"Jaxon and the Pharmacist"

Ben DeCastro was in for Courtney, to discuss a controversial podcast featuring BIll Maher and Bella Thorne. Maher challenged Thorne in regard to her struggles with anxiety, by asking how people from her generation could possibly be anxious. The Boomer/Gen Z disconnect immediately became evident, and served as yet another example of how fractured and divided our society has become. How does our ove...

Tax Day. Gas prices. Cost of living. Inflation. Stock market swings. Financial stress is as prominent as it's been in decades. And for all too many of us, it takes an emotional toll. Marriages affected. Retirements delayed. Credit scores decimated. What can therapy do to help? "Invest" some time in this discussion for those answers (and more).

"Go with your gut." "Sit with it for a little while." Which of the two is the more healthy approach? Or, perhaps is it neither? Go with your gut, and sit with this episode, for some much-needed clarity.

What occurred at "The Academy Awards" served as a textbook example of sensitivities having been tested. A joke perceived to be insensitive struck emotional nerves, which subsequently resulted in ill-advised, and impulsive reactions. What roles did ego, "wokeness," technology, culture, socials, and hypocrisy all play in what eventually transpired? And how can such behavior be managed, and treated,...

Opening oneself up to therapy is an enormous first step. Benefiting from said commitment is another huge accomplishment. But taking what you've learned in the hopes of helping others just may be the most satisfying result of all.

'Tis the season for not only spring cleaning your place of residence, but also your mental health. What should be on that checklist? Courtney and Brian share their thoughts.

March Madness is in the offing. NFL WR Calvin Ridley is serving a one-year suspension for betting on games. And as it's Problem Gambling Awareness Month, what better time is there to explore this ever-growing epidemic which is only becoming more accessible with each passing day?

A prominent U.S. journalist recently wrote a book describing how she "hates" her husband, but has no plans to divorce him. And while "hate" is an awfully strong word, what it really speaks to is how no marriage is perfect...not even close. Even within the strongest of unions, there are days where dislike and annoyance far overshadow affection and love, and that can actually be quite healthy. But w...

How and when does a complicated friendship cross the line into becoming toxic? In what ways can and should that be addressed/approached? And at what point is walking away the healthiest thing for you? Off of an appearance by therapist Karina Aybar-Jacobs on "The Today Show" (revolving around this very topic), Courtney and Brian weigh in with their own thoughts.

Much has been made in regard to Kanye West's very public displays of behavior involving the relationship between his ex-wife, Kim Kardashian, and her boyfriend, Pete Davidson. How much of that could be related to mental illness, given all of the speculation as to Ye's history with both bipolar, and borderline personality disorder? And should either issue impact your life in any way, how can they m...

Loneliness has become somewhat of a pandemic epidemic. And while Valentine's Day is quite often a celebration for those who are lucky enough to be in love, for the countless others who aren't, it can also be absolute torture. Even if you do find yourself in a relationship, should it be dysfunctional, that struggle can also be real. Either way, Courtney and Brian are here to help.

In a week featuring (what may have been) two celebrity suicides, it feels appropriate to examine this very difficult topic. We explore the role of Internet trolls as a part of this equation, the motivation of such bullying (some of which you may find to be surprising), and the accountability element to it all.

For as important as it is to know who you are as an individual, the benefits of interacting, and associating, with like-minded people can similarly work wonders for your overall mental health -- be it from a religious, political, cultural, traumatic, or even sports fandom perspective. It can often provide you with a sense of belonging/tribalism. But when could it also become somewhat unproductive?...

Regarding a recent article entitled, "Covert Narcissism," in what other areas may various mental health issues be difficult to detect? Are those gray areas solely unclear to those who are externally affected by said behavior, or can the person who possesses them also be in the dark? How much of the latter could be related to subconscious denial? And how often is the person who is prone these trait...

"If only (BLANK) would happen, I'd finally be happy." As the old adage goes, "Be careful what you wish for." But even more importantly, don't waste too much time and energy on things you can't control. Easier said than done? It doesn't have to be. Find out how, here.

With age, comes wisdom...but that's not all. There's also the weight of increased responsibility, unwanted physiological changes, the inevitable loss of older loved ones/heroes, and with that, a heightened awareness of one's own mortality. And for as much as all of that can be to process, therapeutically, there are methods/coping mechanisms which can help. Several of those are examined, here.

Part two/our year end episode, covering the article which inspired the "Therapeutic Expectations" edition of the podcast, examining everything from our tendency to avoid what's damaging us most, being dishonest with yourself, and why the heck Courtney and Brian haven't been in the same room for most of the last week!

A year ago at this time, a sense of relief emerged as we were all preparing to finally put 2020 in the rearview. Hope, on the back of a newly-released vaccine, and a New Year in the offing, sprang eternal -- in spite of the news of a developing variant. As 2021 progressed, things seemed to turn a corner...only to seemingly, and sharply, regress yet again. It's an emotional roller coaster which cou...

The biggest factor which typically scares people away from therapy is invalid/preconceived notions. And those can be all over the map. So, wherein lies the truth? Get the perspective of both therapist, and patient, in this episode.

What is "revenge bedtime procrastination," and how detrimental can it be to overall mental health? How important is sleep, from both a physical and emotional perspective, and what are some of the best ways to ensure that you get it?

What can be the most joyous time of the year for some, can also be one of the most emotionally painful for others. Finding a balance between the two camps (along with everyone else in between), is key -- especially as so many of us come together for the holidays.

Society will tell you that having children has the ability to be among the greatest experiences you'll ever encounter. And while that can be true, new research finds that it can also be terrible for quality of life, making "happiness" complicated at times. How do you prevent this from becoming an issue with your significant other, which could potentially harm your relationship? What adjustments ne...

On the heels of the tragedy involving young lives lost at the Astroworld Festival featuring Travis Scott, Courtney and Brian explore ways in which coping with grief on that level are best, and typically, approached/processed.

More often than not, pessimism gets a bad rap. But a recent study suggests it's far more ingrained in all of us than most self-proclaimed optimists may be willing to admit. And yet, that's not necessarily a bad thing. How so? Find out here.

The opioid epidemic has long been a problem, which terrifyingly just may be becoming more prevalent than ever. Should you find yourself within the grips of addiction, or if you love someone who is, this edition is an absolute must listen.