Depression is a type of mood disorder that often results in chronic feelings of profound sadness and disinterest. Referred to as both clinical depression and major depressive disorder, it affects one's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and can result in a range of psychological and medical issues. Sufferers often report difficulty navigating their day-to-day life and thinking life is not worth living. However, it is critical to understand that recovery is possible and that you are not alone in these struggles.

Dr. Nina Josefowitz’s book “The Behavioral Activation Workbook for Depression: Powerful Strategies to Boost Your Mood and Build a Better Life” has been created for this very purpose and is made to assist you in breaking free from the vicious cycle of dejection, low mood, and lack of motivation that is depression.

Listen to our conversation with clinical psychologist & author Dr. Nina Josefowitz as we discuss how to boost your motivation, elevate your attitude, and create a better existence, “one page at a time”.

Dr. Nina Josefowitz is an author and Registered Psychologist. She has worked in private practice, University Counselling Centres and as an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto over her many years in the field. Dr. Josefowitz’s primary focus is in the area of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) but she has a passion for other modalities (e.g., mindfulness, emotion focused therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy). She is also the author of “CBT Made Simple”, a comprehensive manual to help professionals learn CBT.

Dr. Nina Josefowitz’s book provides a variety of easy to learn techniques with the goal of boosting motivation, reconnecting with what matters to you; controlling troublesome thoughts and emotions; and living life to the fullest. The cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) exercises in this book are considered to be the gold standard for treating mental health conditions like depression and will assist readers in creating and adhering to a mood-boosting activity plan. The book offers strategies and resources centered on gratitude, self-compassion, and mindfulness to increase optimism and hope.

Listen to our conversation with Dr. Nina Josefowitz as she shares her expertise in how to engage in the activities that you enjoy once again, giving you a sense of meaning and purpose in life.

• Learn more about Dr. Nina Josefowitz: https://www.drninajosefowitz.com/cbt-made-simple
• To purchase the Behavioural Activation Workbook for Depression visit: https://www.amazon.ca/Behavioral-Activation-Workbook-Depression-Strategies/dp/1648482465
• For more information about Dr. Nina Josefowitz’s other books visit: https://www.drninajosefowitz.com/book

• Dr. Nina Josefowitz’s Blog: https://www.drninajosefowitz.com/blog
• Dr. Nina Josefowitz’s Relaxation Tapes: https://www.drninajosefowitz.com/relaxation-tapes

In this healing exploration author and therapist Dr. Tamra Sattler reflects on the “Enneagram 4” also referred to as “Borderline-style personality”. These personality styles have a reputation of being difficult for therapists to work with, families to tolerate, and importantly for those struggling to love and accept themselves. In her book, “Too Much and Not Enough: Healing for the Enneagram Four or Borderline-Style Personality”, Sattler describes how people achieve self-discovery and a path forward to belonging, for those with strong emotions.

Listen to our conversation with therapist & author Tamra Sattler as we talk about her intimate experience living with this personality type and working with this complicated population.

Tamra Sattler, PhD, is a registered Marriage and Family therapist, professor, and author with a private practice based out of Colorado. Dr. Sattler has almost 20 years of experience as a clinician and specializes in the areas of psychological and spiritual development. Her approaches focus heavily on bridging technology and psycho-spirituality and she has an educational background in psychology that is informed by both Western and Eastern philosophies.

Tamra Sattler’s book is a therapeutic memoir and an observational tale about borderline traits and emotional dysregulation of the Enneagram 4 (a personality structure).  Utilizing an emotionally driven personal narrative and scholarly research, Sattler walks us through the ecstasy and agony that “Fours” experience daily. She details her journey of understanding and recovering from the destructive elements of this Enneagram’s psychological tendencies while sharing her discovery of the beautiful aspects of these orientations as well. It is also full of Dr. Sattler’s numerous examples of clients working through their particular borderline issues over the years of her career, as well as tools for growth and transformation.

