Psychiatry & Psychotherapy Podcast

In this week’s episode, we continue our series on Adverse Childhood Experiences by delving deeper into the lasting effect of ACEs on the brain and body. We explore the intricate impact of ACEs on the HPA axis, inflammation, and neurobiology, shedding light on their role in various psychiatric disorders. We highlight how these changes may indicate a shared phenotype resulting from early adversity but that they likely do not explain the entire effect ACEs have on an individual.

Listening to The Shrink Next Door elicited a range of emotions in me, including angst, sadness, intrigue, and heartache. For those unfamiliar with the story, it revolves around a psychiatrist named Ike who isolates his patient, Marty, from his family, takes over his business, lives in his house, charges him over a million dollars, and makes him undertake various projects for him. We will discuss the podcast's characters as if they are fictional. The podcast, akin to House of Cards for the psychotherapy world, reveals the manipulation and betrayal that can occur behind the scenes. Just as House of Cards exposed viewers to the Machiavellian tactics in politics, The Shrink Next Door disrupts the sacred space of the therapy office.

This week, I am joined by Dr. Eric Bender, a psychiatrist and psychotherapist, to discuss, The Shrink Next Door. Dr. Bender practices in San Francisco, has been featured multiple times on GQ’s online show The Breakdown, Wired magazine’s Tech Help, and on YouTube.

The purpose of this episode is to provide a clear and simple guide for clinicians on the diagnosis of complex PTSD (C-PTSD) and how it differs from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and borderline personality disorder (BPD). It is intended to complement and add to recent episodes on attachment and trauma: 213: Reflective Functioning, 203 and 204 on adverse childhood experiences. 

In today’s episode of the podcast, we are joined by Dr. Adam Borecky. Dr. Borecky is a psychiatrist and therapist who helped author the Connection Index and is part of Dr. Puder’s core team. His practice utilizes a holistic approach towards therapy and medication management.

In this episode, we welcome back Dr. Michael Cummings to answer questions sent in by podcast listeners. Topics include Valproic Acid, Lithium, Treating Veterans, Restless Leg Syndrome, and much more. 

In this episode, we discuss “reflective function,” which is a precursor to the concept of mentalization. Reflective function is best understood not as synonymous with mentalization, but as a scale from -1 to 9, based off certain adult attachment interview questions that measure the person’s ability to describe their own and others’ internal states, motivations, and articulate a nuanced and unique understanding of life from 0 to 12 years old. This scale was developed by attachment researchers at the University of London, including Dr. Howard Steele and Dr. Peter Fonagy.

In today’s episode, we talk with Dr. Bruce Perry who co-authored, The Boy Who Was Raised As A Dog, Born For Love: Why Empathy is Essential and Endangered, and What Happened to You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing (2021). We are also joined by Megan White Zappitelli, M.D., a child and adolescent psychiatrist, and Maddison Hussey, M.D., a child and adolescent fellow. 

In this episode, we are joined by a panel of experts to discuss treatment of psychosis. Experiences of psychosis are common. When these experiences lead to interference in achieving life goals and/or distress, individuals can benefit from seeking evidenced-based care. The earlier individuals experiencing psychosis come to treatment, the better the outcomes. We are all allies in connecting these young people to care and services. Recovery is possible—people living with psychosis experiences can lead full, meaningful, and fulfilling lives. 

In this episode, we welcome back fan favorite Dr. Michael Cummings and ask questions sent in by listeners. Topics include Schizophrenia, Social Media Trends, and the SSRI controversy. We are thrilled to dedicate an episode that allows individuals to ask pointed questions and glean from Dr. Cummings' expertise. 

Learning how to approach patients with PTSD and severe trauma is necessary to help long term. Dr. Patricia Resick has plenty of experience in dealing with PTSD and is on the podcast today, sharing her wisdom so that we may better serve patients suffering from trauma. 

Therapies of depth, insight, and relationship have been missing from, if not pushed out of, the public conversation on mental health treatment. After decades of attack from multiple fronts, these therapies are misunderstood, undervalued, and overlooked by the general public. In order to address this challenge and change this trajectory, we must start by listening to the public and understand their needs, values, and preferences about therapy. Dr. Linda Michaels and colleagues conducted an extensive research project, leveraging qualitative and quantitative tools and techniques widely used in the corporate world, focused on “listening” to the public and understanding what people want and need from therapy. 

Linda Michaels, PsyD, MBA, is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Chicago. She is also chair and co-founder of the Psychotherapy Action Network (PsiAN), a non-profit that advocates for quality therapy. 

Link to blog here.