Mind Dive

Dr. Meredith Gansner discusses the complex relationship between teen depression and social media, drawing from her groundbreaking research and clinical experience as a child psychiatrist at Boston Children's Hospital. Far from offering simplistic condemnations of digital technology, she presents a nuanced view of how social media both helps and harms vulnerable young people.The conversation reveals how depressed teens often turn to social media as a coping mechanism—finding temporary relief from symptoms through distraction, connection, and validation online. Yet this same engagement can paradoxically intensify isolation, disrupt healthy behaviors like sleep and exercise, and expose teens to potentially harmful content about depression and suicide that doesn't follow safe messaging guidelines.Rather than advocating for rigid restrictions, she encourages a family-based approach to screen time, urging parents to model healthy digital habits and prioritize teaching digital literacy over relying solely on parental control tools. Dr. Gansner emphasizes the importance of open, ongoing conversations about digital media, steering away from abstinence-only mindsets. For more insights on supporting teens in the digital age, listeners are encouraged to check out her book, Teen Depression Gone Viral. For clinicians, educators, and parents struggling to support depressed teens in our digital age, this conversation offers practical wisdom and a balanced perspective that acknowledges both the genuine benefits and serious risks of social media in young lives.Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Mind Dive episodes. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit The Menninger Clinic website to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health.

What happens when neurodiverse children transition to adulthood without crucial life skills? Kristen Lombardi and Dr. Christine Drew tackle this pressing question in their groundbreaking book "Spectrum of Independence." Drawing from decades of professional experience, they reveal how many children with autism and intellectual disabilities "graduate to the couch" after school ends, lacking the fundamental skills needed for meaningful independence.The conversation unpacks their innovative approach to teaching daily living skills, starting with task analysis—breaking seemingly simple routines like toothbrushing into manageable components. This method transforms overwhelming challenges into achievable goals, allowing parents to pinpoint exactly where their child struggles instead of giving up entirely. "It's not that they can't brush their teeth," Lombardi explains, "it's that they can't complete specific steps within that process."Perhaps most remarkable is their emphasis on starting early. While many parents focus on academics, waiting until adolescence to address independence creates missed opportunities. Teaching a seven-year-old to shower independently provides years of practice before the pressures of adulthood arrive. As Dr. Drew powerfully notes, "People with disabilities' worlds get really small, really fast if we're not careful"—highlighting how limited independence restricts future options for housing, employment, and community involvement.The authors balance practical advice with compassionate realism, acknowledging that independence exists on a spectrum. Their message resonates with profound hope: regardless of where a child falls on that spectrum, progress is possible with the right teaching approach. "We can always teach one more skill," Dr. Drew reminds listeners, offering a lifeline to parents navigating the challenging journey of raising neurodiverse children.Ready to transform your approach to teaching independence? Check out "Spectrum of Independence" and discover practical strategies to expand your child's capabilities and future possibilities.Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Mind Dive episodes. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit The Menninger Clinic website to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health.

Sleep takes up nearly a third of a patient's life, yet its importance to mental health outcomes has been drastically understated in therapeutic conversations. Dr. Myrtle Jeroudi, a neurologist at The Menninger Clinic, weighs in on how deeply intertwined sleep disruption is to mental health disorders and why asking the right questions regarding sleep is a crucial step in clinical assessments. A patient's disrupted sleep habits often signal deeper disturbances and, if left untreated, can lead to worsening symptoms. Early sleep intervention in treatment can lead to better sleep hygiene and habits, potentially eliminating the need for medication-based intervention. As more and more individuals seeking mental health care report sleep issues nationwide, Dr. Jeroudi stresses the need for clinicians to perform robust sleep assessments for better therapeutic outcomes and improved long-term health.  “When you don't sleep well, your mood is going to be impacted, but the way we've understood this relationship has changed to be bi-directional, where one affects the other,” notes Dr. Jeroudi. “So, if you have depression or anxiety, you're not getting good sleep. And when you have those bad nights of sleep or poor quality of sleep, it's going to impact how severe your mood disorder is too.”  Dr. Myrtle Jeroudi, MD, is a staff neurologist with the Menninger Clinic's Sleep Medicine Service and is an assistant professor in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine. She is board certified in neurology, clinical neurophysiology and sleep medicine. Her research has been published in peer-reviewed journals that include the Journal of Neurotrauma and Epilepsia and Seizure: European Journal of Epilepsy. Dr. Jeroudi earned her bachelor's degrees in biology and medicine and society from Washington University in St. Louis and her medical degree from UT Southwestern Medical School. Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Mind Dive episodes. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit The Menninger Clinic website to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health.

Burnout in health care settings is an all-too-common struggle for healthcare professionals. This month Dr. Jessi Gold explores the toll of the pandemic on health care workers and how these workers can overcome the emotional and psychological exhaustion that accompanies such a demanding field. The dangers of allowing burnout to fester can be catastrophic, not just for the individual, but for health systems as a whole, as the silent suffering of their workers can lead to inefficiencies in care and loss of public trust.  She discusses her framework for confronting burnout and shares her approach of being vulnerable as a therapist with these patients to help encourage them to open up since they are so used to hiding their suffering. Dr. Jessi Gold, M.D., serves as the inaugural Chief Wellness Officer for the University of Tennessee System and as an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Dr. Gold graduated from the Yale School of Medicine and has received numerous awards and accolades for her contributions in mental health and psychiatry, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her first book, “HOW DO YOU FEEL?: One Doctor's Search for Humanity in Medicine,” is available now and explores the personal tolls of a career spent healing others.  “We've long believed that somehow if we just tried harder, this really hard thing that we do, where we listen to people's traumas and problems, that if we just became numb to it, that it won't affect us,” notes  Dr. Gold. “Thinking like that never made sense to me. Of course, it affects us and, while it's not a weakness, it is something that we have to prepare for and factor into our approach.” Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Mind Dive episodes. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit The Menninger Clinic website to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health.

The story of the Menninger Clinic is rooted in the history of psychiatry in the United States. To start the new year, we have our very own Dr. Walter Menninger on the podcast to share the hidden history of the Menninger Clinic. Drawing inspiration from his memoir, “Like What You Do,” Dr. Menninger shares anecdotes from his forensic psychology career and how Menninger Clinic faced the challenges of psychiatry in the 20th century. Dr. Menninger reflects on the institutional changes Menninger has made throughout the decades to elevate itself from other providers and cement its place as a national leader in mental healthcare.   Dr. Walter Menninger, M.D., served as the dean of the Karl Menninger School of Psychiatry and Mental Health Science and served as the CEO of the Menninger Clinic before his retirement in 2001. Dr. Menninger's specialty in the field of forensic psychiatry led him to serve on numerous boards and committees across the U.S. to reform prisoners and prison mental healthcare as well as inform law enforcement procedures at the state and federal levels for violence prevention. Dr. Menninger authored a national column on psychiatry and served as editor of Psychiatry Digest. His latest book, “Like What You Do,” reflects on his personal career as well as the legacy of being the third generation of the Menninger family.   “It's hard for a free fish to understand what is happening to a hooked one,” Dr. Menninger remarked. “Empathy is crucial for successful treatment and what my father and brother centered the Menninger Clinic mission around.”  Learn more about Dr. Menninger and his legacy as a mental health leader in this special Mind Dive conversation. Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Mind Dive episodes. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit The Menninger Clinic website to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health.

How much do you know about milieu therapy and how it works?  This episode of The Menninger Clinic's Mind Dive Podcast features Michael McClam, MD, medical director for Menninger's youth division, for a conversation about milieu therapy and how clinicians and patients play an active role in its effectiveness. It also explores the hidden dynamics that emerge within communal therapy.  Dr. McClam shares his wisdom about the challenges and rewards that clinicians face as they navigate patient relationships and team dynamics within milieu therapy. Drawing from his experiences running milieu treatment at Menninger, Dr. McClam addresses the complexity of authority and clinical distance while building patient trust and developing the crucial connection needed for communal therapy.  Dr. Michael McClam, MD, FAPA, is board certified in psychiatry and works on Menninger's Compass Program for Young Adults. He also is an assistant professor in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine and previously served as director of admissions. “There's an intentionality to our thinking about relationships,” says Dr. McClam. “We help them foster, develop, maintain relationships and be curious about the whole unit as everyone there contributes to the therapeutic environment.”  Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Mind Dive episodes. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit The Menninger Clinic website to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health.

Ever wondered how personal struggles can shape one's professional journey for the better? Join us as Dr. Christine Yu Moutier, Chief Medical Officer at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), shares how her own mental health crisis during medical school became a catalyst for her lifelong dedication to suicide prevention. Dr. Moutier reveals the deeply personal experiences, including the loss of colleagues and students, that propelled her into a national role where she uses public health strategies to address this critical issue. Her story is a testament to the profound influence of lived experiences on one's career focus and advocacy.Our conversation uncovers the pivotal evolution in the understanding of suicide, moving away from stigmatizing language to a more nuanced health perspective. Equipped with insights from Thomas Joyner's interpersonal theory of suicide, Dr. Moutier challenges prevalent myths and emphasizes the importance of viewing suicide as a multifactorial health issue similar to heart disease. By integrating various research disciplines, we unlock a comprehensive understanding of suicide risk factors, aiming to enhance our ability to support individuals facing crises.We also shed light on AFSP's robust public health approach, from the significant impact of the Out of the Darkness Walks to innovative awareness campaigns like Real Convo and Seize the Awkward. Discover the power of community involvement and gatekeeper training, as we discuss partnerships with industries and the importance of recognizing mental health changes. This episode offers valuable resources and calls to action for clinicians and community members alike, underscoring the critical role each of us plays in suicide prevention.Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Mind Dive episodes. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit The Menninger Clinic website to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health.

