Behavioral Health Today

Anger is a normal and even healthy emotion, but it's important to deal with it positively. Uncontrolled anger can take a toll, both on our health and our relationships, but recognizing one's anger and having the courage to lean into it and face it, and then try to heal it is easier said than done. In today’s episode, Dr. Graham Taylor is joined by Dr. Michele Haley. Michele has nearly two decades of experience in a variety of roles including the therapist, adjunct professor researcher, community programmer, and case manager. Her work has included facilitating inmate partner violence groups also referred to as IPV for inmates in a correctional facility. Together they discuss the experiences of anger, the root causes and the patterns of conflict, and the biological response we see in the brain. The hope lies in developing awareness around the root causes and ways that we can learn to manage our angered responses and in the brain’s neuroplasticity, allowing us to create new pathways that can change this behavior.

 

If you're looking for workshops on how to build self-care strategies, how to work with challenging colleagues, or psychoeducation workshops, please visit: https://www.togetherwell.org/And, if you are a therapist interested in joining TogetherWell, visit: https://www.togetherwell.org/join

In today’s episode, Dr. Graham Taylor is joined by Lakeya Cherry. Lakeya is the CEO of The Network for Social Work Management, the mission of NSWM is to strengthen, and mobilize diverse social impact leaders through education, leadership development, networking, and community-building. Together they discuss Lakeya's transition from more of a clinical role in Social Work to a management role, in macro social work, and ultimately to a CEO. Lakeya provides insight on what a Social Worker might be experiencing or questions they might be asking themselves when looking to transition to a supervisory role. 

 

If you are interested in The Network for Social Work Management you can sign up for the email list at socialworkmanager.org.

If you're interested in learning more about Lakeya and her external work as an executive coach and consultant, you can go to: lakeyacherry.com

The EPPP is the top exam for aspiring Psychologists. There's a lot at stake to getting your license and the EPPP is the gateway to getting your license. In today’s episode, two Licensing Prep Coaches are ready to walk you through the exam process. In this episode, Dr. Erin Elmore is joined by Dr. Kristen Wilkinson. Kristen is a licensed clinical psychologist and EPPP Licensing Prep Coach. Erin is also an EPPP Licensing Prep Coach and together both Kristen and Erin have helped hundreds of candidates successfully pass the EPPP. They share their own experiences with the exam and tips for exam candidates on their journey to passing. Together Erin and Kristen discuss what is the EPPP, when you’re ready to begin to study, setting expectations for studying, the kind of tools are available for test prep, and benefits of coaching during this exam process, when you’re ready to take your exam, and finally the next steps after you’ve taken the exam.

 

For more information about EPPP and the ASPPB licensing board, please visit: https://www.asppb.net/default.aspx

Please download the ASPPB EPPP Candidate Handbook here: https://www.asppb.net/page/CandHandbook

For more information about the EPPP and frequently asked questions, please visit: https://aatbs.com/what-is-the-eppp

For more information about EPPP Study Materials, please visit: https://aatbs.com/psychology/eppp

The future of automated virtual reality cognitive treatment is using technologies to develop scale and network effects that can have broad implications across the board. In this episode, Dr. Erin Elmore is joined by Deepak Gopalakrisha. Deepak is the founder and CEO of Rey, an on-demand mental health platform that delivers online self-guided therapy in an immersive virtual reality setting. Together they talk about the trends in technology and therapy that have paved the way for digital therapeutics, the creation of and care process of Rey, and sharing evidence of the success of virtual reality and treating mental illness. There have been a few studies done on virtual reality versus in-classroom learning versus. People were four times faster to learn in virtual reality when compared to in a classroom. When we think about that application to mental health, a lot of controversy of therapies is about learning new skills being able to drop safety behaviors. So, if you're going to learn those new skills, being able to do that in a simulated environment translates really well.

 

For more information about Rey, please visit: https://vr.getrey.com/

For more information about Deepak Gopalakrishna, please visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deepakgopalakrishna/

Finally, follow Rey on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rey.health/

In today’s episode, Dr. Erin Elmore is joined by Rob Feiner. Rob is a licensed clinical counselor and has a private practice in Torrance, California with two decades of experience coaching diverse individuals. In 2018, Rob became a father and since then he’s combined his years of coaching and mental health with his experience fathering and now focuses his practice to include fathers-to-be on their journey to parenthood. Together they discuss the isolated feelings men have as new fathers, working with clients to help them become an active participant and equal partner in raising kids together, normalizing the transition to fatherhood, and knowing that there will be progress. For a new dad, this is the most significant thing that's probably happening in your life, where you will, now, be responsible for this human being and help them create a life for themselves.

 

For more information about Rob Feiner and his private practice, please visit: http://www.robfeiner.com

For more information about How to Not Hate Your Husband After Kids by Jancee Dunn, please visit: http://janceedunn.net/books/how-not-to-hate-your-husband-after-kids/

For more information about Pacify Me: A Handbook for the Freaked-Out New Dad by Chris Mancini, please visit: https://www.simonandschuster.net/books/Pacify-Me/Chris-Mancini/9781439128879

For more information about Husband on Purpose by Conrod Deas, please visit: https://husbandonpurpose.com

For more information about Hold Me Tight by Dr. Sue Johnson, please visit: https://drsuejohnson.com/books/

For more information about the John Gottman interview on The Armchair Expert Podcast, please visit: https://armchairexpertpod.com/pods/john-gottman

For more information on John Kim The Angry Therapist, please visit: https://www.theangrytherapist.com

For more information about Mike Birbiglia: The New One, please visit: https://www.netflix.com/title/81062293

In this concluding Clinicians Series episode, we resume our talk today with Dr. Graham Taylor and Dr. Ragan Schriver, Associate Professor of Practice at the University of Tennessee, by discussing how we can practice mindfulness and awareness with people that we're seeing. Together they discuss spirituality and how trauma can shape our idea of a higher power, they discuss the power of shame and guilt and how to combat trauma identity, and finally, they talk about ending therapy and working toward a therapeutic goodbye.

