Off the Couch Psychology

What if calming your mind sometimes starts with your body? In this crossover episode of Quest for Success Podcast and Off the Couch Psychology Podcast , Dr. Jerry Cunningham explores practical ways to use your body to change the intensity of what you're feeling. You'll learn why breathing, facial tension, movement, your senses, and even temperature can influence your emotional state—and what you c...

What happens when a child learns early in life that the people they need most cannot always be trusted? In this episode of Off the Couch Psychology Podcast , you'll get a clearer understanding of Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD), a condition associated with severe disruptions in early caregiving and a child's ability to form healthy attachments. You'll learn what RAD can look like beyond the lab...

Do you need help healing something from your past—or help figuring out what to do next? Therapy and life coaching can both help people make meaningful changes, but they are not interchangeable. In this crossover episode of Quest for Success Podcast and Off the Couch Psychology Podcast , you'll discover where therapy and coaching differ, where they overlap, and why choosing the right kind of help m...

What happens when someone craves ice, paper, dirt, or even pieces of sheetrock—and cannot simply promise to stop? In this episode of Off the Couch Psychology Podcast , you will meet Jenny, whose behavior began with eating paper as a child and continued through adulthood and three pregnancies. Through Jenny's story, you will discover what pica looks like beyond its clinical definition, why people o...

What happens when someone breaks a rule nobody ever said out loud? An elevator ride turns awkward. A family dinner goes quiet. A conversation about money becomes an argument, and neither person knows how it started. In this crossover episode of Quest for Success and Off the Couch Psychology, you'll hear how unwritten rules shape what feels safe, what causes tension, and what you expect from the pe...

What happens when you know exactly what you want to say, but anxiety will not let the words come out? Selective mutism is often mistaken for shyness, stubbornness, or a child simply refusing to talk, but there is much more happening behind the silence. In this episode of Off the Couch Psychology Podcast , you'll meet nine-year-old Amber and follow her through a typical day to see how selective mut...

Losing weight is supposed to make you feel better—but what happens when the scale goes down and your anxiety, depression, or body-image struggles don't go with it? In this episode of Off the Couch Psychology Podcast , you'll discover why improving your physical health doesn't automatically resolve what's happening psychologically. We'll look at research involving restrictive dieting, unhealthy wei...

Your child can't focus, avoids homework, struggles in class, or seems restless. Is it ADHD—or could anxiety be driving the behavior? In this episode of Off the Couch Psychology Podcast , Dr. Jerry Cunningham breaks down why ADHD and anxiety in children can look surprisingly similar on the outside while very different things may be happening underneath. You'll learn what research tells us about att...

When does clutter become something more serious? Hoarding disorder isn't simply having a messy house or refusing to throw things away. The possessions you see are often only the visible part of a much more complicated struggle. In this episode of Off the Couch Psychology Podcast , you'll learn what separates hoarding disorder from ordinary clutter and collecting, why getting rid of seemingly worth...

For years, severe premenstrual symptoms were sometimes dismissed as simply "bad PMS." But Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder—PMDD—is a recognized disorder that can seriously affect mood, relationships, work, and everyday functioning. In this episode of Off the Couch Psychology Podcast , you'll learn what separates PMDD from typical PMS, why the timing and pattern of symptoms are so important, and why...

You skip the party. You avoid small talk. The gas pump says, "See cashier for receipt," and suddenly you decide you never really needed that receipt anyway. So you call yourself  antisocial . But is that actually the right word? In this episode of Off the Couch Psychology Podcast , you'll discover why antisocial and asocial describe two very different patterns of behavior—and why mixing them up ca...

What happens when depression doesn't feel like a crisis—it just feels like  you ? Persistent Depressive Disorder, or PDD, can exist quietly for years. You may still work, maintain relationships, laugh, and handle your responsibilities while living with a low-grade sadness that has become the background static of everyday life. In this episode of Off the Couch Psychology Podcast , Dr. Jerry Cunning...