Unlock the secrets to lasting behavior change with the pioneering insights of Dr. Carlo DiClemente, co-developer of the trans-theoretical model of behavior change. Prepare to be inspired as Dr. DiClemente takes us on his remarkable journey from a Roman Catholic priesthood to becoming a trailblazing psychologist. Discover the early research and innovative interventions that he and Dr. Jim Prochaska developed to help individuals overcome smoking addiction, and learn how their findings still resonate in therapeutic settings today.Handling ambivalence in therapy can be tricky, but with the right tools, you can make a substantial difference. This episode delves into using cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing to navigate patients' varying levels of readiness for change. Learn how connecting personal values to therapeutic goals can empower clients and why creating an environment for open dialogue about ambivalence is essential. Dr. DiClemente shares his wisdom on fostering internal decisional balance without imposing your own biases, a critical insight for any clinician.Relapse doesn't have to signify failure—it can be a powerful learning experience. Dr. DiClemente sheds light on the non-linear nature of change, especially in addiction recovery, emphasizing the importance of intrinsic motivation for long-term success. We explore the concept of relapse and recycling, balancing motivations, and why clinicians need to support patients' journeys rather than trying to "fix" them. Whether you're a mental health professional or someone interested in the psychology of change, this episode offers valuable perspectives on human agency, recovery, and maintaining a healthier approach to therapeutic relationships.Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Mind Dive episodes. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit The Menninger Clinic website to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health.

David Miklowitz, Ph.D., has been pioneering family psychoeducational treatments for bipolar disorder by integrating psychotherapy and family therapy with medication. Dr. Miklowitz's research emphasizes the critical role families play in identifying the early signs of bipolar disorder and how family members can help a patient implement effective strategies in managing their symptoms.  This episode of Menninger Clinic's Mind Dive Podcast features Dr. Miklowitz, accomplished psychologist and author, joining Menninger Clinic clinicians and co-hosts Dr. Kerry Horrell  and Dr. Bob Boland for a comprehensive look at bipolar disorder, its effect on family dynamics and how patients and their families can work together to better navigate life after a diagnosis. Dr. Miklowitz is a professor of Psychiatry at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Medicine and a senior clinical researcher at the University of Oxford. He directs the Child and Adolescent Mood Disorders Program and the Integrative Study Center in Mood Disorders at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior. Dr. Miklowitz is also a renowned author and his latest book, “Living Well with Bipolar Disorder: Practical Strategies for Improving Your Daily Life”, will be available September 16th, 2024.   “There is a grief over the lost healthy self where people start thinking of their lives as bifurcated before and after they became ill,” Dr. Miklowitz mentioned. “We try to help normalize it and help them figure out what is their personality versus their disorder.” Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Mind Dive episodes. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit The Menninger Clinic website to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health.

Willem Kuyken, Ph.D., has been at the forefront of merging Eastern mindfulness practices with Western psychological standards. Dr. Kuyken's academic work significantly contributed to the World Health Organization's Quality of Life measure which set the standard for evaluating an individual's perception of their position in life across cultural and national boundaries. Drawing on his years of experience, Dr. Kuyken discusses how important mindfulness practices are in clinical settings and how to move those practices into a patient's daily life and form them into independent habits. This episode of Menninger Clinic's Mind Dive Podcast features Dr. Kuyken, accomplished psychologist author joining hosts Dr. Kerry Horrell  and Dr. Bob Boland for a conversation on mindfulness practices, their importance in clinical settings and how to turn mindfulness practices from task-related labors to an ongoing enriching experience.  Dr. Kuyken is a scientist and author, and serves as a professor of Mindfulness and Psychological Science at the University of Oxford, and director of the University of Oxford Mindfulness Centre. Dr. Kuyken's latest book, “Mindfulness for Life” releases on October 25th  and is available for pre-order here. “There can be negative thoughts that your mind can place between you and happiness,” said Dr. Kuyken. “I liken these thoughts to wrecking balls and while they are powerful, if you simply step out of their way, they'll pass you by.” Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Mind Dive episodes. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit The Menninger Clinic website to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health.

Dr. Neil Puri is at the forefront of combating treatment-resistant depression, spearheading new ways to use brain stimulation treatment to offer relief to patients. Building off recent advancements in transcranial magnetic stimulation, Dr. Puri's team is using focused bursts of electromagnetism to rewire individual neural pathways in the brain. Dr. Puri explains how this tailored approach allows for treatment plans unique to the patient and has resulted in unprecedented levels of success with patients for whom traditional depression treatment plans have not been effective.  This episode of Menninger Clinic's Mind Dive Podcast features one of our own, Dr. Puri, an accomplished psychiatrist and director of Menninger's Center for Brain Stimulation joining hosts Dr. Kerry Horrell  and Dr. Bob Boland for a behind the scenes look at fMRI-guided transcranial magnetic stimulation and how it can be a game changer for patients with treatment-resistant depression.  Dr. Puri is the medical director for both the Adult Division and the Center for Brain Stimulation at the Menninger Clinic and is an assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine. He is board certified in psychiatry and earned his medical degree and undergraduate degree at Northwestern University.  “Our conventional treatments only go so far, only about two-thirds of individuals will achieve relief,” said Dr. Puri. “We need cutting edge treatments to disrupt the treatment field of depression so we can find new ways to treat those one-third of people who are unable to benefit from traditional treatment.”  Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Mind Dive episodes. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit The Menninger Clinic website to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health.

William R Miller, PhD, is one of the pioneers of motivational interviewing, a psychological technique that helps individuals overcome apathy and create change in their lives. Dr. Miller's research has become the standard practice in psychology, especially when clinicians are treating patients with addictive behaviors and patients who are recovering from depression that need help reigniting their personal motivation. His latest book, “8 Ways to Hope: Charting a Path through Uncertain Times,” which releases August 2024, takes lessons from Dr. Miller's research and applies them to the bridge between psychology and hope.   This episode of Menninger Clinic's Mind Dive podcast features Dr. Miller, accomplished psychologist and author, joining us for a conversation about hope and his findings on the psychological effects of optimism versus pessimism. Dr. Miller also shares a sneak peek into his latest work which explores the varying types of hope and how to foster self-efficacy during difficult times.   Dr. Miller was a clinical psychologist at the University of New Mexico for 30 years where he retired as emeritus distinguished professor psychology and psychiatry. Dr. Miller has continued to publish in his retirement and has seven books in his bibliography, including this latest one. All of Dr. Miller's titles can be found on his website.“Hope is something that we can do when we're uncertain,” says Dr. Clark. “It's the opposite of fear... fear is imagining a dreadful future and hope is imagining a better future.  You can actually experience these emotions simultaneously and that's when hope becomes a choice.”  Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Mind Dive episodes. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit The Menninger Clinic website to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health.

Have you ever found solace in the rhythmic verses of a poem or the gentle brushstrokes of a painting? Dr. Frank Clark joins us to reveal the extraordinary synergy between psychiatry and the arts, and how this fusion enhances the therapeutic journey. Raised in Chicago, where culture thrived around every corner, Dr. Clark was imbued with an appreciation for the arts from an early age. As an adult outpatient psychiatrist and clinical associate professor, he brings the healing power of poetry into his patient sessions, offering a unique conclusion to each encounter. His approach is not just about medication or traditional therapy; it's about enriching the soul through the beauty of artistic expression. Imagine leaving your psychiatrist's office with a poem that resonates with your experience – that's the innovative care Dr. Clark champions.Venturing into the realm of self-expression, we touch upon the profound effects of poetry and creativity on mental well-being. I, too, have found that writing poetry can be a lantern in the darkness of depression, a tool for navigating the tumultuous waters of mental health. And it's not just for adults – Dr. Clark's work with children's literature, laced with haiku and affirmations, aims to bolster the mental resilience and self-esteem of the younger generation. His efforts underscore the importance of nurturing the creative voice within each of us, at every age, to foster healing and personal growth. This episode is an ode to the human spirit and its capacity for recovery through the boundless realms of art and poetry.Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Mind Dive episodes. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit The Menninger Clinic website to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health.

Discover the profound insights of Dr. Jonathan Shedler, a leading expert in psychodynamic psychotherapy, as he joins us to unravel the intricate tapestry of the human psyche in therapy. In a landscape where evidence-based treatments are hailed as the gold standard, our conversation spotlights the stark contrast between what clinical trials dictate and the nuanced realities of patient experiences. Dr. Shedler champions the enduring success of psychodynamic methods, which persist as the backbone of effective therapy despite skepticism, while inviting listeners to consider the deeper relational aspects that these approaches offer beyond the superficial labels often attached to them.Navigating beyond the symptom checklist of the DSM, this episode ventures into the critical role of personality in the therapeutic journey. We discuss how mental health issues, intertwined with the fabric of an individual's life, demand an approach that addresses the complex patterns of thinking, feeling, and relating that constitute personality. Dr. Shedler's expertise illuminates the evidence backing psychodynamic therapy and the need for a more holistic treatment paradigm—one that fosters a healthier sense of self and interpersonal connections, rather than isolating problems as discrete disorders.As we bid farewell to Dr. Jonathan Shedler, we reflect on the transformative power of psychoanalytic therapy and its evolution from the days of Freud to contemporary clinical practice. This episode challenges common misconceptions, opening the door to a reimagined approach to psychological education and the importance of a flexible, relationship-focused framework in treatment. With gratitude for Dr. Shedler's advocacy and his eloquent demystification of complex analytic concepts, we celebrate the strides made toward a more accessible and understood psychodynamic therapy. Join us for a journey into the heart of mental health practices that continue to shape and refine the art of healing.Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Mind Dive episodes. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit The Menninger Clinic website to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health.

