Across time and cultures and against the backdrop of medical, social, economic, political, gender and racial issues, mothers face a lot and give a lot. Whether new mothers, working mothers, single mothers or grandmothers, most could benefit from some of the powerful support and care they offer. This show presents a program that does just that- “Authentic Connections Groups”. In this show, Dr. Suniya Luthar, Executive Director of AC Groups, a nonprofit that fosters resilience and well-being, will describe the Authentic Connections Group program which has been empirically validated several times and featured on national media including on PBS. She will share how groups are set-up, the topics covered, the range of women who have participated and invite you to hear a mini role-play of what a group experience might be. Dr. Luthar is joined by Dr. Jewel Kling a mom and Associate Professor of Medicine, Chair of the Division of Women’s Health Internal Medicine, and Assistant Director of the Women’s Health Center and Associate Chair of Equity, Inclusion and Diversity for the Department of Medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona. Dr. Kling will speak personally and professionally on women’s needs across the spectrum and the value of her own personal experience as a participant in an Authentic Connections Group . Also joining the discussion is Johanna Callard, another mom and Director of Counseling at Northfield Mt. Hermon Prep School, MA. Johanna Collard will share her clinical perspective on the needs of working mothers and how she, her colleagues and their school community benefited from participating in the Authentic Connection Group program. She references the value of the concept of the Go to person that is part of the Authentic Connections Group program that expands the care and support offered in the group.Whether you are interested personally or professionally in what women who are mothers and caregivers need, or reducing the burnout in your working community-listen in to this show.

Someone has finally found a way to address opioid misuse and addiction among people with chronic pain. In this show, Dr. Eric Garland, the world’s leading expert on the use of mind-body therapies to treat opioid misuse for pain will discuss the recently proven effectiveness of “MORE” – “Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement.” Dr. Garland will define opioid use disorder (OUD), its relationship to chronic pain and what makes opioids so addictive. He will discuss the treatment components of “MORE” ‘the differences between this and other treatments and the research design used to test this treatment model. In the second segment Dr. Garland will invite the audience to hear and feel what it would be like to be in a Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement Group. In the back and forth with Host Dr. Phillips, he will consider why the group format matters and why he believes a significant number of those who received this treatment to reduced their opioid use without being specifically directed to do so. Given the danger of Opioid Use Disorder, the number of people suffering, the importance of these findings and the need for available effective treatment, this becomes a show everyone needs to hear.

In this episode, Samantha Waltz, the author of the powerful book, Blended: Writers on the Stepfamily Experience and three of her wonderful contributing writers, Betsy Graziani Fasbinder, Gigi Rosenberg, and Emma Kate Tsai will share their personal experiences of being parents or children in stepfamilies. As three of the thirty professional writers who share their blended experience in this book, their voices convey more than the facts or dynamics of stepfamilies. They convey in a personal way the challenges of connection, the promise and pain of children who have lost parents from divorce or death, the fears of rejection and expectations of stepparents and the reasons for laughing, crying and celebrating. As the stories move from the “ Coming Together” of blended families to stories of “Acceptance” they broaden the understanding of stepfamilies and offer guidance, compassion and hope.

In this show, Dr. Greif invites listeners to learn about men and male friendships from the hundreds of men and women he has interviewed. His findings dispel the myth that men don’t need or want friends or that they need wives or girlfriends to find them friends. Dr. Greif describes some consistent patterns that reflect the types of relationships men have across their lifespan. He addresses the questions men themselves have asked and answered about friendship: Do I have have enough close friends? How do you juggle friends with marriage and kids? What is the meaning of friendship? Do I just let go of friends when things stop working out? Dr.Greif will make clear the interesting differences in the way men and women have friendships. This is a show both men and women will find very interesting.