Listen to our conversation with Mitchell Consky as we discuss Dr. Sattler’s insights and suggestions for those living and working with complicated individuals

If you are interested in Dr. Sattler’s knowledge and the realities of healing with a Borderline-Style personality, this podcast is for you.

• More information about Dr. Sattler: https://www.tamrasattler.net/about/
• Book link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/212342067-too-much-and-not-enough?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=cWj2hsHMzj&rank=1
• Learn more about Dr. Sattler’s services: https://www.tamrasattler.net/services/

• Take the Enneagram Test yourself here: https://enneagramtest.com/quiz?afid=gdnensca&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3vK6sbDriAMV0NgWBR1W4jkWEAAYASAAEgJRVfD_BwE
• Learn more about Borderline Personality Disorder: https://psychcentral.com/disorders/borderline-personality-disorder

Upon receiving a brain tumor diagnosis in 2018, Cynthia Clark’s husband expressed his desire to prioritize the quality of his remaining years over the quantity. His desire was to relish his time with his wife and kids, which ultimately led to his decision to utilize MAID when treatment failed eight months later. After starting a blog to update friends and family about the process, Cynthia began to notice that those going through this same process with a loved one often reported feeling alone and unsupported.  This led her to write “The Many Faces of MAID: What to Expect When Someone You Know Chooses Medical Assistance in Dying” with co-author Carol Cram to provide those going through this experience some comfort and support. The proceeds of the book go towards MAID FAMILY SUPPORT SOCIETY.

The book is a compilation of 17 stories from those that have experienced the loss of a loved one through a medically assisted death. These stories show the raw and uncensored experiences of the storytellers, express a wide range of emotions, and offer glimpses into some of the intimate moments of their journey.

Listen our conversation with author and advocate Cynthia Clark as we take an intimate look into the experiences of people who have supported loved ones through MAID in Canada.

Cynthia Clark is an author and graduate of the University of Western Ontario. She is a trained executive coach, has spent time working as a management consultant and continues to advocate for many causes that she is passionate about. She currently is the vice chair of MAID family support, a not-for-profit corporation and charity that focuses on helping individuals who have been through MAID with a loved one. Cynthia herself guided her family through MAID in 2019 when her husband was diagnosed with brain cancer and again when her father chose MAID in 2023. She also volunteers her time at Dying with Dignity Canada and Bridge C-14.

Cynthia Clark’s book offers readers solace, camaraderie, and acceptance of their own feelings through this tremendously difficult process. The book provides the opportunity to explore the range of emotions you may experience leading up to, during, and following their loved one's MAID. It is made to be read at any time along the MAID journey to help those suffering realize they are not alone.

If you are interested in learning about what the MAID experience in Canada, this podcast is for you.

• To purchase the book: https://www.amazon.ca/Many-Faces-MAID-Someone-Assistance/dp/B0CHL1FMRK
• For more information about the MAID Family Support Society: https://maidfamilysupport.ca/
• Access 1 on 1 peer support people supporting someone choosing MAID or grieving a MAID loss: https://maidfamilysupport.ca/1-to-1-peer-support/
• An interview with Cynthia Clark discussing death and children. https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-ki3d8-1411ad6

• Learn more about Dying with Dignity Canada: https://www.dyingwithdignity.ca/
• Read more MAID stories here: https://maidfamilysupport.ca/maid-stories/

After 20 years in practice, Dr. Jonice Webb noticed the painful struggle of people who grew up in homes where they were emotionally neglected.  She identified this neglect as an "invisible factor" that continued to affect adults often leaving them feeling depleted and dissatisfied or what she described as “Running on Empty”.

In Dr. Webb’s books “Running on Empty: Overcome Your Childhood Emotional Neglect” and “Running On Empty No More: Transform Your Relationships” she shines a light on this invisible force of CEN.  She discusses how to bring new tools, strategies and self-awareness to grow beyond this limiting life experience and encourages you to grow beyond CEN.