Ever wondered how a simple conversation about the Chicago weather can lead to profound insights into the human psyche? Dr. Sean Woodstein, a beacon of knowledge in the fields of psychiatry and education, joins us for an invigorating exploration of the oft-overlooked art of mentorship. As we traverse topics from the impact of climate on our moods to the serendipitous paths of our careers, Dr. Woodstein, with his rich background at the University of Illinois at Chicago and Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, demonstrates the profound influence of teaching and guiding in shaping the minds of tomorrow.Our chat with Dr. Woodstein takes a deep dive into the heart of academia. Here, the lines between teaching, mentoring, coaching, and therapy start to blur and reveal the bespoke nature of each approach to personal and professional development. It's a treasure trove of personal anecdotes, insights into the subtleties of mentorship, and a testament to the transformative power of these relationships. As we navigate the narrative of Dr. Woodstein's own journey, we uncover the enchanting chemistry of mentor-mentee dynamics and the intrinsic value these bonds bring to both parties.To cap off, we serve up a guide on how to seek out that ideal mentor – the kind who not only enlightens your professional path but also enriches your personal growth. For those of you yearning to forge your own destiny in psychiatry or any field, Dr. Woodstein's stories underscore the magic of connection and the importance of being involved in your community. By the time you reach the end of our conversation, you'll be equipped with a newfound appreciation for the mentors who ignite our passion and the courage to step into the mentoring spotlight yourself. Join Bob Bowen and Carrie Harrell in this episode that promises to stir the mentor within you.Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Mind Dive episodes. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit The Menninger Clinic website to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health.

Embark on a mesmerizing exploration of the human psyche with Dr. Carla Sharp, who guides us through the labyrinth of personality disorders with the precision of a master clinician and the insight of a top-tier researcher. As we traverse the landscape of developmental psychopathology, Dr. Sharp shares her pioneering work on early intervention and the dynamic nature of personality disorders, challenging the traditional categorical approach. Her expertise shines as we dissect the alternative model in the DSM and the elusive levels of personality organization, offering a fresh perspective on these complex conditions.Our conversation with Dr. Sharp ventures into the HITOP model's major dimensions, revealing how they contribute to a nuanced understanding of disorders like Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Through her lens, we gain clarity on Kernberg's theory of personality's organizing function and the significant role of the Level of Personality Functioning Scale (LPF). Dr. Sharp's insights encourage a shift from stigma-laden labels to a more empathetic view of personality disorders, focusing on relational aspects and treatment possibilities that honor the individual's experience.As the episode reaches its culmination, Dr. Sharp and I tackle the sensitive topic of how we name and classify personality disorders. We scrutinize the term "borderline," its historical baggage, and the impact of diagnostic labels on patient identity. The forthcoming changes, awaiting the American Psychiatric Association's approval, aim to align with the ICD-11's patient-centric framework. This pivotal shift heralds a more nuanced and dignified approach to diagnosis, promising a future where the language of mental health reflects the humanity of those it seeks to help. Join us for this compelling and transformative discussion, as we strive to understand and articulate the intricacies of personality disorders with the respect and sensitivity they demand.Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Mind Dive episodes. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit The Menninger Clinic website to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health.

Dr. Jay Shore, a pioneer in telepsychiatry, offers an in-depth perspective on the journey from the early days of telehealth to the present and where he sees it going with new technology such as AI. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for and adaptability of telehealth services, pushing the boundaries of traditional psychiatric care and redefining what patient/clinician relationships look like in the 21st century. For Dr. Shore, telehealth began as a response to the need for mental health services in underserved and hard to reach populations, such as rural townships and Native American communities. Initially, the focus was on replicating the in-person psychiatric experience through video conferencing. However, the recent global health crisis has accelerated the use and availability of telehealth services, proving that remote sessions can be as effective as face-to-face interactions when conducted with careful consideration and adaptation to the virtual medium.  Dr. Shore discusses the nuances of virtual health relationships, including the unique sense of security some patients may feel during virtual sessions. A therapy session in a patient's personal space brings new dynamics into play, offering therapists unexpected insights into their patients' lives while also challenging them to maintain professional boundaries. The rapid rise in virtual services during the pandemic revealed a gap in preparation, with many clinicians adapting hastily without formal training. Given his decades of experience, Dr. Shore emphasizes the importance of acquiring a solid foundation in telehealth practices to ensure quality care and the effective use of technology.  “Each patient has a range of technologies and the challenge to be a great clinician now is to know the boundaries, strengths and weaknesses of each medium, and correctly applying them to your patient to render the best care,” said Dr. Shore  Looking towards the future, Dr. Shore envisions a world where artificial intelligence and advanced technologies like micro expression analysis and biomarker detection such as heart rate and blood pressure monitoring could further transform the practice of telepsychiatry. Innovative technology promises to enhance a therapist's ability to understand and respond to a patient's needs more accurately but raises questions about privacy and the importance of preserving the human connection at the core of therapy.Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Mind Dive episodes. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit The Menninger Clinic website to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health.

Embark on an eye-opening journey with Dr. Gene Buresin, the vanguard of child and adolescent psychiatry, as we traverse the landscape of youth stress and resilience. With a career that has reshaped mental health perspectives over the past forty years, Dr. Buresin candidly recounts his initial hesitations about medical school, his chance retention by a dean, and the path that led him to pediatrics and ultimately psychiatry. His narrative comes alive with tales of inspiration from the field's trailblazers and reveals his instrumental role in shaping Harvard Medical School's curriculum and spearheading the Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds. This episode lays bare the complexities of children and adolescents grappling with today's societal challenges, as we retrace Dr. Buresin's pivotal contributions to their mental well-being.In the throes of a growing mental health crisis, we navigate the delicate topic of youth loneliness and its spikes amid a post-pandemic world. Generation Z faces an unprecedented battle with isolation, escalating rates of depression, anxiety, and a worrisome increase in suicide. Our discussion shines a light on the Surgeon General's clarion call for fortified youth mental health services, emphasizing the necessity for enhanced access to care, the promise of telehealth, and the integration of support within schools and communities. Dr. Buresin's expertise is our guide as we examine the ramifications of this societal epidemic and the urgent strategies needed for intervention.Lastly, we tackle the imperative of public mental health education and the vital role it plays in prevention and early intervention. The conversation turns to the startling statistic that half of psychiatric disorders commence by age 14, underscoring a dire need for parental and caregiver enlightenment. Dr. Buresin weighs in on the hurdles of securing affordable mental health care, the provider shortage crisis, and the innovative approaches such as peer counseling that could pave the way forward. We close by addressing the dangers of online misinformation, particularly regarding sensitive issues like eating disorders, and urge listeners to connect with trusted resources like the Meninger Clinic's Mind Dive Podcast for authentic conversations about mental health.Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Mind Dive episodes. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit The Menninger Clinic website to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health.

Multicultural competence in psychiatry is more than just a buzzword; it is a crucial aspect of patient care that acknowledges the diverse tapestry of human experiences. On this episode of The Menninger Clinic's Mind Dive Podcast, Dr. Francis Lu shares an enlightening perspective on the intricacies of cultural considerations in psychiatric diagnosis and treatment as well as the five-part framework of Cultural Formulation from the DSM-IV and its refined application in the DSM-V, which now includes social determinants of mental health and the concept of 'structural competency'. The discussion isn't just theoretical; Dr. Lu's experiences allow for a practical look into the challenges and advancements in weaving these critical elements into the fabric of psychiatric care.  Dr. Lu, often considered a pioneer in cultural psychiatry, speaks with hosts Dr. Kerry Horrell and Dr. Bob Boland about his 36-year journey through the nexus of mental health care, community engagement, and spirituality, offering a treasure trove of insights into culturally competent care. The conversation covers the evolution of psychiatric training and the robust legacy Dr. Lu leaves behind, impacting both the care of patients and the education of mental health professionals. Dr. Lu's pioneering work in establishing ethnically focused inpatient psychiatric programs is a testament to the need for sensitivity towards a patient's cultural background. His initiatives at San Francisco General Hospital not only enhanced patient care but also set a new standard for inclusivity within psychiatric practice. The in-depth look of the psychiatric profession over the last four decades allows for a more personal discussion for Dr. Lu and our hosts about their personal journeys andcareers in mental health. Sharing stories and experiences about the lesser-known toll of being mental health clinicians and navigating a profession that is as diverse as the patients. Tune into Mind Dive for a comprehensive understanding of cultural psychiatry and the continuous quest to improve mental health care for all communities. Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Mind Dive episodes. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit The Menninger Clinic website to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health.

Dr. Iqbal “Ike” Ahmed joins the Mind Dive podcast this week to explore the profound complexities of mental health as people age. The journey begins with Dr. Ahmed's early life in India and his extended family who served as the bedrock for his lifelong dedication to understanding and aiding the elderly mind.  In this Mind Dive edition, Dr. Ahmed navigates the ever-shifting definition of the word 'geriatric,' as well as demonstrating how the perception of aging adapts with the passing of time and how life expectancy molds society's categorization of the elderly. Dr. Ahmed brings a wealth of knowledge, peeling back layers of cultural variation in elder care, and engaging in a conversation that can help broaden appreciation for the depth and diversity of geriatric psychiatry. Embracing cultural diversity, the discussion explores how different societies and traditions imprint upon the process of growing older, and the role these variations play in the mental health of seniors. Dr. Ahmed provides insights from his upcoming book, promising to paint a vivid picture of aging minds across cultural divides. Dr. Ahmed's invaluable insights into the curative powers of interpersonal relationships and social networks can help fortify aging seniors against the effects of mental and physical decline. Tune in for an enlightening discussion that not only informs but also inspires respect and empathy for the journey of elder generations. Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Mind Dive episodes. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit The Menninger Clinic website to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health.

Hurricane Harvey was a turning point for many, but for Dr. Manizeh Mirza-Gruber, it was the catalyst that clarified the powerful role of mindfulness in healing. As we sit down with the founder of Mindful in Practice, she shares her transformative journey and how it shaped her mission to integrate mindfulness into the fabric of psychiatry. Dr. Mirza-Gruber's personal insights and professional expertise in mind-body medicine take center stage, offering a heartening glimpse into the ways mindfulness can alleviate suffering and promote overall well-being in the most trying times.Throughout our engaging conversation, Dr. Mirza-Gruber unpacks the science and spirituality of mindfulness, equipping you with practical tools and techniques to navigate your own internal landscape. Whether you're new to the practice or seeking to deepen your understanding, this episode is a treasure trove of wisdom on harnessing the present moment. From grounding exercises to breathwork, Dr. Mirza-Gruber illuminates how these practices can serve as a lifeline during trauma, soothe the sting of shame, and foster a more compassionate self-connection, ultimately leading to richer, more mindful living.Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Mind Dive episodes. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health.