For more information about the University of Tennessee and its Social Work Program, please visit: https://www.csw.utk.edu/For more information about What Happened to Me by Bruce D. Perry, PhD & Oprah Winfrey, please visit: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250223210For more information about The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolb, MD, please visit: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/313183/the-body-keeps-the-score-by-bessel-van-der-kolk-md/

In these two-part Clinicians Series episodes, we go deeper into the therapist/patient experience and give our listeners an understanding of what occurs within the therapeutic process. In today’s first part episode, Dr. Graham Taylor speaks with Ragan Schriver, PsyD, MSW. Ragan is an Associate Professor of Practice at the University of Tennessee’s College of Social Work and director of the MSW program. Together we discuss how trauma causes adaptations in our behavior, the importance of recognizing oneself in the therapeutic relationship, and the significance of doing your own inner work to avoid the vicarious trauma that can mislead our clients. We also talk about how the therapist/client relationship creates a corrective emotional experience opportunity and the importance of trust in that relationship.

For more information about the University of Tennessee and its Social Work Program, please visit: https://www.csw.utk.edu/For more information about What Happened to Me by Bruce D. Perry, PhD & Oprah Winfrey, please visit: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250223210For more information about The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolb, MD, please visit: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/313183/the-body-keeps-the-score-by-bessel-van-der-kolk-md/

Education is a privilege. It is an opportunity to help people and an opportunity at higher education. In this episode, Dr. Erin Elmore is joined by Dr. Nikki Johnson. Nikki is a clinical psychologist and a professor at Northwest University in Washington. The conversation with Dr. Johnson will be especially relevant for early career practitioners because we’re discussing tips for graduate students from the perspective of graduates of a program as well as Nikki’s experience as a teaching professor. Together they discuss what to expect in a doctorate level program, the responsibilities and eclectic roles as a college professor, advice for graduate students, tips on the graduate level interview process to get into graduate school, and defining successful graduates. Graduate-level education is a privilege and people are coming to you. They need help because they're trusting you, their lives are sometimes in your hands. And I think it's something we need to take seriously. Embrace it like it is your job because people's lives will depend on your work and not take that for granted.

 

For more information about Northwest University’s Doctoral Program, please visit: https://www.northwestu.edu/college-social-behavioral-sciences/doctor-psychology-counseling-psychology

If you would like to get in contact with Dr. Nikki Johnson, please email her at: [email protected]

New research is demonstrating that traumas can be transformed by having physical experiences, that directly address feelings of helplessness, rage, and fear and help with regaining self-mastery over one's life. One such therapeutic physical experience is trauma-sensitive yoga, and it is evidencing the ability to alleviate PTSD by creating connections between the body and the mind. In today’s episode, Dr. Graham Taylor is joined by Dr. Nicole Nakamura a licensed psychologist, trauma-informed therapist, and certified facilitator in trauma-sensitive yoga. Together they discuss processing traumas in our bodies, the process of trauma-sensitive yoga, and how you can pair this with therapy. Trauma-sensitive yoga provides us this opportunity to look internally to see how our bodies are reacting to emotions and familiarize ourselves with areas of the body and signs of safety internally. Another piece of trauma-sensitive yoga is decision-making and embodying the perspective that you don’t have to be one shape. This is a safe space to feel our bodies and participate in ways that feel most comfortable to us and provides an opportunity to introduce your nervous system to something different.

 

For more information about the Trauma Center for Trauma Sensitive Yoga, please visit:https://www.traumasensitiveyoga.com

For more information about Nicole Nakamura and her private practice, please visit: http://nicolenakamura.com

At its core, spirituality is a connection and a relationship, but a disposition that flows from that. Therapy is spiritual work. In this episode, we proudly welcome our newest member to our podcast and today’s host Dr. Erin Elmore. Erin is joined by Daniel Kim, LMFT, who has 12 years of experience working with clients who struggle with trauma, relational problems, and spiritual issues. Dan has also worked with members of the clergy who struggle with deep personal issues. Together, Erin and Dan, discuss integrating faith with therapy practice, viewing therapy as spiritual work, working with pastors in therapy, and advocating for therapists to do their own personal work to become better at helping their clients. When we are helping people in our sessions experience unconditional positive regard, compassion, and love as a therapist, and treat our clients with worth and dignity, we help our clients love themselves with self-compassion and acceptance. That is spirituality.

 

For more information about Spiritual Strategy for Counseling and Psychotherapy by P. Scott Richards, PhD and Allen E. Bergin, PhD, please visit: https://www.apa.org/pubs/books/4317077

For more information about How God Changes Your Brain by Andrew Newberg, M.D. and Mark Robert Waldman, please visit: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/120938/how-god-changes-your-brain-by-andrew-newberg-md-and-mark-robert-waldman/

For more information about Building Moral Intelligence by Michele Borba, Ed.D, please visit: https://www.micheleborba.com/books/building-moral-intelligence/

For more information about Soul Searching by Dr. William Doherty, please visit: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/soul-searching-15

For more information about Daniel Kim and his private practice, please visit: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/daniel-c-kim-la-mesa-ca/475310