Charlie Kirk Shooting: Can We Finally Admit American Is in a Mental Health Crisis?

Showing American flag but starts are replaced with people fallen from school shootings

The Symptom of a Deeper Illness Charlie Kirk was shot dead on a college campus today. The news felt like the air was sucked out of the room. The video circulating was sickening—hard to fathom one human doing that to another. We can’t keep pretending these are isolated incidents. And isn’t it strange—how this has […]

Why Hypochondria Isn’t About Your Body (But About Your Story)

An illustration of a person in medical scrubs or psychologist in newport beach, looking distressed with a sweat drop on their forehead, holding a stethoscope to their chest. This visual represents the internal anxiety and stress associated with health anxiety and hypochondria, often felt by individuals preoccupied with their bodily symptoms.

Most of us have, at one point or another, found ourselves Googling a strange symptom and spiraling into worst-case scenarios. For those who struggle with health anxiety (sometimes called hypochondriasis), this cycle can feel relentless. But here’s the truth: health anxiety is rarely about the body alone. Psychodynamically, it is a window into deeper emotional […]

Mental Health & Longevity: A Psychodynamic Guide

A person in a suit is shown juggling various symbols related to mental health and genetics. The person, rendered in a gradient of red and pink, stands in front of a large, light-blue double helix (DNA). Surrounding them are several light-blue icons: a clock, a brain, a lotus flower, a thought bubble with an ellipsis, hands holding a heart, a notepad with a pencil, a group of people, and two linked molecules. The background is a dark, solid blue. The overall image depicts the complex relationship between a person's genetics and their mental well-being. Keil Psych in Newportbeach

The Mind–Body Clock: How Mental Health Shapes Longevity (A Psychodynamic View) We often talk about longevity like it’s a lab problem—glucose monitors, VO₂ max, cold plunges. Those matter. But if you zoom out, the mind isn’t a passenger; it’s a chief engineer. The way we form bonds, metabolize stress, and make meaning leaves measurable fingerprints […]

The Divided Self: A Psychodynamic View of Neurotic Character Structure 

dvided self

In a world that often tells us to “just be ourselves,” what if we’ve spent most of our lives not knowing who that is?  For many people in emotional pain, especially those with longstanding patterns of self-doubt, perfectionism, or emotional withdrawal, the problem isn’t simply stress or low self-esteem—it’s that their whole personality has been […]

Why Chat GPT or Another Book Wont Fix You (But Therapy Might)

why chatgpt ir another book won't fix you

We live in a world overflowing with information — books, podcasts, and even AI like ChatGPT — all promising answers to our emotional struggles. But real healing doesn’t come from insight alone. It comes from relationship. This article explores why therapy works not because of advice or education, but because it offers something far rarer: a space of deep human connection that transforms us from the inside out.

The Psychopathic Personality: A Deep Psychological Anatomy Through the Case of Bryan Kohberger

The psychopathic personality is often misunderstood, feared, and caricatured in pop culture. But beneath the clinical language and moral panic lies a structure of profound psychological pain. Not all psychopaths are serial killers—but some are. And when a crime shocks the conscience of a nation, understanding the perpetrator through the lens of personality structure offers […]

The Power of Sleep: Why Prioritizing Rest is Essential for Mental Health

Why Sleep is Crucial for Mental Health Sleep is the foundation of mental well-being. When we sleep, our brains undergo essential processes that regulate emotions, consolidate memories, and remove toxins that accumulate throughout the day. Chronic sleep deprivation is linked to increased stress, anxiety, depression, and even long-term cognitive decline. Without adequate rest, our ability […]

Stress in Newport Beach

Stress-drmitchkeil-newport-beach-beach-with-stress-drawn-on-the-beach-mage

What Are the Main Causes of Stress in Newport Beach? Have They Increased or Decreased? Stress is definitely on the rise, and there are several factors weighing heavily on individuals and families. On a macro level, the world feels increasingly uncertain. Humans are surprisingly resilient when facing clearly good or bad situations, but uncertainty — […]

Imagery: A Sports Psychology Hack To Use For Those New Year’s Resolutions

psychology-sports-performance-imagery-drmitchkeil

Look Through the Turn: The Power of Mental Imagery When I was 19, I bought a salvage-title Kawasaki Ninja ZX6R. Risky? Absolutely. But packed with life lessons? No doubt. I didn’t have a motorcycle license yet, but I was determined to learn (I do not recommend this). I took it to the church parking lot […]

Object Relations Therapy: An Outline and Guide

https://www.drmitchkeil.com/

We will look at all the bits of glass—elements of a developing psyche—but when put into the end of the tube, they mix together, swirl, and create a world of patterns, colors, and shapes we have never seen before. Here, we will look at each pile of colored glass. Theory binds our confusion. It gives […]