Shrinks Rap

Dr. Jim Bramson interviews the self-described “Resolutionary” Stewart Levine, Esq.

Stewart Levine is an attorney, poet, artist, concerned citizen, and thought leader in the field of conflict resolution. His earliest books, “Getting to Resolution” and “The Book of Agreement,” shaped the field of conflict resolution and collaborative law. Stewart’s model has been utilized by shrinks, mediators, corporate leaders, educators, lawyers, and peaceniks. Stewart has done it all and seen it all. He has consulted with the Harvard Law School, World Bank, Visa, Nvidia, and has even taught at the Esalen Institute - - where we first met.

Stewart is a living example of evolutionary consciousness. He cares about people and the planet we inhabit. Currently Stewart is offering a COVID safe on-line conflict resolution course via (ResolutionWorks.com). Stewart jokes that he is all about “Resolutionary” consciousness. He even sees his model as quite simpatico with Buddhist Psychology. Levine believes human beings need to resolve their conflict with the environment and become better planetary citizens. Otherwise, Earth will go on without us. Yes, there is a new book in the works about this subject and much more.

In Stewart’s last book, “Being The Best Lawyer You Can Be: A Guide to Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Wellness” he notes how attorneys are facing an alarming mental health, physical, and spiritual crisis. Lawyers have higher rates of depression, anxiety, and addiction compared to other professions. His book on the subject has been adopted by The American Bar Association and many law schools. As if that were not enough, Stewart is a prolific poet. He shares two of his stellar poems with us before he drops the mic and exits the podcast studio. I call him my Amanda Gorman. 

WCMI networking group
A networking group for mindfulness-focused clinicians dedicated to learning together & collaborating for more information click here

Dr. Jim Bramson Interviews Dr. Marty Klein 

Dr. Marty Klein has appeared on Oprah and Dr. Phil sharing his expertise on sex. He covers many topics in this podcast, including pornography (His Porn, Her Pain), the U.S’s war on sex, cultural differences in sexual expression and repression, how men and women are more alike than different, parenting non-binary or LBGTQIA children. Going beyond knowing which pronoun to use.  

Dr. Klein is smart, witty, and pragmatic. He breaks down what we should all know about sex, but are afraid to ask. After listening to this podcast, you may want to purchase one of his books listed below or subscribe to his news letter, You Tube channel, or —if you are lucky enough to get an appointment— work with Marty. Dr. Klein trains clinicians at major conferences throughout the world, has a travel log, and plays music in his spare time. 

Jim coaxed Marty into training  EBMC clinicians. He is teaching his staff couples therapy and sex therapy. Dr. Klein has participated in Drinks with Shrinks events and other WCMI activities as part of Jim’s networking group for professionals. In fact, Dr. Klein will be doing a course for WCMI, focused on helping parents. He will cover many contemporary topics, including how to connect with your non-binary teen. 

Marty is an original thinker. He demystifies many of our assumptions about human sexuality. He also knows what will help most of us experience greater intimacy with our partners. Dr. Klein has helped many couples experience greater sexual gratification by learning how to communicate better with one another. Dr. Klein explains some of his methods and techniques in this podcast. You are in for a treat. 

Your Sexual Secrets: When to Keep Them, When & How to Tell. Dutton. 1988. ISBN 978-0525247166.

• Ask Me ... Anything: Dr. Klein Answers the Sex Questions You'd Love to Ask. Simon & Schuster/Fireside. 1996. ISBN 978-0970452634.
• Klein, Marty; Robbins, Riki (1999). Let Me Count the Ways: Discovering Great Sex Without Intercourse. Tarcher. ISBN 978-0874779561.
• Beyond Orgasm: Dare to Be Honest about the Sex You Really Want. Ten Speed Press. 2002. ISBN 978-1587611681.
• America's War on Sex: The Continuing Attack on Law, Lust, and Liberty. Praeger. 2006. ISBN 978-1440801280.
• Sexual Intelligence: What We Really Want from Sex - and How to Get It. HarperCollins. 2012. ISBN 978-0062098580.
• His Porn, Her Pain: 

WCMI networking group
A networking group for mindfulness-focused clinicians dedicated to learning together & collaborating for more information click here

Rafael Cortina, MFT, interviews the consummate over-achiever Kristine Jackson, LCSW, CEDS, CETII, CP, PAT

Kristine Jackson is our official record-setter for the most credentials following her name. Ready for it: Kristine Jackson, LCSW, CEDS, CETII, CP, PAT. In this podcast, Rafael and Kristine discuss her current role as an Associate Clinical Director for Onsite. In her position, she provides oversight and leadership to Onsite programming and therapists.

Kristine received her social work degree from the illustrious University of Pennsylvania. After that, she headed to UCLA for a certification program in co-occurring disorders. If that were not enough, Kristine worked as a Clinical Director of mental health, addictions and eating disorder programs for nearly two decades. As a life-long learner, Kristine is certified in several modalities including Play Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Brief Strategic Family Therapy (BSFT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Eating Disorders (CEDS), Daring Way (DWCF-C) and Experiential Therapy (CET I).

