Comments or feedback? Send us a text! In this conversation, neuroscientist and author Dr. Nikolay Kukushkin joins us to explore some of the deepest questions about the human mind. Drawing from his book One Hand Clapping, Dr. Kukushkin offers a rare synthesis of biology, evolution, and philosophy—challenging us to reconsider not only how the mind works, but what it means to be a mind at all. Topics & Questions Covered: What inspired One Hand Clapping and the central questions it seeks to...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Clinicians will often hear their clients express deeply felt needs, only to admit they’ve never shared them with their partner—usually due to fear of vulnerability or a defensive, adversarial dynamic that makes intimacy feel unsafe. In today’s episode, we are joined by Dr. James Cordova—Professor of Psychology at Clark University and creator of The Relationship Checkup—to discuss his new book, The Mindful Path to Intimacy. Dr. Cordova’s book offer...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Digital media is changing the way young people experience—and express—mental health struggles, particularly depression. Child and adolescent psychiatrist, Dr. Meredith Gansner, joins us to discuss themes in her new book Teen Depression Gone Viral. 🔍 Topics We Explore: What inspired Teen Depression Gone Viral and the choice to focus on digital media’s roleCurrent trends in teen depression—what’s driving the rise?Why are so many teens turning to so...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! At first glance, perfectionism looks like an asset; however, the same internal drive that fuels greatness can also erode well-being, leaving success feeling empty and unsatisfying. In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Heather Wheeler, psychologist and former elite athlete, to explore the psychology of perfectionism in high achievers. In this conversation we cover: Defining perfectionism: What is it and is it ever adaptive?Early Conditioning: The ...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Dr. Chris Taplin,a psychiatrist and founder of Ottawa’s TMS Life clinic, joins us for a deep dive into one of the most promising frontiers in psychiatric care: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, or TMS. As clinicians, many of us have encountered the heartbreak of treatment-resistant depression — watching clients struggle despite best-practice psychotherapy and pharmacology. TMS offers a non-invasive, evidence-based alternative that is reshaping how we a...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Joe Pierre, psychiatrist and author of False, to explore why people believe things that aren’t true—and why challenging those beliefs is rarely as simple as presenting the facts. Drawing from research in psychiatry, cognitive science, and social psychology, Dr. Pierre unpacks the emotional, identity-based, and relational roots of misinformation and conspiratorial thinking. Whether you’re a clinician, educator, or...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Scott Waltman and Kasey Pierce coauthors, along with Trent Codd, Ed.S of The Stoicism Workbook - to explore how ancient Stoic philosophy can offer powerful tools for managing today’s challenges. From emotional resilience and anxiety to self-compassion and values-driven living, we unpack how timeless Stoic principles can help you navigate stress, uncertainty, and personal growth. Whether you’re a mental health professio...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Building emotional security and navigating conflict with intention often defines the success of our closest relationships. Join us for an in-depth discussion with psychologist Dr. Betsy Chung to explore these and other topics explored in her new book The Couple Skills Workbook: Manage Conflict, Increase Trust & Intimacy, and Build a Better Relationship. In this conversation we cover: how a lack of emotional security in one’s childh...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! In this episode, we sit down with Donna Jakson Nakazawa to explore a topic at the core of many people's therapeutic journeys: recovering from the impact of adverse childhood experiences. Her new book, The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Guided Journal, offers a compassionate, science-backed approach to understanding how trauma shapes our lives—while providing actionable steps to rewire the brain for healing. Whether dealing with childhood trauma, c...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Many of us accept freewill as an undeniable truth, assuming that we are the architects of our own decisions and destiny. Yet, a growing body of scientific research challenges this notion, suggesting that our sense of freewill may be more of an illusion than reality. This emerging perspective carries profound implications, urging us to reconsider the foundations of personal responsibility, ethics, and the way we govern our society. Dr. Yona Bouskil...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Whether it's in our personal relationships, at work, or even with ourselves, boundaries are essential for our well-being and peace of mind. Yet, many of us - even clinicians I might add - at times struggle with this practice, often feeling overwhelmed, guilty, or unsure of how to start. In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Sharon Martin discuss insights from your new book "Better Boundaries Guided Journal" which offerings practical advice and thoughtfu...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text!While most of us intuitively believe that our assessment of our lives is largely objective and a direct result of what has been happening to us, it's clear that subjective perceptions of objective events play a significant role in shaping the ultimate emotional experience of those events. This highlights the importantly interplay between personality traits and life satisfaction, raising questions about how much flexibility we have to change, reinterpret e...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text!Compulsive reassurance seeking can be a challenging issue for both clients and therapists to manage. Clients are often highly adept—sometimes knowingly, sometimes unknowingly—at eliciting excessive reassurance from therapists and family members. At the same time, resisting the urge to seek reassurance can feel nearly impossible for clients. In this episode, Amanda Petrik-Gardner, LCPC, joins us to discuss core themes from her new book, "The Compulsive Rea...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text!Behavioural activation is one of the best, if not the best treatments for depression. Clinical psychologist and author, Dr. Nina Josefowitz joins us for an in-depth discussion of themes contained in her new book The Behavioural Activation Workbook for Depression. In this discussion we cover: The basic premise of behavioral activation and how it differs from other depression treatments.The negative feedback loop of depression and wh...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text!Navigating relationships with emotionally immature parents can evoke very strong reactions, which can be difficult to navigate. In many clinician's experience, when this topic comes up, people tend to react in one of three ways: defending their parents as perfect, blaming them for all their struggles, or questioning their own perceptions entirely - all of which can create stuck points. Author and psychologist, Dr. Lindsay Gibson, who has written and lectu...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text!Assessing & treating adult ADHD can be both very challenging as well as highly rewarding for client and clinician alike. Psychologist & author, Dr. Russell Ramsay joins us for an in-depth discussion of the assessment and treatment of adult ADHD building on themes in his new workbook, The Adult ADHD and Anxiety Workbook. In this discussion we cover: why Dr. Ramsay wanted to write a workbook focused on both ADHD and anxiety and why indivi...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text!Many clinicians experience a sense of helplessness around effectively managing calls from loved ones of an individual living with a mental illness who is not willing to engage in treatment. There is frequently an impression that little can be done until the affected individual wants to change. Dr. Alec Pollard joins us for a discussion of he and his co-authors new book "When a Loved One Won't Seek Mental Health Treatment". In this conver...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text!Dialectical behavior therapy or DBT is a wonderful suite of tools that help people to be more effective with respect to managing their emotions and becoming more interpersonally effective. These are challenges that often loom especially large for those who are highly sensitive. Emma Lauer, LCSW joins us for a discussion of her workbook DBT Skills for Highly Sensitive People. In this conversation we cover: what inspired Emma t...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text!In addition to being a topic that appears frequently in the realm of pop psychology, emotional intelligence is a subject of serious, rigorous academic inquiry. Clinical psychologist & author, Dr. Stephanie Catella joins for us for a discussion of core-themes in her new book The Emotional Intelligence Skills Workbook: Improve Communication and Build Stronger Relationships. In this conversation we cover: why Dr. Catella wan...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text!Bipolar disorder is often thought of as a mental disorder that is treated exclusively with medication when in fact there are a number of evidence-based psychotherapeutic techniques that can be used to complement traditional pharmacotherapy. Dr. Holly Swartz joins us for a discussion of the core themes in her new book, Social Rhythm Therapy for Bipolar Disorder. In this conversation we cover:a brief overview of bipolar disorderwhat Social Rhyth...