A terrifying dream wakes you in the middle of the night. Your heart is pounding, you remember exactly what happened, and going back to sleep suddenly doesn't sound very appealing. But what if someone sits up screaming, looks terrified, cannot be easily comforted, and remembers almost nothing the next morning? These experiences may look similar, but nightmares and night terrors are not simply diffe...

The arrival of a baby is supposed to be a time of joy, but for some families, the postpartum period brings depression, severe mood changes, or even a frightening loss of contact with reality. In this episode of Off the Couch Psychology Podcast , Dr. Jerry Cunningham looks beyond the headlines to help you understand postpartum depression, bipolar disorder during the postpartum period, and postpartu...

Everybody seems to be talking about Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), but what exactly is it, and why has it become one of the most trusted approaches in mental health? In this episode of  Off the Couch Psychology Podcast , you'll discover why CBT has earned decades of scientific support and how its practical strategies can help you think more clearly, manage stress more effectively, and respond...

What if the person judging your appearance the most...is your own brain? In this episode of Off the Couch Psychology Podcast , you'll discover why Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is far more than insecurity or vanity. You'll learn how this often misunderstood condition can cause someone to become trapped in a cycle of obsessive thoughts, mirror checking, reassurance seeking, and avoidance—even when...

Have you ever walked away from a conversation wondering,  "Why did I react like that?" Or maybe someone seemed upset with you even though you hadn't done anything wrong. In this episode, you'll discover how transference and countertransference quietly shape your emotions, attitudes, relationships, and everyday interactions—whether you're in a therapist's office, at work, at home, or standing in li...

What if the hardest journey you'll ever take is the walk from your front door to your mailbox? In this episode of Off the Couch Psychology Podcast , you'll discover what agoraphobia really is—and why it's far more than simply being afraid to leave the house. You'll learn how this anxiety disorder develops, what is happening inside the brain, how it differs from social anxiety disorder, and why avo...

What does it really mean to have a manic episode? Is hypomania just having extra energy, or is there much more to it? In this episode of  Off the Couch Psychology Podcast , you'll learn how psychologists and psychiatrists tell the difference between mania and hypomania, why that distinction is so important, and how it can affect diagnosis and treatment. You'll discover why sleeping less isn't alwa...

Social anxiety disorder is far more than being shy. In this episode of  Off the Couch Psychology Podcast , you'll discover what is really happening inside the mind of someone who fears being judged, criticized, or embarrassed in everyday social situations. You'll also learn why social anxiety disorder is so often confused with generalized anxiety disorder—and why understanding the difference matte...

Could your immune system be affecting your mental health? For years, mental health has been explained through brain chemistry, genetics, life experiences, and psychology. But a growing body of research is asking another fascinating question: What role does inflammation play in depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and other mental health conditions? In this episode of Off the Couch Psycholo...

Separation Anxiety Disorder isn't just something children experience. Adults can struggle with it too, especially after major life changes, trauma, or the loss of someone they love. In this episode of  Off the Couch Psychology Podcast , you'll learn how to recognize the difference between normal worry and Separation Anxiety Disorder, why the brain reacts the way it does, and most importantly, what...

IEPs and 504 Plans affect millions of students, but understanding what these plans actually do can feel like trying to read a school policy manual while someone keeps adding more forms to the pile. In this episode of Off the Couch Psychology Podcast, Dr. Jerry Cunningham breaks down the difference between an IEP and a 504 Plan, why these protections exist, and what can happen when a strong plan is...

A child explodes over a video game, a simple correction at school, or being told no. Is it defiance, bad behavior, bipolar disorder—or something else? In this episode of Off the Couch Psychology Podcast , you'll learn about Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder, or DMDD , a childhood mood disorder involving chronic irritability and severe, recurring emotional outbursts. You'll hear how DMDD can s...

What if one skill could improve your relationships, reduce stress, make you a better leader, and even strengthen your faith? In this special crossover episode of  Quest for Success and Off the Couch Psychology , Dr. Jerry Cunningham explores the science behind emotional intelligence and why it may be one of the most valuable skills you'll ever develop. You'll discover what emotional intelligence r...