In this show, Dr. Deborah Serani, psychologist, award winning author and media expert returns to Psych-Up Live to discuss her new children’s book “ Sometimes When I‘m Mad.” She invites listeners to understand and respond to anger in children. There have always been outside world and family events that have disrupted families and filtered fear and dysregulation down to children. These past few years of the pandemic have added additional strain. Dr. Serani will discuss the reason and message of her important of her new book and go on to answer the questions– How do we spot anger in children of different ages? What are the feelings being masked by anger? What about toddlers who tantrum? What about hitting, throwing or breaking things by seemingly angry school age children? Essentially Dr. Serani will help us help our children express anger and release feelings in a constructive way. In many ways, her book, Sometimes When I’m Mad, offers the answers directly to children. Whether you are a parent, grandparent, professional or someone who loves children – You will really enjoy this show. Listen in.

In this episode, Dr. Therese Huston, cognitive scientist, professor and the author of How Women Decide: What’s True, What’s Not and What Strategies Spark the Best Choices, offers a new and well researched look at women as decision makers. She addresses the reality of gender dynamics in the workplace like the glass ceiling, the glass cliff and the different consequences of making a mistake for men and women in leadership.She dispels the myths and beliefs about gender differences and decision making with comprehensive research. She proposes that the reason that men and women should both be in the boardroom is that while there are many actual similarities in their decision- making, the real differences would maximize success. Adding to this she offers fascinating studies that reveal the best decision-making strategies for women from testing our use of intuition to resisting the first idea that comes to mind. Listen in, you will be surprised and informed.

Whether you are a seasoned psychoanalyst, group therapist or someone interested in how and why psychoanalysis works and how psychoanalytic thinking has expanded – You have to hear Dr. Robert Grossmark. Drawing upon his new book, The Unobtrusive Relational Analyst, he discusses his work with patients who formerly would be considered unsuitable for psychoanalytic treatment. These are patients in the session or the group often enact the trauma they never had the words to share. Drawing upon case studies, Grossmark exemplifies what it means to companion with a person rather than interpret or invite mutual examination of the analytic process. He describes a process that teeters on the edge of chaos but ultimately makes relatedness and reflective thinking possible. In a powerful way, you will even see and better understand glimpses of yourself and your family on the journey we all take- which at times gets pretty close to chaos!!

In this episode, Ross Rosenberg, psychotherapist and author of The Human Magnet Syndrome: The Co-dependent Narcissist Trap, draws upon his experience and clinical examples to offer an understanding of the difference between love and entrapment in a Narcissistic Abuse Syndrome. He discusses the meaning of codependency and how its traces back to childhood attachment. He considers the role it plays in keeping a person with a self-love deficiency addicted to a pathological narcissist whose charm belies their hidden dependency, dangerous control, lack of empathy and abusive need for the partner. Ross Rosenberg defines and exemplifies the “Gaslighting” used by a Pathological Narcissist to exert mind control on the partner. Importantly, he answers the questions so often asked: Why do people fall in love with Pathological Narcissists? Why do they stay and even defend these abusive partners? Can they end this type of addictive relationship?

Gary Wilson died this year. This Encore is a tribute to Gary and his work to understand the impact of porn. Gary Wilson was presenter of the popular TEDx talk ‘The Great Porn Experiment,’ and author of the book,Your Brain on Porn. In this show he addressed the ever-increasing problem of internet porn addiction in young male teens as well as men of every age. Drawing upon scientific research and the reports of countless men seeking help for porn related sexual dysfunction, Gary Wilson clarifies the impact of chronic overconsumption of internet porn on the brain. His message is powerful in the clarity with which he discusses the nature of the sexual problems resulting from addictive internet porn use; how and why the brain keeps us bingeing; and detailed steps to reverse compulsive use and regain control. Some will disagree, most will be informed and I hope many will be helped by hearing this important show.

We hear a great deal in the media about narcissism. If you have ever wondered if the person you work for, the man you are dating or the friend who knows everything is a narcissist, listen in. On this show Dr. Joseph Burgo, psychologist and author of the book, The Narcissist You Know: Defending Yourself Against Extreme Narcissists in an All-About Me Age, will draw upon his clinical experience and fascinating examples to discuss the Narcissist. He will make clear the tell tale signs of narcissism, the secrets the narcissist hides even from self and the parenting styles that may set the stage for narcissism. In the back and forth with host, Suzanne Phillips, Dr. Burgo will also discuss how to cope with a narcissist in a way that preserves your choice to engage or disengage. Be prepared to be informed.