We all know the importance of fostering close social connections. Friends are great—until they’re not. Psychologists say they hear often about so-called toxic friendships, which veer away from the ...

Alexandra Stratyner, Ph.D., is a New York City-based licensed psychologist specializing in cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy and mindfulness skills training. Dr. Stratyner ...

Phillips cautions, “To say that a person is toxic is to reduce them to only bad qualities and dismiss any redeeming qualities or strengths. When we understand that ‘hurt people hurt people,’ we can ...

No one ever forms a friendship expecting it to turn toxic, but sometimes, that’s just how the cookie crumbles. You and your BFF might’ve met young, bonded over shared hobbies or interests, and tackled ...

My whole life, I’ve tried to fit into big social groups. It seemed so fun to have many friends and do many cool things together. But every time I was part of such a crowd, something felt off. I couldn ...

Realizing a friend is toxic is tricky because initially toxic folks are nice. Yet, slowly and methodically, the toxic person often convinces the other person in the friendship that they are the ...