542. If you’ve ever obsessed over your sleep score, treated self-help like homework, or tried to “maximize” a vacation, you know how easily optimization becomes its own exhausting job. Culture tells us to upgrade everything—habits, productivity, even our emotions—but at a certain point, trying to be our “best self” backfires. This week, instead of automatically optimizing your life, here are five questions to help you step back, recalibrate, and remember what actually matters.

Find Dr. Ellen Hendriksen on Substack.

Find Dr. Jade Wu on her website.

Find a transcript here.

Have a mental health question? Email us at [email protected].

Find Savvy Psychologist on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to the newsletter for more psychology tips.

Savvy Psychologist is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips.

Links: 
https://quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologist
https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist
https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych

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541. Today, we hear from two of our past hosts of the Savvy Psychologist. Dr. Ellen Hendriksen and Dr. Jade Wu. They will tell us what they’ve been up to and set the stage for exciting weeks ahead for the show. While we work to fill the seat of the amazing Dr. Monica Johnson, Drs. Hendriksen and Wu will deliver mental health wisdom you are used to. Today, they chat about the meaning of a psychologist's work, the biggest challenges in mental health, and what you can look forward to on the show.

Find Dr. Ellen Hendriksen on Substack.

Find Dr. Jade Wu on her website.

Have a mental health question? Email us at [email protected].

Find Savvy Psychologist on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to the newsletter for more psychology tips.

Savvy Psychologist is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips.

Links: 
https://quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologist
https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist
https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

540. On her final episode, Dr. Monica Johnson shares a brain dump of quick and dirty tips to help listeners build a life worth living. She looks at the benefits of being DUMB—an acronym covering Decode/Disrupt patterns, Uncomfortable Engagement, Meaning-Making/Mastery, and Belonging.

Find a transcript here. 

Savvy Psychologist is hosted by Dr. Monica Johnson. 

Have a mental health question? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at 929-256-2191. 

Find Savvy Psychologist on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to the newsletter for more psychology tips.

Savvy Psychologist is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips.

Links: 
https://quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologist
https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist
https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych
https://www.kindmindpsych.com/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

539. Dissociation is a normal human experience, but when it's outside of normal limits, it can be dysregulating. In this episode, Dr. Monica Johnson and Alexandra Mejia look at the signs of structural dissociation, the importance of building a baseline of coping skills, and the need for trauma-informed, integrated therapy (like DBT and somatic work) for long-term healing.

Learn more about Sasha at her practice, MindfulInsightsMHC.

Find a transcript here. 

Savvy Psychologist is hosted by Dr. Monica Johnson. 

Have a mental health question? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at 929-256-2191. 

Find Savvy Psychologist on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to the newsletter for more psychology tips.

Savvy Psychologist is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips.

Links: 
https://quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologist
https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist
https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych
https://www.kindmindpsych.com/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

538. Loss is inevitable, but grief is our emotional response to what is gone. In this episode, Dr. Monica Johnson and psychotherapist Hilary Bucell look at the differences between grief and depression and discuss various forms of loss, including ambiguous loss (like dementia or divorce) and disenfranchised grief (loss that society doesn't acknowledge).

Learn more about Hilary Bucell at her practice, integrativepsychwellness.com.

Find a transcript here. 

Savvy Psychologist is hosted by Dr. Monica Johnson. 

Have a mental health question? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at 929-256-2191. 

Find Savvy Psychologist on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to the newsletter for more psychology tips.

Savvy Psychologist is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips.

Links: 
https://quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologist
https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist
https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych
https://www.kindmindpsych.com/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

537. You don't have to suffer through the winter months. In this episode, Dr. Monica Johnson looks at how to create a multi-faceted approach to wellness for SAD. She looks at the importance of regulating your sleep schedule, boosting natural light exposure, and using behavioral activation to combat the urge to withdraw and isolate yourself.

Find a transcript here. 

Savvy Psychologist is hosted by Dr. Monica Johnson. 

Have a mental health question? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at 929-256-2191. 

Find Savvy Psychologist on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to the newsletter for more psychology tips.

Savvy Psychologist is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips.

Links: 
https://quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologist
https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist
https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych
https://www.kindmindpsych.com/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

536. Sleep isn't a luxury; it's a foundational deposit in your "mental health bank." In this episode, Dr. Monica Johnson looks at why consistent sleep is essential for mood, memory, immunity, and heart health. She looks at the minimum recommended sleep amount and discusses the positive ripple effects of protecting your rest.

Episodes related to this one: 

• Hello Sleep #1: 4 biggest myths about sleep
• Hello Sleep #2: Got a busy brain at night? Here’s how to calm it and get back to sleep.
• Hello Sleep #3: Why perfect sleep hygiene backfires and what to do instead

Find a transcript here. 

Savvy Psychologist is hosted by Dr. Monica Johnson. 

Have a mental health question? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at 929-256-2191. 

Find Savvy Psychologist on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to the newsletter for more psychology tips.

Savvy Psychologist is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips.

Links: 
https://quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologist
https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist
https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych
https://www.kindmindpsych.com/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

535. Deceptive behaviors around illness are often signs of deep, unmet emotional needs. In this episode, Dr. Monica Johnson looks at the severe medical and psychological costs of factitious disorder and malingering. She looks at how to recognize these patterns and discusses how specific therapies like CBT and DBT can help an individual build a life based on authenticity.

Find a transcript here. 

Savvy Psychologist is hosted by Dr. Monica Johnson. 

Have a mental health question? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at 929-256-2191. 

Find Savvy Psychologist on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to the newsletter for more psychology tips.

Savvy Psychologist is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips.

Links: 
https://quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologist
https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist
https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych
https://www.kindmindpsych.com/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

534. Money isn't just about numbers; it's deeply emotional. In this episode, Dr. Monica Johnson looks at the psychology behind your financial habits, including the money scripts you absorbed in childhood and how your brain categorizes money. She looks at why you feel a certain way about spending, saving, and debt.

Find a transcript here. 

Savvy Psychologist is hosted by Dr. Monica Johnson. 

Have a mental health question? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at 929-256-2191. 

Find Savvy Psychologist on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to the newsletter for more psychology tips.

Savvy Psychologist is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips.

Links: 
https://quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologist
https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist
https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych
https://www.kindmindpsych.com/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

533. Do you snap at your loved ones, shut down in meetings, or go to great lengths to please others? In this episode, Dr. Monica Johnson looks at the four survival responses: fight, flight, freeze, and fawn. She looks at how these deeply rooted biological reactions manifest in your daily life and offers strategies for understanding your nervous system's attempts to keep you safe.

Find a transcript here. 

Savvy Psychologist is hosted by Dr. Monica Johnson. 

Have a mental health question? Email us at [email protected] or leave a voicemail at 929-256-2191. 

Find Savvy Psychologist on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to the newsletter for more psychology tips.

Savvy Psychologist is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips.

Links: 
https://quickanddirtytips.com/savvy-psychologist
https://www.facebook.com/savvypsychologist
https://twitter.com/qdtsavvypsych
https://www.kindmindpsych.com/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.