Listen to our conversation with psychologist & author Dr. Jonice Webb as we learn about the concept of Emotional Neglect and her tools for helping fix it.

Dr. Jonice Webb, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist, bestselling author, and “psychologist expert” according to the Chicago Tribune and CNBC. Dr. Webb has over two decades of experience in the field of psychology with a particular interest in how childhood factors influence us as adults and the effect of Childhood Emotional Neglect (CEN).™ Dr. Webb currently has a private psychotherapy practice where she focuses on the treatment of families and couples.

Dr. Webb’s books educate readers about the twelve types of parents who inadvertently emotionally neglect their children; ten issues that emotionally neglected children often struggle with as adults; six strategies for overcoming Emotional Neglect, and how to apply all these tools to different types of relationships including marriages, relationships with emotionally neglectful parents, and their even own children.

If you are interested in Dr. Webb’s insights on recognizing Emotional Neglect and beginning the journey in overcoming the impact of CEN, this podcast is for you.

• For more information about Dr. Webb’s books visit: https://drjonicewebb.com/the-book/
• To purchase the books visit: https://tinyurl.com/27vn66pr
• For more about Dr. Jonice Webb: https://drjonicewebb.com/about-dr-webb/
• Webb’s CEN Training Programs: https://drjonicewebb.com/childhood-emotional-neglect-programs/
• Therapist Resources for CEN: https://drjonicewebb.com/therapeutic-resources-cen/

• Take the Childhood Emotional Neglect Questionnaire: https://drjonicewebb.com/cenquestionnaire/
• 5 Roadblocks to Dating Caused By Childhood Emotional Neglect: https://drjonicewebb.com/5-roadblocks-to-dating-caused-by-childhood-emotional-neglect/
• How Old Feelings From Your Childhood Could Be Controlling You Now: https://drjonicewebb.com/how-old-feelings-from-your-childhood-could-be-controlling-you-now/
• 4 Ways You May Be Keeping Yourself Running On Empty: https://drjonicewebb.com/4-ways-you-may-be-keeping-yourself-running-on-empty/

After years of excellent health as an ultra-marathon runner and athlete and a good life in a stable marriage Katie Arnold’s life flipped from stable to unrecognizable.  Arnold experienced a significant injury while on a rafting trip that left her with a broken leg and big life changes.  She takes us through her life as an ultra-runner and a “seething but adequate” married woman before the accident. The things she relied on before her accident were ripped away from her leaving her wondering who she really is.

After her accident, she sought solace through a Zen meditation practice she experimented with earlier in life.  She immersed herself in a Zen meditation practice in an effort to find healing.  This is the journey she shares in her memoir “Brief Flashings in the Phenomenal World”.

Katie Arnold shares her story of exploring wilderness a quest for quiet. Over the course of 2 years, from before her injury, to the uncertain recovery of both her leg and her marriage, it is a personal account of a turbulent period nestled among Zen meditations.

Listen to our conversation with Katie Arnold as we unpack her powerful personal narrative of this tumultuous time in her life and how Zen meditations helped guide her through.

Katie Arnold is an author, contributing editor at Outside magazine, journalist and athlete. She published her first critically-acclaimed memoir, Running Home, in 2019 and has worked for Outside magazine for the past 12 years creating popular columns about bringing up adventurous children. She has written for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Travel + Leisure, Runner’s World, ESPN: The Magazine, Elle, and many others. Arnold is also an ultra-runner having won the 2018 women's Leadville Trail 100 Run. She holds multiple course records and victories at every distance from 5K to 100 miles.

Over the course of a decade, Katie went from being a reluctant spiritualist to a Zen meditation practitioner. In her new book, Arnold offers unique company for those seeking nature's exquisite highs, as well as for creatives, spiritualists, and sensualists who want to slow down and explore the possibilities of a well-lived life. Arnold takes readers on a journey of both destruction and healing as she details her struggles to make it to the other side of a life-shattering injury with her body, sanity, and her marriage, intact.

