Psych Up Live

The amount of stress worldwide is at an all-time high as the Corona Virus spreads. Self-Care and understanding alternative ways of easing pain are important. This show takes a close look at the varied forms of Alternative Medicine from Energy Medicine, Acupuncture, Chiropractic to religious belief, embraced by millions seeking relief for chronic pain, digestive disorders, fibromyalgia etc. Our guest author, Melanie Warner draws upon her important new book, The Magic Feather Effect: The Science of Alternative Medicine and the Surprising Power of Belief, to invite us into a personal research journey which involves her meeting with clinicians, scientists, and healers world-wide, to answer questions like- Why have these Alternative Medicines become so popular? Why do some people report dramatic relief while others don't? Can the results be subject to scientific proof? Is it the placebo effect? Do we need to recognize and use the surprising system of self-healing that belongs to us.

In this show, Dr. Diane Ehrensaft, expert in gender research and clinical work, offers parents and professionals an insider understanding of Gender Expansive Children -The little boy who insists he is a girl, the teen who identifies as non-binary – both male and female. The author of The Gender Creative Child and Gender Born, Gender Made, Dr. Ehrensaft clarifies the difference between gender and assigned sex at birth and explains how threads of nature, nurture and culture weave for each of us a Gender Web. Using examples, she describes a Gender Affirmative Model in which she maintains that children will reveal their authentic gender self if we listen to what they are telling us in their behavior and words. She discusses that it is often not the gender confusion as much as the gender rejection that leaves children unsupported, unhappy and less confident.

In this show Dr. Dawn Buse, Director of Behavioral Medicine for the Montefiore Headache Center and Associate Professor of Neurology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine draws upon her extensive experience to discuss living well with migraine. She demystifies migraine and shares important treatment possibilities. Drawing upon her recent research, she addresses what has often been overlooked, the impact of migraine on a family. She offers strategies for managing migraine and living well as a parent and/or spouse with this chronic suffering. Her shared expertise will benefit the many people who cope with migraine and the families who love them.

We continue to hear of the benefits of mindfulness but many still wonder-What exactly is it? How can I best use it? In this episode, Dr Elisha Goldstein, author of many books on mindfulness including Uncovering Happiness,The Now Effect and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, will offer a mini-course on Mindfulness that teaches steps, rationale and technique. He will guide us to use breathing,catch the negative thinking, resist anxious problem solving and enhance resilience. You will understand why something that seems simple can be so powerful.

This episode offers an insider look at Sex Trafficking as the backdrop for an important discussion of the unrecognized traumatic events that are carried by the vast majority of children and adults who become the victims of Sex Trafficking. As a survivor and a mental health professional, Savannah Sanders draws upon her life and book, Sex Trafficking Prevention: A Trauma Informed Approach for Parents and Professionals to advocate for a trauma-informed approach to prevention and healing. She invites parents and professionals to recognize the signs of suffering and vulnerability often obscured by behavioral problems and symptoms. She identifies why and how certain children from every culture and socio-economic level become targets who are groomed and trapped in “The Life.” She discusses the myths, stereotypes and realities of Sex Trafficking and offers parents and professionals valuable tools for prevention and intervention. This show is alarming and crucial to hear.

In a culture of teen cyberbullying, claims of fake news, political digital trolling, hacked accounts, cyber-staking and revenge porn, this show invites us to consider our online exposure. In this episode, Dr. Sheri Bauman, author of the new book, Political Cyberbullying: Perpetrators and Targets of a New Digital Aggression, looks closely at the digital world we inhabit and the reality of the negativity and dangers we face. She discusses causes of cyber-aggression, the impact of high-status celebrity and political cyber-aggression, the definition and mobilization of trolls, memes, cyberstalking and exploitative dating sites. She addresses how we can continue to benefit from our digital universe without harm. Very Informative show.

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?

While this is a culture in which most kids have been exposed to images of sexuality in social media, series, advertisements and even porn from early ages, most teens have difficulty speaking about sex or really understanding how to negotiate anything from changes in their own body to sexual attraction to somebody else. Studies reveal that parents speaking to their children plays an important role in their children's understanding and sexual decision making but it is not easy for parents to speak to their kids about sex. This show offers some answers. Guests Dr. Andrew Smiler, psychologist and author of " Dating and Sex: A guide for the 21st Century Teen Boy and Joyce McFadden psychotherapist and author of the groundbreaking book Modern Mothering, reflecting her research with 450 women and her expertise on how girls learn sexuality from their mothers share the challenges and possibilities of the ongoing sex conversation with kids.

In this episode, bestselling author and speaker Bruce Van Horn shares the ingredients of his important new book, Worry No More! 4 Steps To Stop Worrying And Start Living. With wisdom and humor this “recovered worrier” draws upon the best practices of experts and integrates them with what he has practiced on a daily basis in his own life. Crystalizing a way out of “ Worry” in 4 interesting and effective steps, he invites you to join him in living life instead of worrying about it.

Suicide claims the lives of more police officers than violence in the line of duty. The police suicide rate is three times that of the general public. In August 2019 two officers in New York died by suicide a day apart – adding to a toll of 122 that year, the highest toll in the nation in four years. In this show Dr. John Violanti, psychologist, retired 23-year police veteran and now academic researcher brings us up close to the multiple and complex causes of police suicide. Drawing upon the second edition of his important book, Police Suicide: A Blue Epidemic, Dr. Violanti will consider the scope of the problem and the complex interaction of personal, professional, cultural and organizational factors that increase the potential for suicide. He will also discuss organizational recognition of the problem, training and suicide prevention programs. This epidemic impacts everyone.