Embark on a journey through the mind with us as we celebrate the advent of Mind Dive's third season, reflecting on our shared experiences and the profound insights we've gained along the way. As the new year unfolds, we warmly embrace the path ahead, filled with compelling discussions on mental health. Our first port of call is a question that's been burning in the minds of many: Can the storied practices of psychodynamic therapy still hold their own in the modern clinician's toolkit? We promise an enlightening conversation that peels back the layers of this traditional approach, revealing its potent ability to bring about transformative change and how it harmoniously coexists with the structured techniques of CBT, DBT, and ACT to offer a comprehensive treatment strategy.As we unravel the complex tapestry of mental illness, we touch upon the genetic factors that play a pivotal role in conditions such as bipolar disorder and autism, delving into the latest genome-wide studies on schizophrenia. We'll navigate the challenging but fascinating terrain of genetic predispositions, considering the impact of nature and nurture on our mental landscapes. Our discussion leads us to confront the philosophical implications of free will in the face of genetic determinism, all while maintaining a discourse that is accessible and engaging for our listeners. We don't stop at the cerebral; we also address the all-too-human experience of burnout, particularly within high-pressure professions. Sharing insights into the systemic and individual factors that contribute to burnout, we emphasize the importance of balancing meaningful work and self-care. We reflect on how the emotional rewards of challenging work environments can sustain one's passion, even as we grapple with the corporatization of medical practice. Through stories of resilience and the pursuit of joy in our endeavors, we aim to leave you with a newfound appreciation for the art of self-preservation and the courage to seek fulfillment in every aspect of your life. Join us for these candid conversations, bringing light to the shadows and warmth to the soul.Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Mind Dive episodes. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health.

Carolyn Mair, Ph.D., was always drawn to the world of fashion and even made her own creations while in university. Amid her doctoral research, Dr. Mair saw the opportunity to apply the benefits of psychology to the processes of the fashion industry to facilitate a healthier relationship between us and the garments we wear every day.  This episode of Menninger Clinic's Mind Dive Podcast features Dr. Mair, accomplished psychologist and author, joining hosts Dr. Kerry Horrell  and Dr. Bob Boland for a discussion of fashion and how it affects our mental health. She'll also touch on the hidden responsibilities that the fashion industry has regarding human development.  A behavioral psychologist and published author, Dr. Carolyn Mair has a Ph.D. in cognitive neuroscience from Bournemouth University. Before founding her own firm, Dr. Mair worked as a professor at the London College of Fashion, where she pioneered the field of fashion psychology, creating the world's first master's course in the field.  “When you put something on that you feel great in, it changes how you interact with people and how you feel about yourself,” said Dr. Mair. A pressing issue across the industry that the doctor has been working to change is the lack of standardized sizing across brands. The buying of clothes is important as a means of self-expression, so when it is derailed, it can be a source of great psychological distress. This is why Dr. Mair works with brands at the manufacturing level to create more uniform sizing. Creating a positive experience helps shoppers avoid those moments of distress and makes them much more likely to shop with a specific brand again, according to Dr. Mair's research.  Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to never miss an episode of Mind Dive. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu.   Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health. Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Mind Dive episodes. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health.

Dr. Howard Liu, M.D began focusing on the effects of social media quite early on in his career after watching how his own personal life was being affected by various platforms. Following a child psychiatry fellowship, he saw the need for both parents and children alike to have guidance in the face of an ever-growing sprawl of social media usage.  This episode of Menninger Clinic's Mind Dive Podcast features Dr. Liu, accomplished psychiatrist and professor, joining hosts Dr. Kerry Horrell  and Dr. Bob Boland for a conversation on how social media can affect the mental health of adolescents and how parents can be proactive in fostering a positive relationship with technology as their children grow. Dr. Howard Liu, MD, MBA, is a nationally recognized psychiatrist, educator, workforce expert, social media innovator, and equity advocate at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). He serves as the chair of the UNMC Department of Psychiatry, a tenured professor in the UNMC College of Medicine, and as the immediate past president of the Association of Directors of Medical Student Education in Psychiatry (ADMSEP). He is a distinguished fellow of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and a member of the American College of Psychiatrists (ACP). “... Sometimes you use filters to change how those look and sometimes to look slimmer, look different, change different features, remove areas that you feel like you're less comfortable with. It's very highly edited,” said Dr. Liu, “When you put those pieces out there, it can sometimes warp your own sense of self and then your sense of what your peers are looking like every day, which clearly is a highly filtered look and different than normal.”  Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to never miss an episode of Mind Dive. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu.  Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health.  Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Mind Dive episodes. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health.

Dr. Josepha Cheong, M.D. chose a medical career to follow in her father's footsteps. On her journey to become a surgeon, a fateful rotation during her clinicals directed her path towards psychiatry. Dr. Cheong's work has focused on geriatric psychiatry in the hopes of further understanding dementia and other cognitive diseases.  This episode of Menninger Clinic's Mind Dive Podcast features Dr. Cheong, accomplished physician and psychiatrist joining hosts Dr. Kerry Horrell and Dr. Bob Boland for an extended look at dementia and how caregivers and family members of those with the disease can navigate the hectic holiday season.  Dr. Josepha Cheong is a professor at the University of Florida College of Medicine, instructing in the Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology. She is board-certified in general and geriatric psychiatry and currently serves as a physician with the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, the Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Care Center (GRECC) and as a geriatric psychiatry consultant for the National Expert Consultations and Specialized Services-Mental Health (NEXCSS-MH). In addition, she serves as a director at both the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.  One of the most frequently asked questions in Dr. Cheong's experience is how family members can identify when memory loss has become something more. “Dementia is a very general term that refers to memory impairment and then impairment of another brain function,” said Dr. Cheong. The doctor also stresses that dementia is never just an illness of the patient, but one of the family and the support structure, since the burden of care falls on everyone in the patient's life.  With holiday stress approaching, especially for families of dementia patients who need to travel, Dr. Cheong emphasizes the importance of balancing flexibility and routine for caregivers. “Did you raise kids? Do you remember what it's like traveling with 3- to 7-year-old? That's how you want to play it,” she said. Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to never miss an episode of Mind Dive. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health.  Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Mind Dive episodes. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health.

As Benjamin Berry, Ph.D. pursued his undergraduate studies in experimental psychology, he became drawn to the field of psychological research and the science of measuring social attitudes to explore implicit pathologies. After studying under current leaders in Rorschach administration, Benjamin continues to apply his research methods to improve his understanding of psychotic processes and psychopathology.     This episode of Menninger Clinic's Mind Dive Podcast features Dr. Berry, an accomplished psychologist, joining hosts and colleagues, Dr. Kerry Horrell and Dr. Bob Boland, for a conversation on performance-based personality testing and assessing personality pathology in adolescents and adults.   Dr. Berry is an assistant professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine. He is also an award-winning staff psychologist at The Menninger Clinic where he spearheads the Adolescent Treatment Program.   “So, the Rorschach test really kind of came out of the psychodynamic tradition. Since that time, it has become a lot more flexible, and a lot more […] empirically driven, rather than theoretically driven,” said Dr. Berry. “There was a time when we thought of it as a projective test where the defense mechanism of projection was a key player in how a person constructs responses. We don't necessarily think of it that way today.”    Dr. Berry's approach to the Rorschach test gives the test subject a cognitive task, making it a structured observational experience, which produces more data for researchers. Similar to other performance-based tests like the one for ADHD, it allows researchers to observe a person's reactions and compare them to baseline norms. Decades of standardized data allow Dr. Berry to score and compare a person's results to better understand their individual pathology, making the test a reliable and practical diagnostic tool.  A key example of the Rorschach's usefulness is its ability to uncover subtle signs of psychosis, especially in early or mild stages of progression. Dr.Berry's work at Menninger has revolved around using the test as a way of analyzing speech patterns to diagnose personality disorders and lingering effects of psychotic episodes. Despite misconceptions around the Rorschach test, Dr. Berry and the Menninger Clinic effectively use the test as part of their diagnostic toolkit.  Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Mind Dive episodes. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health.

 Many people who struggle with a mental illness or disorder may not know that clinical research data suggests that new treatment options may be just around the corner. On this episode of Mind Dive Podcast, board-certified psychiatrist, physician-investigator with Segal Trials, and assistant professor at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Dr. David Mathai, joins hosts Dr. Bob Boland and Dr. Kerry Horrell to discuss the importance of understanding the cultural and historical context of psychedelic drugs and why the first FDA-approved psychedelic drug therapy could come as soon as 2024.Dr. Mathai simplifies the definition of psychedelics as "drugs, whose most prominent subjective effects often involve dramatic changes in thought, in mood and cognition." He says that, historically, these substances have been used in different cultural traditions across the globe for the purpose of healing and connection. He further explained that the  earliest wave of research surrounding psychedelics was focused on  LSD, which was discovered in the 1940s. “Realizing some of the therapeutic qualities such as LSD treatment for alcohol use disorder, anxiety and depression related with end-of-life illness...all of that was bubbling up,” said Dr. Mathai. But the Vietnam War would serve as a gateway to dismantle that research. For example, Dr. Mathai says there became a “complicated” social association between psychedelic drugs and  counterculture, particularly with American protestors  of the U.S. involvement with the war, often referred to as “hippies.” Dr. Mathai suggests this clash of cultures led to a growing animosity between proponents of  psychedelic use, like American psychologist Timothy Leary,  and politicians who were overseeing studies and held different views.These opposing views, along with cases of reckless use of psychedelics, eventually led to the federal government's effort to combat illegal drug use in the 1970s, which Dr. Mathis credits with “shattering” psychedelic research for several decades -- until the early 2000s.The resurgence of psychogenic research is often credited to a paper on psilocybin (a hallucinogen in certain types of mushrooms) written by Dr. Mathai's mentor, the late American neuroscientist, Roland Griffiths. The research shows that users of psilocybin reported their experiences as among the most meaningful or spiritually significant experiences of their life. Dr. Mathai was involved with trials of psilocybin at Johns Hopkins for people who wanted to quit smoking, which resulted in a 60% to 70% success rate of participants cutting down on tobacco use. Similar results were found in treating individuals with alcohol use disorder. But it's the optimism surrounding the drug MDMA that could mean big changes for psychedelic-inFollow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Mind Dive episodes. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health.

