In this episode, Allison Sheff sits down with psychiatric nurse practitioner Brad Lieberman to demystify psychiatric medications — what they are, how they work, and when (or when not) to use them. Together, they explore the full toolbox of mental health treatments available today, from traditional talk therapy and antidepressants to cutting-edge modalities like transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and psychedelic-assisted therapy.

Brad shares a grounded perspective on how medication fits into the broader process of healing, emphasizing that while meds can help open the door, real progress requires personal work and self-understanding.

Topics:

• The role of a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP)
• Overview of treatment tools: medication, supplementation, and modern therapies
• Understanding TMS and its benefits for treatment-resistant depression and OCD
• The emerging science of psychedelic therapy (ketamine, psilocybin, and beyond)
• When medication should — and shouldn’t — be used
• The misunderstood world of antidepressants and antipsychotics
• How SSRIs may actually promote neuroplasticity, not just serotonin
• The truth behind the term “antipsychotic” and how these meds are used for conditions like bipolar disorder
• Genetic testing for psych meds (GenoMind, GeneSight): what’s useful and what’s hype
• Why Katy Perry uses propranolol — and how beta blockers can help with performance anxiety

Resources:

The Lieberman Center for Psychotherapeutics

Website: www.lcptherapy.com

Guest Bio:

Brad Lieberman, PMHNP is a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner with a focus on performance-based mental health care. After working in high-stress emergency settings, he shifted his career to support professionals whose lives require constant high performance. Brad offers a balanced, whole-person approach to treatment using therapy, medication, and emerging technologies.

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