of substance Abuse" illustrates how untreated ADHD can be a risk factor for substance abuse and one approach to treatment. So proud of how much progress he's made so far.
https://bit.ly/3OaWzs3

Brian* was a 20-year-old college junior when he reached out seeking help with “navigating school, relationships, and overall well-being.” He was a tall, athletic, well-liked kid who grew up in Fairfield County. He had at...

02/10/2026

Every client who successfully moves on from therapy really feels like a triumph. It never grows old. Over Winter break, I got to say farewell to a college junior who sought me out when he began to struggle with substance abuse. We worked together for 6 months, mostly remotely. He came home for the holidays and saw me. During our in-person session, I could sense it would probably be the last time he'd need my help for a long while. He'd successfully begun treating his ADHD and developed skills to help him tolerate the distress or boredom that would make him seek out recreational drugs. Watching young people take flight is what I live for.

https://drtimpsychology.com

02/09/2026

I am reading "Raising a Kid Who Can" by Catherine McCarthy. As I go through it I'll try to drop some pearls here. The first one is that McCarthy offers three main ingredients for healthy kids and teens. Three Rs - Rest, Relaxation, and Routine. Take notice. The first two have nothing to do with performance, effort, or work ethic. They focus on self-care. I've been talking about this with parents of a few kids I am seeing now, who are anxious, tired, and burned out. I'm seeing progress as we help their kids strike a new balance between school, sports, and other activities.

Buy a cheap copy of The Parenting Playbook: Ridiculously... book by Jennifer Weaver. Three mental health professionals cut through the parenting advice noise with this accessible, easy-to-skim book filled with actionable strategies and tips to... Free Shipping on all orders over $15.

01/30/2026

This piece from the about speaks to the heart of the psychological impact of the conditions there. The two quotes that moved me most were, "All of a sudden... I’ll tear up,” said Ms. Phipps, the mother of two children. “Sometimes it’s just because regular people are doing amazing things. Or sometimes it’s because it’s so sad to walk into these once-thriving businesses and see them empty.”

A second person interviewed reported a conversation she had with a friend saying, “I hope the craziness of Minneapolis isn’t bothering you,” Ms. Morrison recalled her friend as saying. The question almost shocked her. “And I said, ‘Yes, it’s bothering me,’” she said. “I live here. How can it not bother me?’ If you think it’s somehow isolated to some tiny little pocket, you are badly mistaken, because it’s everywhere.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/us/minnesota-voices-immigration-crackdown.html

Federal agents began Operation Metro Surge in the Twin Cities late last year. After the deaths of two U.S. citizens, many residents say they feel overwhelmed.