This episode, the Mind Dive Podcast turns the guest microphone on its co-host, Dr. Kerry Horrell, psychologist at The Menninger Clinic, to talk about her research into the dilemmas that arise with religion, spirituality, sexism and mental health.  Growing up in a religious family, Dr. Horrell became interested in this topic as a student because her early experience of studying psychology was that “religion was something you checked at the door.” As a Christian, she was confused by this and knew she had to delve deeper, deciding to pursue a graduate psychology program that focused on religion and spirituality.  She soon became interested in the intersection with sexism, noting that elements of sexism are present in most religions.  Dr. Horrell notes that there are two types of sexism, benevolent and hostile. She explains the three pillars of benevolent sexism: protective paternalism, heterosexual intimacy, and complementary gender roles. She notes that, generally, the assumption is that men and women are psychologically very different. Then points out that the available data does not support that conclusion. Conversely, the research shows that, when it comes to psychological make up, men and women are strikingly similar.  Dr. Horrell's research led her to explore whether sexism could positively impact well-being. She discusses two types of wellbeing, hedonistic and eudemonic. Hedonistic focuses on happiness and defines well-being in terms of pleasure attainment and pain avoidance; while eudemonic well-being focuses on meaning and self-realization and the degree to which a person is fully functioning. She discusses research that demonstrates sexism correlates more positively with hedonistic well-being and negatively with eudemonic well-being, giving examples from studies that have been done.  Dr. Horrell says the benevolent sexism in religion can lead to shame. She gives examples, such as the focus on a women's purity.  She notes that when patients are having struggles with spirituality or religion, it often relates to gender, sexuality, and shame. She observes that these conflicts can cause trauma.   In working with patients, Dr. Horrell says clinicians must “hold space for the importance of religion, family and spirituality in a patient's life and empower them to think about their values and identify those things that are at odds with that.”  She says one of the best things a clinician can do is to offer patients the space to stay with the tension and the pain, to think about and it talk about it, without closing quickly on what might feel easy.  “I think there's so much goodness in having things in our life that are sacred to us, and having things that feel bigger than us,” said Dr. Horrell, “Whether that's the concept of love, whether that's nature, whether that is divinity or God…and it's why I'm so passionate about it and about giving people space to get to know that side of their life.”Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Mind Dive episodes. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health.

Happy Monday to all  Mind Dive listeners.  This episode has been by far our most popular since we started Mind Dive in Feb. 2022.  Thanks again to Dr. Jonathan Shedler for giving his expertise and time to the discussion.  This week we replay  it for those who may not have heard it. Hotly debated in mental health care, psychoanalytic therapy has been criticized for lacking evidence compared to other approaches. Now, many clinicians attest to the benefits of this evidence-based treatment and see a great need in their patients for relationship-centered therapeutic approaches from their doctor and an emphasis on knowing oneself in order to heal. Dr. Jonathan Shedler, psychologist and author of, “The Efficacy of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy,” staunchly advocates for clinicians to keep an open mind about what suits their patients best on this episode of Menninger Clinic's Mind Dive. This internationally acclaimed clinician is known for his work in establishing psychotherapy as an evidence-based treatment.  Alongside hosts Dr. Kerry Horrell and Dr. Bob Boland, Dr. Shedler explores the dilemmas and nuances of psychotherapy throughout its history and how clinicians can view it through a modern lens.Jonathan Shedler, PhD, is a consultant, master clinician, clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of California (UCSF) and faculty member at the San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis. He also leads workshops for professional audiences, consults to U.S. and international government agencies, and provides clinical consultation to mental health professionals worldwide. “I think it's perfectly fine to say we don't fully know our own hearts and minds. The things that we don't know cause suffering and can cause symptoms and limitations. Because of this, there's a tremendous value in coming to know ourselves more fully,” said Dr. Shedler. “That's what can happen in the context of psychoanalytic therapy and what can allow our patients to ultimately feel more free and more whole.” Resources mentioned in this episode: "The Efficacy of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy" by Dr. Jonathan Shedler Mind Dive Episode 6: Building Trust in Therapeutic Relationships with Dr. Jon Allen “That was then, this is now: An introduction to contemporary psychodynamic therapy” by Dr. Jonathan ShedlerFollow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Mind Dive episodes. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health.

What happens inside a child's brain in the first three years of life is critical to their long-term mental health, says Jyrah Knight, early intervention specialist and professional development director at the nonprofit, First3Years.  So, if a child can't even remember their encounters with parents and caregivers, how can it affect them so profoundly? “Understanding Infant Mental Health” is the topic of this episode of The Menninger Clinic's Mind Dive podcast.  Join hosts Dr. Kerry Horrell and Dr. Bob Boland as they explore the fascinating topic of the developing brain in the first three years of life. Knight explains that trust relationships are critical to a child's early brain development and mental health.  “You can't talk about infant mental health without talking about relational health as they essentially go hand in hand,” she says. She notes that infant mental health isn't about illness…it's about helping a child develop well right from the start.  Knight says “Safe, stable, and nurturing relationships are essentially the foundation for all other infant brain development that happens.” “Babies may not have memory, but their brain is keeping score, and it's keeping score every time a need is met,” she says.  For example, when mom and dad come when a baby cries, the brain is keeping score, and those interactions help to build trust.  Babies are aware of when they are cuddled, hugged, talked to and swaddled, says Knight.  She adds that the infant brain is keeping track of those positive interactions, even when memory is not present. So how do you help a parent or caregiver and a child?  Knight says the best approach is a strengths-based perspective and positive reinforcement. Parents and caregivers can easily get overwhelmed with the notion that they are responsible for their baby's mental health. That's why the goal is to highlight things that are going well between the parent and the child dyad. Knight suggests “lighting them up with the positive of what's happening.” She adds that they will then feel empowered to do more. Knight, Dr. Horrell and Dr. Boland all acknowledge the importance of attachment to overall mental health and how the first three years is a critical time to develop these relationships. Dr. Horrell addresses how attachment trauma can show up later in life as depression or even suicidality.  Knight explains Trust Based Relational Intervention as a research-based methodology for addressing attachment relationships. Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Mind Dive episodes. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health.

Perinatal mental health concerns affect as many as 20% of US women. Among Asian-American moms, ingrained cultural values can be an impediment to both diagnosis and treatment. In this episode of Mind Dive Podcast, hosts Bob Boland, MD and Kerry Horrell, PhD welcome two colleagues from The Menninger Clinic, psychologists who focus on women's mental health and the particular needs of perinatal women in the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Nausheen Noor, PhD became passionate about women's mental health as a community provider in Karachi, Pakistan, working with women struggling with domestic violence, depression and traumatic stress. She is also a strong advocate for mental health and wellness in the AAPI community, working to address lingering stigmas. The podcast also features Rose Yang, PsyD, the adult division coordinator and faculty leader for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at The Menninger Clinic. Dr. Yang became invested in AAPI mental health in her early career, but her own subsequent experiences as a mom led her to explore maternal mental health challenges and attendant cultural issues in the Asian-American community. She is a certified perinatal mental health provider.While it may be helpful at times to consider AAPI individuals as a community and to acknowledge intersecting experiences, Drs. Noor and Yang emphasize that it is critical to also recognize that the community is not a monolith, and is comprised of people from diverse backgrounds and cultures. Dr. Yang notes that the “model minority” stereotype—a 1960's era term coined in a news article about Japanese American success—has been problematic, as it minimizes the struggles of many AAPI sub-groups, both ethnic and experiential (e.g., refugees). The panel also discusses the impact of the COVID pandemic as a stressor in the AAPI community, as it both catalyzed anti-Asian hate crimes and contributed to “lumping” all Asians together without regard for the rich breadth of their heritages. Drs. Noor and Yang discuss the meaning of perinatal health—perinatal covers the period before, during and after pregnancy—and the factors that can lead to mental health challenges.  While pregnancy can exacerbate pre-existing psychological vulnerabilities, other factors are contributors as well, including hormonal and psychosocial changes and disrupted sleep. Dr. Noor notes that fertility challenges and treatment can also contribute to feelings of stress and depression. Among Asian-American women, cultural and familial norms and differing levels of acculturation can discourage these moms from acknowledging and/or speaking about the feelings they are experiencing and from seeking help.  The solution? Drs. Noor and Yang emphasize the critical importance of timely, frequent and culturally sensitive screening by a variety of health practitioners—at Ob/Gyn and Pediatrician visits, and also by lactation counselors, midwives and doulas. Because this is a time that their focus is on care for the baby, women may be missing out on themselves; multiple check-in points may help to identify mental health concerns early on. They note that the American Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Mind Dive episodes. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health.

