In this episode of Cosmo Education, we explore The Useful Couple by Paolo Menghi — a text that examines the couple not as a measure of normality or pathology, but as an evolutionary space where infatuation, love, crisis, and conflict become transformative opportunities. This clinical analysis highlights the role of the personality mask, responsibility, shame, and power, revealing how the couple’s bond can become an extraordinary arena for awareness and psychological growth.

In this Cosmo Education episode, we explore Rodolfo de Bernart’s article Inside the Relationship, Outside the Family. The focus is on the therapist’s ability to balance closeness and distance, belonging and individuation, while navigating the therapeutic relationship with the family. Drawing on clinical examples and theoretical insights, the episode illustrates how integrating different perspectives allows for meaningful change without being absorbed by the family system.

This Cosmo Education episode explores De Bernart and Dobrowolski’s work on adolescence as a key developmental transition for both individuals and families. Drawing on an integrated systemic–relational and psychoanalytic framework, the discussion addresses the role of the couple, generational boundaries, the adolescent body, peer relationships, and the clinical use of images in assessment and therapy. A resource-rich episode for professionals working with adolescents and families in psychotherapy and personality assessment.

In this episode, we explore Thomas Joiner’s Interpersonal Theory of Suicide. We examine in detail the three key constructs: thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and acquired capability. This integrative, empirically grounded model helps clinicians understand when suicidal ideation turns into action. A must-listen for professionals in personality assessment, clinical psychology, and suicide risk evaluation.

This episode delves into the concept of suicide warning signs, as proposed by Rudd, Joiner, and colleagues. We differentiate warning signs from risk factors, discuss their clinical interpretation, and present examples across ER, outpatient, family, and school settings. Ethical concerns and integration with therapeutic models like CAMS and SPI are also addressed. Essential listening for suicide prevention and clinical decision-making.

Therapy is meant to heal—but what happens when it harms? In this episode, we explore a powerful study that brings the voices of adolescents into the spotlight, revealing the subtle ruptures and unspoken tensions that can derail the therapeutic process. Based on research by Aschieri and colleagues, we dive into stories of emotional disengagement, misattuned interventions, and missed opportunities for repair. These are not tales of malpractice, but of missed connection—and they offer deep insight into how therapy can be both a place of pain and transformation. A must-listen for therapists, students, and anyone curious about what really happens in the room when words go unsaid.

What makes therapy truly meaningful for young people? This episode explores a study by Aschieri and Cassera, focusing on the positive moments adolescents and young adults recall from psychotherapy. From emotional presence to flexible boundaries, we dive into the relational elements that foster healing and growth—through the voices of the clients themselves.

In this Cosmo Education episode, we explore how the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology—HiTOP—can be applied in clinical practice. Moving beyond categorical diagnosis, HiTOP offers a dimensional and hierarchical framework to improve case formulation, assessment, and treatment planning. Based on the work of Ruggero, Kotov, Hopwood, and colleagues, this episode provides a detailed yet practical overview tailored for experienced clinicians in psychotherapy and personality assessment.

In this additional content episode, we take a closer look at the practical techniques used in Therapeutic Assessment to reduce epistemic hypervigilance and foster epistemic trust. Building on our previous discussion, we explore how structured assessment steps, collaborative inquiry, and controlled interventions help clients process new information safely and engage more openly in therapy.

By applying these techniques, clinicians can support self-understanding, reduce resistance, and promote lasting therapeutic change.

Welcome to this special episode of the COSMO podcast, where we explore the concept of epistemic trust and its crucial role in psychotherapy. Based on the article by Jan Kamphuis and Stephen Finn, published in the Journal of Personality Assessment (2018), we delve into how Therapeutic Assessment can help individuals with personality disorders rebuild their ability to trust interpersonally transmitted information.

In this episode, we discuss:

🔹 The impact of epistemic hypervigilance on therapy outcomes

🔹 How Therapeutic Assessment fosters collaboration and insight

🔹 Techniques such as extended inquiries and assessment intervention sessions

🔹 The role of shame regulation in rebuilding trust

🔹 Real-world applications for long-term therapeutic success

Join us as we unpack the science and practice behind restoring epistemic trust and enhancing the effectiveness of psychotherapy for personality disorders.