Psych Up Live

Are you a sensation seeker? Have you ever wondered why people climb Everest, jump out of planes or ski dangerous unmarked trails? Is eagerness to experience the impact of any street drug or gambling away life savings driven by thrill seeking? In this show Dr. Ken Carter, Emory Psychologist and researcher of sensation thinking, considers these questions and more. He discusses the general components of sensation-seeking including thrill and adventure seeking, experience seeking, boredom susceptibility, and disinhibition. He looks at gender differences, changes across the lifespan and clarifies the neuroscience behind sensation seeking. Considering the advantages and disadvantages of being a thrill seeker, he will even tell you about an online test to determine how much of a sensation seeker you are. Listen in--You will be intrigued.

In this episode Dr. Deborah Serani, psychologist and author discusses the reality of depression as a mood disorder in later life. Drawing upon her new and comprehensive book " Depression in Later Life: An Essential Guide," she underscores that depression is too often overlooked by those suffering, their families and even at times by their physicians. In the back and forth with host Suzanne Phillips, Dr. Serani provides crucial information and illuminating examples that will be as valuable for health-care professionals as for seniors who don't understand why they are suffering. She will answer questions like: What Is Geriatric Depression? Isn't Depression a normal part of aging? Why is it so often missed or dismissed? What are the steps for proper assessment? What are the treatment options? Are depressed seniors a suicide risk? Adding to this, Dr. Serani considers the power of "conscious aging" as an asset to physical and emotional well-being. This is an important show for all.

In this show, M Gary Neuman will discuss ways of making a marriage all that it can be – even after an affair. In the discussion with Host Dr. Suzanne Phillips, he will offer his perspective of how and why a marriage can be saved. Drawing upon case examples he will share with listeners examples of the Neuman Method, a 10 Session online marriage program that has helped thousands of couples with methods and techniques suited to address the repair, recovery and enhancement of marriages.

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.

How can you foster a child's resilience to handle future adversity? How can you intervene to offset the impact of homeliness, war, migration, domestic violence, etc. on a child's development? In this episode, Dr. Ann Masten, Regents Professor of Child Development and recognized expert on risk and resilience in children will answer these questions and many more. Drawing upon her recent book, Ordinary Magic: Resilience in Development, she will surprise and enrich you with her findings. She will invite you to recognize that resilience is not an extraordinary genetic trait and identify The Short List of factors and adaptational systems that build resilience. In a powerful way you will come to understand the ordinary magic that fosters resilience and changes children's lives. This show unlocks resilience. It is a gift to adults who care about children and the children who need them.

Whether addressing campus sexual violence or other forms of power-based violence like partner abuse, bullying, stalking, etc. the national and internationally used program, Green Dot, etc. moves us from awareness to action. In this episode, Jessey Lyons, Associate Director of Green Dot turns our attention to reducing campus sexual violence. She recognizes that “It is not that people don’t care—they don’t know what to do.” Accordingly, she discusses training, tools and strategies that we can use on or off campus to make prevention and intervention possible. She is joined by college senior, Juliette Verrengia who shares her insights and experience as part of the team that has implemented The Green Dot at Connecticut College. We are aware. Now we need action.

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 while dispelling 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 that would maximize success. Adding to this she offers fascinating studies that reveal the best decision-making strategies for men and women from testing our use of intuition to resisting the first idea that comes to mind. Listen in, you will be surprised and informed.

In this Episode Dr. Connie Siskowski, founder of the American Association for Caregiving Youth awakens us to the reality that 1.4 million children in this country sacrifice their education, health, well-being and childhood to provide care for family members who are ill, injured, aging or have disabilities. Isolated, often facing tasks and medical responsibilities that would challenge adults, these children are often invisible to schools and communities. Dr. Siskowski, who was recognized as one of the CNN's Top Ten Heroes in 2012 offers a powerful answer. In the back and forth with host, Suzanne Phillips, she shares her personal history and the motivation for developing The American Association for Caregiving Youth, which includes "The Caregiving Youth Project." She is joined by the professional interdisciplinary team of this project, Dr. Anne Faraone, Kim Fort LMSW and Cara Zimmerman MSW who share their roles in making the lives of child caregivers possible, healthy and hopeful.

In this episode, Wesley C. Davidson and Dr. Jonathan Tobkes M.D. discuss their new and much needed book, When Your Child Is Gay: What You Need To Know. In the discussion with Host Suzanne Phillips, Wesley C. Davidson, shares her shock on realizing that her son is gay, her denial and the lack of resources available to her as a straight parent of an LGBT child in the 90's. With her son's permission and hindsight, she writes the book she needed for other parents. In the back and forth with host, Suzanne Phillips, Wesley Davidson and Dr. Tobkes discuss the denial, guilt, fear, anger, shame, and loss suffered by parents and children on the road to acceptance. They are joined by Dr. Shawnee Dawson, one of the parents interviewed. Dr. Tobkes shares some of the professional advice he provides at the end of each chapter. With respect and compassion, he normalizes feelings, addresses myths, and reduces fear. This is a show that you can't miss.

Too often in the aftermath of a traumatic event be it the loss of a child, a natural disaster or the wounds of war, a couple's relationship becomes the collateral damage of the pain and loss suffered. In this episode, Host Dr. Suzanne B. Phillips will draw upon the book she co-authored with Dr. Dianne Kane, Healing Together: A Couple's Guide to Coping with Trauma & Post-Traumatic Stress to help couples understand that their relationship can either be the locus of pain or an important source of support and recovery. Dr. Phillips will demystify the stress responses associated with trauma, recognize the different ways that men and women react, and introduce the concept of couple psychological first aid. Drawing upon examples, she will discuss why anger and the disruption of sexual intimacy become common dynamics after trauma and the strategies to use to turn painful disconnection into loving connection again. She welcomes listeners to call and join the discussion.