Did you know there are very few psychiatrists in Rwanda? That country, whose population has experienced an intense amount of strife, is not alone. Many mental illnesses go untreated in developing nations because of the lack of mental health resources.  Dr. Stephanie Smith, director of the Program in Global Mental Health Equity at Brigham and Women's Hospital, learned this and many other key insights while working abroad in Rwanda to help improve the population's access to mental health care diagnosis and treatment. In this episode of The Menninger Clinic's Mind Dive podcast Dr. Smith shares her insights and experiences with hosts Dr. Bob Boland and Dr. Kerry Horrell,  in looking at how to create greater access to mental health care globally where resources are scarce. An instructor in Psychiatry for Harvard Medical School and a co-director of Mental Health at Partners in Health, Dr. Smith worked in Rwanda to set up a collaborative care model for mental health care. She worked through the government to utilize the existing primary health care clinics and systems to incorporate mental health care resources for patients. This has been particularly successful in treating noticeable and severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder by providing the appropriate medications. “We were at rural continuums, like general hospitals, primary care centers, and the community in thinking about how we incorporate mental health into that care continuum,” says Dr. Smith about her experiences in Rwanda, where she objective, on behalf of Partners in Health, was to strengthen the mental health care system.  “At the time each district in the government had been successful at getting one psych nurse and one psychologist at each district hospital…about 40 or so in the country. Knowing the population is 10 million, it's not very many. That's why integrating into primary care system makes a lot of sense.”Dr. Smith further explains that expanding care involved looked at existing providers and what basic mental health care services could be provided by a non-specialist provider, in a continuum where they are supported by specialists. Dr. Smith served as one of the specialist consultants. This consultative model is how services were incorporated into the general hospital or clinic setting, with basic mental health care delivered by primary care nurses, and working at the community level, where community health workers are this liaison between villages and communities and the health system. Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Mind Dive episodes. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health.

Why do some bright kids develop an “I don't care” attitude?  What are the underlying causes? What approaches can help rekindle their motivation? On this episode of Mind Dive Podcast, child psychologist, Harvard professor and author Ellen Braaten, Ph.D. has studied this issue in-depth and worked through this with children and their parents in her therapy practice. In her new book, “Bright Kids Who Couldn't Care Less,” she dives into this complex issue and provides a guide for parents on how to better understand and help their apathetic child. Dr. Braaten says that while children with processing challenges, such as ADHD or autism, can develop indifference because their learning challenges can lead them to feel overwhelmed, there are also children without any learning issues who develop profound apathy toward school, extracurricular activities and life in general. She adds that clinicians and parents can't look at one factor when trying to understand a child who lacks motivation because often there are social, biological and psychological factors involved. For example, Dr. Bratten says that some kids are not very motivated because their basic needs aren't being met. Or perhaps they don't have that peer group of friends that allows them to find their bliss, because their needs for friendship aren't met. They may have found they are not able to trust others. There's also the pressure to get good grades and to participate in extracurricular activities to get into a good college that can affect motivation.  When kids get anxious and depressed, Dr. Braaten says, they can become overwhelmed and turn to distractions like video games. Sometimes it's pressure from parents to achieve that can demotivate children. She says that in some cases a parent's own desires, the things that gave them pleasure that they put aside, are then put onto their kids with the expectation that they will “fill in the gap” by doing or achieving what the parent didn't.  Dr. Bratten cautions parents to think about themselves when they think about our child's motivation. Are they being a good role model? “Well, one of the simplest things I say to parents, maybe not directly because it can be hard to hear, but to love the child they have, not the child they wish they had,” said Dr. Braaten.  In showing love and support for an unmotivated child, Dr. Braaten says external rewards can work in some cases, and in others, are not the answer. There is research showing that if a child enjoys an activity, such as reading, adding external rewards to increase reading, such as badges or stickers or awards, can have the opposite effect and serve as a demotivator. Dr. Braaten advises that parents need to find out what their child likes to do and what they are good at doing. What are their personal strengths? What gives them pleasure? Where do they spend their time? In her book she outlines how parents can work through this process to help their child find his or heFollow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Mind Dive episodes. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health.

There is no one pathway to recovery for people battling addiction. Is approaching addiction psychiatry with one blanket method going to do more harm than help? Dr. Daryl Shorter, Medical Director of Addictions Services at The Menninger Clinic and professor at Baylor College of Medicine joins Mind Dive hosts Dr. Kerry Horrell and Dr. Bob Boland to discuss the landscape of different addiction treatment methods and how to approach them. On this episode, Dr. Shorter discusses how clinicians can best align their perspectives for a more successful outcome in treating addiction, citing that the most important concept is to always impart hope to those struggling with alcohol or substance abuse.“Hope for the people that feel hopeless… treatment works, but we must get those struggling with addiction to the treatment,” said Dr. Shorter, “It may not always look the same for everyone there is no “one sizes fits all” approach to this. You have to try to tailor that care to the individual.” Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to never miss an episode. Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership roles in mental health. Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Mind Dive episodes. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health.

This episode originally aired June 6, 2022. Not all great minds think alike. The path to understanding how to best nurture an autistic individual often begins with understanding their way of thinking. Dr. Temple Grandin poses that a great disservice is done to both society and the individual when we fail to focus on the strengths of those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), limiting their lifestyle based on perceived weaknesses instead. Join this episode of Mind Dive podcast alongside hosts Dr. Kerry Horrell and Dr. Bob Boland as they discuss with Dr. Grandin the ways clinicians, parents and other role models can better advocate for their autistic children and nurture growth for a productive and fulfilling future. Also explored are the notable differences between object visualization and pattern visualization and how this relates to the understanding of neurodivergent thinking. “The first step is realizing the thinking is different, and then figuring out how you have complimentary skills,” said Dr. Grandin, using her own experiences on a food processing plant as an example, “You need to have these different kinds of minds to succeed in a large-scale operation.” Dr. Grandin is a world-renowned author, inventor, Doctor of Animal Science and expert of both animal behavior and autism. Diagnosed with autism herself, she is one of the first individuals to write of her personal experiences and is a leading advocate for autism rights and the neurodiversity movement. Dr. Temple Grandin's books mentioned in this episode: Visual Thinking: The Hidden Gifts of People Who Think in Pictures, Patterns and Abstractions and The Outdoor Scientist: The Wonder of Observing the Natural World.Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to never miss an episode. Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership roles in mental health. Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up to date on new Mind Dive episodes. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. If you are a new or regular listener, please leave us a review on your favorite listening platform! Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health.

When Patricia Resick, Ph.D., became involved with the first-ever crisis center for sexual assault victims in 1974, she found that the psychology field was severely lacking valid answers for how these women responded to the trauma they faced. After years of research and development towards a process that would help survivors of sexual abuse, survivors of domestic violence and veterans, she solidified a therapy that changed the course of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment for good: cognitive processing therapy (CPT).This episode of Menninger Clinic's Mind Dive Podcast features Dr. Resick, accomplished psychologist, author and developer of CPT joining hosts Dr. Kerry Horrell  and Dr. Bob Boland for a conversation on how CPT became a first-line therapy for PTSD, the fundamentals of treatment, and how to approach it within comorbidities. Dr. Resick is a Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke University Medical Center and Adjunct Professor at Medical University of South Carolina. She is the co-author of newly published self-help book, “Getting Unstuck from PTSD: Using Cognitive Processing Therapy to Guide Your Recovery.” “The vast majority of people will recover from a trauma, but for some, something was interfering with their natural recovery,” said Dr. Resick. “They haven't let themselves feel the feelings and think about the trauma differently and they feel they're just running in a circle. CPT addresses the ‘getting stuck' feeling.” Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to never miss an episode of Mind Dive. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health. Listen to Episode 33: Winning the Mental Game, Sport Psychology with Dr. Mitchell GreeneResources mentioned: CPTforPTSD.com Dr. Aaron T. Beck Cognitive behavioral treatment Laurie Anne Pearlman, PhD“Cognitive-Behavioral Couple's Treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder: initial findings” Candice M Monson, Paula P Schnurr, Susan P Stevens, Karen A Guthrie

What happens in the mind of a talented athlete who suddenly cannot perform? Clinical and sports psychologist Mitchell Greene, PhD, works with a range of athletes from hopeful middle schoolers to Olympians on the concept of “mind chatter” and mental health struggles often experienced in sport culture. As explored in his new book, “Courage over Confidence: Managing Mind Chatter and Winning the Mental Game,” he treats younger and younger athletes feeling the pressure to excel at all costs.On this episode of Mind Dive Podcast, dive into a conversation between hosts Dr. Kerry Horrell and Dr. Bob Boland with Dr. Greene on his work guiding athletes from all levels and backgrounds through coach-player relationships, nerves, loss of confidence and mental blocks. Dr. Greene owns Greenepsych Clinical & Sport Psychology in the Philadelphia suburbs and works primarily with athletes pursuing high performance goals and coaches looking to educate their student-athletes on mental health. “These concepts are not just for athletes. We all need a reminder sometimes that it's courage over confidence,” said Dr. Greene. “Working through that chatter is about who we are, who we think we are and how we can manage the frustrations of life.” Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to never miss an episode of Mind Dive. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu.  Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health. Listen to Episode 32: Balancing Act, Understanding Clinician Burnout with Dr. Ashwini Nadkarni, Dr. Jhilam Biswas 

This episode of Menninger Clinic's Mind Dive Podcast explores burnout and emotional labor experienced by physicians and mental health professionals, particularly in women clinicians. Driven by their observations of burnout within their own psychiatry department at Harvard Medical School, Ashwini Nadkarni, MD, and Jhilam Biswas, MD, take a dive into their quest to understand the factors influencing women who are leaving the field or contemplating career changes. Join hosts Dr. Kerry Horrell and Dr. Bob Boland for this discussion of issues commonly faced by women physicians, such as an increased likelihood of depression due to the strain of balancing work and family life and the emotionally charged experience of discarding professional aspirations for conflicting needs. Dr. Biswas and Dr. Nadkarni are both instructors of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Biswas serves as the Director of Psychiatry, Law and Society program at Brigham and Women's Hospital and the Co-director of Harvard Mass General Brigham Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship. Dr. Nadkarni also serves as Assistant Medical Director of Brigham Psychiatric Specialties and Associate Vice Chair of Wellness in the Department of Psychiatry. Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to never miss an episode of Mind Dive. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health. Listen to Episode 31: Neuropsychiatry, Connecting the Brain to Behavior with Dr. Julia Ridgeway-DiazResources:“Gender Disparity in Cognitive Load and Emotional Labor—Threats to Women Physician Burnout” “When Compromised Professional Fulfillment Compromises Professionalism” “Primary Care Physician Gender and Electronic Health Record Workload”“Experiences of Work-Family Conflict and Mental Health Symptoms by Gender Among Physician Parents During the COVID-19 Pandemic” “'I Cry but No One Cares': Physician Burnout & Depression Report 2023”David Silbersweig, MD 