If you are interested in learning how to experience these brief moments of enlightenment when they come, and what they mean for our lives, this podcast is for you.

• To purchase Arnold’s book “Brief Flashings in the Phenomenal World”: https://www.amazon.ca/Brief-Flashings-Phenomenal-World-Arnold/dp/1952692695
• To learn more about Katie Arnold: https://katiearnold.net/about
• For more information about Arnold’s other books: https://katiearnold.net/books

• Arnold’s other writing pieces:  https://katiearnold.net/writing
• How to Know if Zen Meditation Is Right for You: https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-zen-meditation-4586721
• What is Zen Meditation?: https://mindworks.org/blog/what-is-zen-meditation-benefits-techniques/

Growing up with emotionally immature or self-centered parents can mean that your emotional needs were either disregarded or unmet. As a result, you may struggle with feelings of betrayal, abandonment, rage, or loneliness. Although you may work hard to become the person you want to be, your old wounds might re-ignite at any time, especially if your are reminded of vulnerable childhood feelings.

Dr. Gibson, is an CEN expert and the author of “Disentangling from Emotionally Immature People: Avoid Emotional Traps, Stand Up for Your Self, and Transform Your Relationships as an Adult Child of Emotionally Immature Parents”.

Dr. Lindsay Gibson explains that adult children of an emotionally immature parents may be particularly vulnerable to other emotionally immature people (EIP) in life. She uses her years of experience to teach us how avoid common EIP traps, build confidence, and stand strong in the face of emotional immaturity.

Listen to the conversation with Dr. Lindsay Gibson as we explore how to change your perspective on complex relationships, comprehend how EIPs work, and defend your own rights without feeling guilty, ashamed, or afraid.

Dr. Lindsay Gibson is clinical psychologist, author, and assistant professor with a passion for human conflict and helping others develop long-lasting, meaningful relationships. Dr. Gibson has wrote a number of books including the best-selling “Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: How to Heal from Distant, Rejecting or Self-Involved Parents”. It has sold over 100,000 copies, been translated into 14 languages, and has helped thousands of people reverse their toxic psychological legacy and reclaim their lives.

In her new book, Dr. Gibson offers practical advice to help readers handle interactions with anyone who struggles with emotional immaturity in their lives (whether dealing with others or working through one’s own behaviors). This hands-on guide includes helpful analyses and insights into the most typical problems that children of emotionally immature individuals encounter, as well as helpful advice on how to create boundaries and build stronger bonds with others. Dr. Gibson explains that establishing a happy life means learning how to manage challenging conversations with EIPs, comprehend their reactions, and improve your connections in the process.

If you are interested in more information about how to stop compensating for others’ behavior and put your needs first, this podcast is for you.

• To purchase Dr. Gibson’s book “Disentangling from Emotionally Immature People”: https://www.amazon.ca/Disentangling-Emotionally-Immature-People-Relationships-ebook/dp/B0B6NWDMJ6
• For more information about Dr. Gibson: https://catalogue.pesi.com.au/speaker/lindsay-gibson-346187/18

• 4 signs that a parent is emotionally immature:  https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/mental-wealth/202111/4-signs-parent-is-emotionally-immature
• Characteristics of the Emotionally Immature: https://care-clinics.com/7-characteristics-of-emotionally-immature-people/
• How to Spot Emotional Immaturity: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/the-pulse-mental-health/202203/spotting-emotional-immaturity-in-high-conflict-personalities

If you are interested in learning how to assert yourself in the workplace, navigate tumultuous family dynamics, or establish boundaries in romantic relationships, this show is for you.  Boundaries are the invisible lines that define the limits of our emotional and physical space, safeguarding our well-being and preserving our sense of self. Yet, for many, setting and maintaining boundaries can be a daunting task, fraught with uncertainty and discomfort. In her book, "Setting Boundaries That Stick" Juliane Taylor Shore offers a beacon of hope for those seeking to cultivate healthier relationships and reclaim their personal power. Through the lens of neurobiology, Shore illuminates the intricacies of boundary-setting, providing readers with practical tools to rewire their brains and foster a profound sense of safety, connection, and empowerment.