Rafael and Kristine have great chemistry and rapport. They will put you in a semi trance and it won't be easy to stop the episode. Beware! Rafael and Kristine will touch your heart and engage your brain. They discover each other's humanity and passion for the craft. So grab your coffee and hit play. 

WCMI networking group
A networking group for mindfulness-focused clinicians dedicated to learning together & collaborating for more information click here

Jim & Rafael Rap about Football & Mastering the Inner Game. 

In this podcast, Rafael and Jim tackle football, male depression, fanaticism, fatherhood, and evolutionary consciousness. Rafael and Jim explore why football fans feel so downtrodden when their team loses. They ponder why we even watch football in the first place. After all, football is a violent game that can result in concussions, broken ribs, torn ACLs, or worse. Yet this game is incredibly fun to watch for many people, including Jim & Rafael. It is a guilty pleasure. It gives men a chance to bond and to be emotionally demonstrative around other men. 

Jim has worked with professional athletes to help them improve performance and heal from head injuries. However, that work has not prepared him to handle his Lions losing all the time. In this podcast, both Rafael and Jim share their thoughts about managing disappointment and learning to take the wins and losses in stride. Rafael reveals how his value is no longer attached to the final score. He bounces back more quickly than he used to and explains how and why.

There is value in learning that our value is not tied to our team’s performance, or anyone else’s. We all must learn to be more zen when the people we really root for let us down, or we let them down.

If you are a Detroit Lions fan, there is little we can offer you in this podcast. We just want to say we are sorry you have suffered since 1958 - - and the curse of Bobby Lane will end some day. If you are a 49ers fan, you have mostly good karma coming your way (fun while it lasted) and you should absolutely listen to this entire podcast.

WCMI networking group
A networking group for mindfulness-focused clinicians dedicated to learning together & collaborating for more information click here

WCMI networking group
A networking group for mindfulness-focused clinicians dedicated to learning together & collaborating for more information click here

Josh Kornbluth is a mono-linguist, film maker, humorist, theatre performer, and activist who was raised by Stalinist parents Bunny and Paul in NYC. Josh admits that his oboe- playing likely helped more than his athletic prowess in landing him a scholarship at Princeton.  

A self-described “Red Diaper Baby,” his indoctrination into communism by left-leaning Jewish parents inspired a one-man show and featured film. In this podcast, Josh talks about his film “Haiku Tunnel” and the fanfare around the announcement that the film had made it into Sundance Film Festival (they forgot to call him). Josh jokes about his wife’s anxiety about left turns and neglecting taxes, and how he dedicated a play and movie to her called “Love and Taxes.” Josh explores a doorway metaphor, and its relevance to caring for his mom who suffers from Alzheimer’s and his stint as an “artist in residence” at a hospice, The Zen Hospice Project. 

Because this is ShrinksRap Josh opened up about his connection to psychotherapy, including his feelings of guilt that his long-term Jungian analyst likely retired because of him, and his confusion even today over what Jungian Psychotherapy actually is. 

WCMI networking group
A networking group for mindfulness-focused clinicians dedicated to learning together & collaborating for more information click here

Andre DeCary will challenge listeners to draw on their authenticity and curiosity to lovingly embrace their inner critic. He discusses his breakdown and breakthrough. Andre shares how he transcended his own ego state and inner critic . . . by dropping into his body and heart, and summoning courage. Andre discusses how his experiences as a monk in India led him to seek the “untruth” — that is, to challenge what’s commonly held as true. He studied acupuncture, chiropractic medicine, somatic psychology, and reluctantly, psychotherapy. Today he is the master of his craft, a certified Gestalt and Hakomi therapist, and the shrinks’ shrink. Tune in as Andre details a process sure to enhance your mindfulness practice, by nurturing an inner dialectic that is respectful, loving, and kind. 

WCMI networking group
A networking group for mindfulness-focused clinicians dedicated to learning together & collaborating for more information click here

In this episode, Dr. Jim discusses the topic of elite achievement with his old friend and esteemed colleague, Dr. Susan Bernstein. Dr. Bernstein uses her wit and personal stories to illustrate how Anxious Achievers can optimize their experience and contribution. On the one hand, they are conscientious, needing to prove themselves, perfectionistic, and aiming to please others. This mix of qualities often yields good —if not great —outcomes in the workplace. Yet, Anxious Achievers need to learn how to dial it back, to prevent burning out, getting caught up in people pleasing, overworking, and being dispirited. Dr. Bernstein has made a huge impact as a thought leader, business coach, consultant, and somatic healer. She holds an M.B.A. from the University of California at Berkeley and a doctorate in Psychology. She has honed her craft at FranklinCovy, Intel, Accenture, and select startup companies in the Bay Area and beyond. She is also a champion of the human potential movement in the workplace - - and has taught at Esalen.  A sought-after trainer, listen to how Dr. Bernstein coaches Anxious Achievers . . . and makes her old pal Dr. Jim laugh. Why? Because maybe he is one of them.

WCMI networking group
A networking group for mindfulness-focused clinicians dedicated to learning together & collaborating for more information click here

WCMI networking group
A networking group for mindfulness-focused clinicians dedicated to learning together & collaborating for more information click here

WCMI networking group
A networking group for mindfulness-focused clinicians dedicated to learning together & collaborating for more information click here