Once a psychiatrist understands what is happening in their patient's brain, who gives insight on why this is happening? Join this episode of The Menninger Clinic's Mind Dive Podcast as hosts Dr. Bob Boland and Dr. Kerry Horrell explore the world of behavioral neurology with Dr. Julia Ridgeway-Diaz, psychiatrist, neurologist and neuropsychiatrist at Menninger. As they dive into the neuropsychiatrist's role in physical and mental health, explore the important relationship between medical ailments and resulting behavioral changes. Also discussed is the importance of a neuropsychiatric perspective in complex cases, including a real-life example of treatment failure with antipsychotic medication in a comorbid patient experiencing obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and schizophrenia. Julia Ridgeway-Diaz, MD, MS, is a staff psychiatrist in outpatient therapy at the Menninger Clinic. With special expertise in neurocognitive disorders, movement disorders, autism spectrum disorder, sleep disorders, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and traumatic brain injury, she is also an assistant professor in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine. “I like getting to the bottom of why things are happening. In psychiatry, we do a really good job of describing what is happening, but we're not always able to explain the neurologic processes that are causing what we're seeing,” said Dr. Ridgeway-Diaz. “When what a clinician is seeing doesn't make sense, that is where a neuropsychiatrist can make an impactful difference.” Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to never miss an episode of Mind Dive. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health. Listen to Episode 30: The Troubled Teen Industry with Meg Appelgate, CEO of UnSilencedResources mentioned in this episode: Mind Dive Episode 25: Questions from the Mailbag | “self-diagnosis of mental health disorders” Menninger Pathfinder: Treatment for Young Adults Menninger 360 Program: A Person-Centered Approach 

While child abuse in the home is well defined and often met with clear repercussions, are parents, clinicians and even government agencies missing red flags of institutional child abuse within the troubled teen industry? Dive into this episode of The Menninger Clinic's Mind Dive Podcast as nonprofit leader Meg Appelgate shares her own teenage experiences with the dangerous shortcomings of the troubled teen industry as a behavioral health solution. Join Meg as she speaks with hosts Dr. Kerry Horrell and Dr. Bob Boland about her work with survivors of the industry and offers advice to clinicians, guardians and parents on how to avoid organizations that raise red flags and focus on a community-centered healing approach for teens.  Meg Appelgate personally experienced over 3 years of abusive tactics in troubled teen facilities in Idaho and Montana after being abducted from her home at 15 years old. In adulthood, she studied psychology and has dedicated her life to serving nonprofits that benefit youth who have faced similar trauma.  Meg currently serves as CEO of UnSilenced, a nonprofit organization aiming to stop child abuse in the industry and advocating to keep youth healthier and safer at home in their communities. “The research suggests that close familial ties in adolescents are extremely beneficial, so we're really doing a disservice when we put them into these facilities,” said Meg. “Our first steps are to start in the communities—re-educating the decision makers, caregivers, parents, child-placing advocates on what the options are outside of an industry that can cause more harm to a child in distress.”  Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to never miss an episode of Mind Dive. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health. Listen to Episode 29: Writing the Book on Personality Disorders with Dr. John Oldham  Resources mentioned in this episode: UnSilenced.orgGochnauer Family Foundation Episode 23: Brainwashing & Master Persuasion with Dr. Joel Dimsdale Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) QuizEpisode 5: Reducing Suicide Risk Through Wearable Technology with Dr. Michelle PatriquinUnSilenced Survivor Empowerment Initiative 

You can use code MENN2023 for 50% off your New Personality Self Portrait (NPSP25) personality test! Visit npsp25.com to learn more. This episode of the Menninger Clinic's Mind Dive podcast features the psychiatrist who wrote the book on personality and personality disorders. Dr. John Oldham is co-author of, “The New Personality Self-Portrait: Why You Think, Work, Love and Act the Way You Do,” the book is largely credited for spearheading the DSM-5 alternative model for personality disorders. Dive in with hosts Dr. Kerry Horrell and Dr. Bob Boland and explore the factors that make personality as unique as a fingerprint and learn if the alternative model of understanding personality will overtake the DSM-4 categorical model. Also, Dr. Oldham reacts to the individual NPSP25 test results of Dr. Boland and Dr. Horrell. John M. Oldham, M.D., M.S., currently serves as Distinguished Emeritus Professor in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine. He previously served as senior vice president and chief of staff at the Menninger Clinic, president of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and president of The American College of Psychiatrists. Dr. Oldham has also recently served as the APA's co-chair of the Work Group on Personality and Personality Disorders for the most recent edition of the DSM-5.  “I like to explain the personality through a blood pressure metaphor,” said Dr. Oldham. “In a dimensional sense, you have to have blood pressure or you're not human or alive. You have to have a personality or you're not human or alive. However, have too much or too little of a necessary thing, and you're going to have a real problem.”  Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to never miss an episode of Mind Dive. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health. Listen to Episode 28: Making the Case for Psychotherapy with Dr. Jonathan ShedlerResources mentioned in this episode: “Borderline Conditions and Pathological Narcissism” by Otto F. KernbergThe five-factor model of personality “The New Personality Self-Portrait” by John M. Oldham, M.D., and Lois B. MorrisThe New Personality Self-Portrait (npsp25.com)

Hotly debated in mental health care, psychoanalytic therapy has been criticized for lacking evidence in comparison to other approaches. Now, many clinicians attest to the benefits of this evidence-based treatment and see great need in their patients for relationship-centered therapeutic approaches from their doctor and an emphasis on knowing oneself in order to heal. Dr. Jonathan Shedler, psychologist and author of, “The Efficacy of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy,” is staunchly advocating for clinicians to keep an open mind about what suits their patients best on this episode of Menninger Clinic's Mind Dive podcast. This internationally acclaimed article is known for his work in establishing psychotherapy as an evidence-based treatment.  Alongside hosts Dr. Kerry Horrell and Dr. Bob Boland, Dr. Shedler explores the dilemmas and nuances of psychotherapy throughout its history and how clinicians can use it to their benefit under a modern lens. Jonathan Shedler, PhD, is a consultant, master clinician, clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of California (UCSF) and faculty member at the San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis. He also leads workshops for professional audiences, consults to U.S. and international government agencies and provides expert clinical consultation to mental health professionals worldwide. “I think it's perfectly fine to say we don't fully know our own hearts and minds. The things that we don't know cause suffering and can cause symptoms and limitations. Because of this, there's a tremendous value in coming to know ourselves more fully,” said Dr. Shedler. “That's what can happen in the context of psychoanalytic therapy and what can allow our patients to ultimately feel more free and more whole.” Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to never miss an episode of Mind Dive. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health. Listen to Episode 27: OCD, An Expert's Insider Perspective with Dr. Elizabeth McIngvaleResources mentioned in this episode: "The Efficacy of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy" by Dr. Jonathan Shedler Mind Dive Episode 6: Building Trust in Therapeutic Relationships with Dr. Jon Allen “That was then, this is now: An introduction to contemporary psychodynamic therapy” by Dr. Jonathan Shedler

At 12 years old, Dr. Elizabeth McIngvale was diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). By age 17, she found success in evidence-based treatment and became a national spokesperson for patients. Now, 20 years later, she treats OCD patients of her own, while still advocating to end stigma and misconceptions about OCD and perfectionism.  Dive into this episode of The Menninger Clinic's Mind Dive Podcast with hosts Dr. Kerry Horrell and Dr. Bob Boland for an expert's insider journey of OCD. Also explored are the contrasts of OCD and obsessive compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) and how doctors can improve patient treatment by recognizing and acknowledging the differences.  Elizabeth McIngvale, PhD, LCSW, is the director of McLean OCD Institute at Houston. She currently serves on the faculty at Harvard Medical School and has founded the Peace of Mind Foundation and OCDChallenge.com, both now within the International OCD Foundation. “My message to patients is that we are going to get them back to functioning, but we should really be fighting for freedom from their illness,” said Dr. McIngvale. “We are fighting to get them to a life where they can make decisions for themselves and live by their values, not their diagnosis.” Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to never miss an episode of Mind Dive. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health. Listen to Episode 26: Bridging Faith & Mental Health Care with Dr. Marcy VerduinResources mentioned in this episode: Episode 21: OCD From the Front Lines with Dr. Wayne Goodman, Dr. Eric Storch Episode 14: The Measurement of Wisdom with Dr. Dilip Jeste Peace of Mind FoundationMcClean OCD Institute OCDchallenge.com International OCD Foundation 

Overwhelmed with requests for mental health support during the COVID-19 pandemic, religious leaders faced a dilemma: How do we bridge the elusive gap between healing the mind with both science-based approaches and spiritual guidance? With the help of “insiders” like Dr. Marcy Verduin—both a person of faith and psychiatrist—many clinicians and religious leaders are on a productive path forward in resolving historic notions of mental health struggles as a shameful failure of faith. Dive into this episode of The Menninger Clinic's Mind Dive Podcast with hosts Dr. Kerry Horrell and Dr. Bob Boland exploring Dr. Verduin's transformative work. Since 2020, Dr. Verduin has dedicated ample time in the U.S. and abroad to teaching and exploring the idea of church communities, religious leaders and clinicians coming together for the overall improvement of religious patients' mental health. Marcy Verduin, MD, is the Associate Dean for Students and Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine. She has been invited to speak nationally and internationally to help people of faith, and specifically Christian pastors, to better understand mental health and well-being.  “The most important thing is to really ask the person in front of you about their beliefs,” said Dr. Verduin. “Even if you're not an expert on their spirituality, you can still encourage them to pursue that part of it and help them see how it can fit into mental health overall.” Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to never miss an episode of Mind Dive. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health. Listen to Episode 25: Questions from the Mailbag with Dr. Bob Boland, Dr. Kerry Horrell  Resources mentioned in this episode: Mind Dive Episode 7: Religion & Spirituality in Therapeutic Approaches with Dr. Jim Lomax