Listen to our conversation with therapist & author Juliane Taylor Shore as we discuss how to embark on our own transformative journeys towards greater self-compassion, authenticity, and empowerment.

Juliane Taylor Shore is a renowned expert in the fields of psychology and neuroscience, with a passion for empowering individuals to lead fulfilling and authentic lives. As a licensed therapist and educator, Shore brings a wealth of clinical experience and academic insight to her work. With a focus on integrating cutting-edge research with practical strategies, she has become a trusted voice in the realm of mental health and personal development.

Juliane Shore’s book focuses on guiding readers to rewire brains to establish and maintain healthy boundaries using the latest findings in neuroscience. From understanding the physiological mechanisms underlying boundary violations to implementing effective communication techniques, Shore offers a comprehensive roadmap for transforming relationships and reclaiming agency over one's life. The book contains engaging anecdotes, practical exercises, and even action based advice to empower readers to cultivate greater self-awareness, assertiveness, and emotional resilience.

Listen to our conversation with Juliane Taylor Shore as we discuss the importance of honoring our own needs and values in a world where boundaries are often overlooked.

• For more information about Shore’s book visit: https://www.julianetaylorshore.com/book
• Learn more about Juliane Taylor Shore: https://www.julianetaylorshore.com/about
• To purchase the book visit: https://www.amazon.ca/Setting-Boundaries-that-Stick-Neurobiology-ebook/dp/B0BTSC8CRK

• Juliane Shore’s Workshops: https://www.julianetaylorshore.com/clear-is-kind
• Learn more about Shore’s training for therapists: https://www.julianetaylorshore.com/trainings-for-therapists

Relationships rule our inner world. Understanding how you feel and think about your relationships helps you become more accepting and then more peaceful. You can develop an appreciation for other people's perspectives and stop assigning blame on others. Dr. Jacqueline Heller’s book “Yesterday Never Sleeps: How Integrating Life's Current and Past Connections Improves Our Well-Being” draws upon decades of clinical experience to create a powerful and more positive inner narrative. Her unique combination of neuroscience, memoirs of her life as a child of Holocaust survivors, and patient histories involving a range of psychological ills and trauma help readers to make sense of their own histories and forge a better future.

Listen to our conversation with physician & author Dr. Jacqueline Heller as we discuss how to befriend and understand our inner mind, open a pathway to curiosity, improve relationships, empathy, and intimacy.

Dr. Jacqueline Heller is a physician, board certified in psychiatry and neurology, psychoanalyst, and bestselling author. She brings a wealth of knowledge of over 40 years of psychiatry practice, assistant clinical professor at the UCLA Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences within the David Geffen School of Medicine. Having recently retired from her medical practice, she now focuses on passing down her knowledge to psychiatrists in training and the general public alike.

Dr. Heller’s book focuses on the learnable skill of self-reflection and how it helps you link emotions to past events and patterns of behaviour. Her book emphasizes how knowing and understanding the story behind our feelings can help soothe and regulate emotions before you react. She also explains how your miraculous brain – creates new neural connections when you take the time to reflect and this helps you improve emotional health and your thought processes.

Listen to our conversation with Dr. Jackie Heller as we discuss lifelong inner talk (i.e., good, bad, and ugly). We will focus on strategies for gaining wisdom, love, and kindness, and helping to break cycle of old trauma in driving your life.

If you are interested in learning about how integrate your past to better your future, this podcast is for you.

