In the first part of our episode on the Finding My Psych Podcast, I respond to a series of comments left for our production team.  After looking around the Finding My Psych website, a listener was disgruntled with our emphasis on diet and plant-based living.  The listener expressed anger that none of the folks on our team are 'actually' vegans.

In a previous article reviewing 25 tips for improving depression, we provided a brief overview of our go-to biopsychosocial approach to care using the CHANGES model.  We heard from many of our readers wanting a drill-down into the specifics nuances - We chose to put our response into the format of a podcast episode!

We dive into a short discussion on how to manage the flow of negative information.  In the current political environment, it is easy to believe that what we consume, no matter now outrageous, only has entertainment value.  On the show, we assert that a constant diet of news, radio, and mindless Facebook feed scrolling, over time drags you down.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) has few limits in terms of where it can be applied.  Traditionally, CBT was utilized as an augmenting tool in the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder.  Early theorists noticed that those experiencing a dysphoric episode, expressed distinct patters in thought, separate from the general population.

In today's episode, the first in a series about Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, we discuss cognitive distortions as the antecedents to poor mood outcomes.  It is understood that everyone participates in cognitive distortions at one level or another.

Learn about the theory that continues to challenge the status-quo throughout our mental health and substance misuse service continuum.  Be willing to forget everything you know about mental health treatment, (e.g., clinical depression), and problem solving - We challenge you to try on a new perspective for the next 40 minutes.

The US Department of Health and Human Services' Children's Bureau, report that 9.2% of all victimized children are sexually assaulted (2010).  Furthermore, Dr. David Finkelhor, director of Crimes against Children Research Center, reports that up to 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 20 boys become victims of sexual abuse.

Belonging to an athletics community is predictive of lifelong health and fitness.  Whether you are a member of a running club, or hit the gym regularly with a best friend, doing your chosen activity together improves motivation and solidifies commitment.  This is the biopsychosocial perspective at its best.  Moreover, the outcomes are synergistic in nature.

As requested by our listeners, today, we discuss effective communication.  Mastering communication at home and at work, comes with a set of prerequisite.  Becoming a, 'communication ninja,' requires commitment to a positive outcome, and the ability to know when to step away when the conversation turns negative.

"We want our waterways here for our grandchildren."

Sustainability Through Fitness Communities

Belonging to an athletics community is predictive of lifelong health and fitness.  Whether you are a member of a running club, or hit the gym regularly with a best friend, doing your chosen activity together improves motivation and solidifies commitment.  This is holistic health at its best.  The biopsychosocial outcomes are synergistic in nature.

Today's Episode on Finding My Psych

Estelle Matheson and I sit down over coffee to catch up on her past year.  As a paddler from Vancouver BC, Estelle has participated in a variety of local races and is an active member of the Jericho Paddlign Club.  She enjoys hitting the water with both an outrigger and stand-up paddle board (SUP).  You can find her almost daily along English Bay and up the Burrard Inlet pushing waves.

Athletics and Activism

In our conversation today, we discuss Estelle's paddling adventures and recent activism.  She has been a part of a series of Kinder Morgan pipeline protests taking place along the Burrard Inlet and BC Coastline.  Estelle describes the close bond and strong sense of environmental activism in the paddling community, something rarely seen in other sports (such as running).