On this Season 2 premier of Mind Dive Podcast, hosts Dr. Bob Boland and Dr. Kerry Horrell dive into topics posed by their Menninger Clinic colleagues that have not yet been explored on the podcast.In this mailbag episode, listen in as our hosts discuss topical questions on the minds of mental health professionals at The Menninger Clinic and their implications on clinical practice.A new social contagion—self-diagnosis of mental health disorders. Is TikTok to blame for young adults self-diagnosing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and dissociative identity disorder (DID) before consulting a professional? The real relationship between mental health and mass gun violence. Is psychiatry truly the answer to combatting this crisis? Addressing the disconnect between physical and mental health. Should attending therapy be considered as important to your physical health as eating vegetables or hitting the gym? Bob Boland, MD, is Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff at The Menninger Clinic. Co-host of the Mind Dive Podcast, he is also Vice Chair of the Menninger Department of Psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM). He also serves as Brown Foundation Endowed Chair in Psychiatry at BCM. Kerry Horrell, PhD, is a staff psychologist on Menninger's Compass Program for Young Adults as well as the coordinator of the Youth Division. Co-host of the Mind Dive Podcast, she is also an assistant professor at BCM. Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to never miss an episode of Mind Dive. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health. Listen to Episode 24: Racial Bias vs. Informed Patient Care with Dr. Carmen Black 

Can we expect patients to trust modern medicine before addressing racial disparities in research and diagnoses? Dr. Carmen Black, Yale School of Medicine Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Director of Social Justice and Health Equity Education, Adult Psychiatry joins this episode of The Menninger Clinic's Mind Dive podcast. This conversation with hosts Dr. Kerry Horrell and Dr. Bob Boland explores how clinicians can make a meaningful impact while still facing centuries of racial disparities that are sometimes difficult to spot in daily clinical practice. Dive in to hear approachable steps clinicians of any type can take to address inequity and racial bias in mental health care. “We are more powerful to delivery equity than we can image because the disparities are so great,” said Dr. Black. “It starts with being able to acknowledge it in real time.” Carmen Black, M.D. is a family-oriented African American physician and strong supporter of racial diversity in medicine. Her research interests focus on promoting racial diversity within academic medicine and addressing influences on poor patient care, specifically racial and mental health discrimination. Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to never miss an episode of Mind Dive. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health. Listen to Episode 23: Brainwashing & Master Persuasion with Dr. Joel Dimsdale Resources mentioned in this episode: Select publications by Dr. Carmen BlackThe Menninger Clinic's Continuing Education Black History Month Series

How can good people make terrible decisions? To fully understand brainwashing, more formally known as “coercive persuasion,” mental health clinicians must dive into the potentially dangerous outcomes that can result from a mix of factors such as high stress situations, sleep deprivation and isolation.On this episode of The Menninger Clinic's Mind Dive podcast, Dr. Joel Dimsdale joins hosts Dr. Bob Boland and Dr. Kerry Horrell for a discussion on the history of brainwashing, the ease of slipping into Stockholm Syndrome and modern tools of persuasion—like social media—and the effects that clinicians need to be mindful of in patient care. Bringing a unique perspective to the conversation, Joel Dimsdale, MD, began his exploration of brainwashing and its pervasive role in the 20th century after living next door to the Heaven's Gate religious group, led by Marshall Applewhite until the group's highly publicized mass suicide in 1997. He is also the author of “Dark Persuasion: A History of Brainwashing from Pavlov to Social Media.”Dr. Dimsdale is a distinguished professor emeritus and research professor in the department of psychiatry at UC San Diego. He is also an active investigator and past president of the Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research, the American Psychosomatic Society and the Society of Behavioral Medicine. “Much of my work reflects that I feel coercive persuasion—brainwashing—is not an old wives tale,” said Dr. Dimsdale. “It still exists in the modern day, and we have to be on the lookout for it.” Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to never miss an episode of Mind Dive. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health. Listen to Episode 22: Preventing Shame & Loneliness in Childhood Trauma with Dr. Melissa Goldberg Mintz Resources mentioned in this episode: “Dark Persuasion: A History of Brainwashing from Pavlov to Social Media” by Dr. Joel Dimsdale 

A majority of children in the U.S. will experience some type of adverse event before their 18th birthday that could traumatize them. Most will heal naturally, but what can parents expect when their child does not? Joining this episode of The Menninger Clinic's Mind Dive Podcast is Dr. Melissa Goldberg Mintz, childhood trauma expert and author of the bestselling book for parents, “Has Your Child Been Traumatized?” Dive in with hosts Dr. Bob Boland and Dr. Kerry Horrell for this exploration into how clinicians can help parents and guardians prevent shame, secrecy and loneliness from taking hold of a child as they process their experience. Dr. Melissa Goldberg Mintz is an author, psychologist and parent who has worked with traumatized children, adolescents and families for over ten years. “Even though clinicians are trained in the gold standard of treatment, our one-hour session each week won't have as much of an impact on a traumatized child as what's going on at home,” said Dr. Mintz. “The single best way a child can deal with their emotional pain from an adverse event is through connecting with a caregiver they feel close to.” Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to never miss an episode of Mind Dive. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health. Listen to Episode 21: OCD From the Front Lines with Dr. Wayne Goodman, Dr. Eric StorchResources mentioned in this episode: Has Your Child Been Traumatized? How to Know and What to do to Promote Healing and Recovery by Dr. Melissa Goldberg Mintz, Foreword by Dr. Jon Allen 

Commonly misunderstood and misused as shorthand for perfectionism or some personal fixation, the reality of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is much more complex for patients and their clinicians than the general public may realize. This episode of The Menninger Clinic's Mind Dive podcast features nationally recognized OCD experts Dr. Eric Storch and Dr. Wayne Goodman of Baylor College of Medicine (BCM). Dive in with hosts Dr. Bob Boland and Dr. Kerry Horrell to explore the realities of intrusive thoughts for patients with OCD, what is known or surmised about the causes, plus the future of the “brain pacemaker” and more on the lifechanging strides in treatment, such as deep brain stimulation. Wayne Goodman, M.D., serves as Chair of the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at BCM and specializes in OCD and deep brain stimulation. He is also the principal developer of the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), the gold-standard for assessing OCD, and co-founder of the International OCD Foundation.Eric Storch, Ph.D., is a professor and McIngvale Presidential Endowed Chair in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at BCM. Dr. Storch also serves as Vice Chair and Head of Psychology at BCM while co-directing the Obsessive Compulsive and Related Disorders Program.Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to never miss an episode of Mind Dive. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health. Listen to Episode 20: Healing Adult Mother-Daughter Relationship with Lacey Tezino, Angela Koreth

Family therapy traditionally focuses on adults with younger children. When the strong influence of the mother-daughter relationship is considered, how can clinicians tell the time is right for their adult women patients to work on relationship strengthening and intentional bonding with their mother? With such a diverse array of women wearing the title of mother, daughter, or both simultaneously, the answer to healing can begin with a face-to-face conversation and lead to a months-long healing journey.This episode of The Menninger Clinic's Mind Dive podcast features founder of Passport Journeys Lacey Tezino on her mission to make mother-daughter healing more accessible for patients in therapy through her background in the intersection of technology and healthcare, all in honor of the healing journey she took with her own late mother. Lacey is joined by Angela Koreth, a member of the Passport Journeys Clinical Advisory Board and licensed professional counselor-supervisor and program director of The Menninger Clinic's Partial Hospital and Intensive Outpatient Programs. Join hosts Dr. Kerry Horrell and Dr. Bob Boland as these four professionals from all corners of the mental health field explore how clinicians can utilize the relevancy of the entire family system when working with a patient in crisis. Dive into this conversation on how to sow hope that the ship has never sailed for mother-daughter duos to build stronger relationships as long as the desire to heal the relationship remains. Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to never miss an episode of Mind Dive. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health.Listen to Episode 19: Borderline Personality Disorder, Unpacking Causes & Treatments with Dr. Lois Choi-Kain

Identifying what causes borderline personality disorder (BPD) is as difficult as understanding the creation of the personality itself. In this podcast, our expert describes BPD as instability in four key areas: interpersonal relationships, emotions, behavior, and cognition/sense of self. The treatment complexities of this disorder can be intimidating for clinicians. We'll explore a variety of questions about BPD, such as whether a certain psychiatric history make someone more vulnerable to this disorder. Are issues with attachment at a young age to blame? What is the relationship, if any, to trauma?Dive into this episode of Mind Dive podcast from The Menninger Clinic as hosts Dr. Kerry Horrell and Dr. Bob Boland are joined by one of the most accomplished minds in the evolution of borderline personality disorder treatment, Lois W. Choi-Kain, MEd, MD. As director of the Gunderson Personality Disorders Institute at McLean Hospital, Dr. Choi-Kain is an expert in one of the best known treatments for BPD, dialectical behavioral therapy. In this discussion, psychiatrist and psychotherapist Dr. Choi-Kain explores the challenges of working with your patient to achieve emotional regulation.“The steps forward are necessarily messy for everyone involved, but the right treatment provides a clearer understanding of why the patient reacts the way they do and what it does to the people around them,” said Dr. Choi-Kain.Follow The Menninger Clinic on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to never miss an episode of Mind Dive. To submit a topic for discussion, email podcast@menninger.edu. Visit www.menningerclinic.org to learn more about The Menninger Clinic's research and leadership role in mental health.Listen to Episode 18: Eating Disorder Treatment is a Family Affair with Empowered U Resources Mentioned in this Episode: McLean Hospital's General Psychiatric Management for Borderline Personality Disorder Online Training