• For more information about Dr. Heller’s book visit: https://jacquelineheller.com/books/yesterday-never-sleeps/
• Learn more about Dr. Jacqueline Heller: https://jacquelineheller.com/about/
• To purchase the book visit: https://www.amazon.com/Yesterday-Never-Sleeps-Integrating-Connections/dp/B0C1MBVKYJ

• Heller’s other interviews and talks: https://jacquelineheller.com/talks-interviews/
• Heller’s Articles: https://jacquelineheller.com/other-writing/

Disconnected People in positions of power make the world more dangerous for everyone – Bear Psychology Radio hosted by Dr. Anna Baranowsky with guest Dr. Steve Taylor. Disconnected people have the tendency to gravitate toward power.  When Disconnected people rule in positions of power societies trend toward patriarchal, hierarchical and warlike. In contrast, societies with connected leaders trend toward egalitarian, democracy and peace.

Although most people have a deep need to be connected, life events/upbringing and trauma exposure can interfere in this profound human characteristic.  A person’s “goodness” and capacity for compassion often results from connection, whereas cruelty often originates from a feeling of being cut off from others.

Dr. Steve Taylor, author of “DisConnected: The Roots of Human Cruelty and How Connection Can Heal the World”, teaches us about the consequences of disconnection, how connection ultimately shapes us as a society, and how it can even change us as people.

Listen to the conversation with Dr. Steve Taylor as we explore the benefits of being interconnected unpack how valuable human connection is to us all in this complex world.

• Dr. Taylor’s book review: https://tinyurl.com/3b2ewhfs
• Purchase Dr. Taylor’s book: https://tinyurl.com/mvp52h4h
• Information about Dr. Taylor’s Books: https://www.stevenmtaylor.com/books/disconnected/

• More of Dr. Taylor’s Radio Appearances and videos: https://www.stevenmtaylor.com/videos/
• Information about Dr. Steve Taylor: https://www.stevenmtaylor.com/about-steve-taylor/
• Events with Steve Taylor: https://www.stevenmtaylor.com/events/
• Online programs with Steve Taylor: https://www.stevenmtaylor.com/online-courses/

Experiencing stressful or traumatic experiences during childhood leads us to develop certain coping mechanisms to get us through. While these strategies might have helped us feel secure when younger, they often fail us in adulthood. Richard Brouillette’s book “Your Coping Skills Aren't Working: How to Break Free from the Habits that Once Helped You But Now Hold You Back” offers an evidence-based guide using multiple therapeutic modalities including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), schema therapy, and attachment theory to help readers leave behind unhelpful coping strategies that keep us stuck in self-sabotaging cycles.

Listen to our conversation with social worker & author Richard Brouillette as we discuss how to break free from habits that keep you from realizing your full potential. Also, learn to leave behind damaging childhood experiences and dysfunctional coping mechanisms.

Brouillette is a Social Worker and a schema therapist. He focuses on helping creatives, professionals, and business owners who have reached a performance plateau and want to reduce anxiety, find fulfillment, and strengthen bonds with others. He is also a trauma therapist with experience treating survivors of war. Brouillette was involved in a program in New York City aimed at supporting individuals' creativity and motivation while engaged in achieving exciting community goals.

“Your Coping Skills Aren’t Working” focuses on identifying your unhealthy coping mechanisms acquired earlier in life; understand the reasons behind them; discover how to break negative behavior patterns that prevent you from leading a happy life. Along with learning how to develop clarity, stability, and confidence in oneself, it also teaches the reader effective techniques for giving voice to your unfulfilled preferences, vision and desires.

If you are interested in learning about how to not let your past need determine your future, this podcast is for you.

• For more information about Brouillette’s book visit: https://www.self-talk-therapy.com/book
• Learn more about Richard Brouillette: https://www.self-talk-therapy.com/about
• Read book reviews on good reads: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/61414139

• Richard Brouillette’s Blog: https://www.self-talk-therapy.com/blog
• Learn more about Schema therapy: https://www.self-talk-therapy.com/18-schemas