Inside Mental Health

Dr. Phil McGraw is one of the most prominent mental health advocates in America. In today’s episode, our host Gabe Howard and Dr. Phil discuss transitioning out of pandemic mode and into post-pandemic mode, all while taking into account that we aren’t out of the woods yet. Topics like vaccination, distrust of doctors, and the politicized nature of COVID-19 are all examined.  With many of us strugg...

Pop culture tells us that great sex is a natural talent — you either have it or you don’t — and that sex just happens naturally, with zero effort. Today’s guest explodes those myths and tells us that for most people, learning to enjoy having sex takes lots of practice and some trial-and-error. For most people, having and loving sex comes easily, but they’re not in the majority. Great sex is an ong...

Celebrities, politicians, and bosses are constantly being referred to as narcissists. But what does that really mean? Is there an official medical definition of a “narcissist” or is it just a random insult hurled at people we dislike? Today’s guest has spent decades working with narcissists and those who are recovering from them. She explains narcissistic personality disorder and answers vital que...

Motivational interviewing is a common phrase these days, but what is it? Is it only for counselors, or can anyone use it? And if anyone can use it, how? Today’s guest has trained thousands of people in motivational interviewing techniques. Join us as she explains how motivational interviewing is really just a simple set of conversational practices that can help you at home and at work. To learn mo...

Disparities in mental healthcare are well-known in the U.S., with different populations having more or less access to care. Today’s guest, Wilma Mae Basta, is looking to resolve some of those disparities by targeting women of color with her website and pro bono counseling service.  In this episode she breaks down the need for culturally competent mental health services, explains barriers to treatm...

Are you familiar with the concept of “gender affirming care” in medical treatment? What about the unique mental health needs of this community? Do you know what all the letters in LGBTQIA+ stand for? Join us as today’s guest, from the Sierra Tucson Treatment Center, explains these concepts and helps us better understand — and provide better mental health care to — members of the LGBTQIA+ populatio...

We all get married fantasizing the happily ever after — after all, we found “the one.” But studies have shown that up to 50% of married people will have an affair, which begs the questions: Why are so many people cheating on their spouses? And how can you stay out of that statistic? Today’s guest explains how to “affair-proof” your relationship. To read the transcript or learn more, please visit t...

The risk of suicide among LGBTQ+ youth is almost 4 times higher than for youth who don't identify as LGBTQ+. If that surprises you, the cause of the increase will be even more shocking. Today we talk with Dr. Amy Green from The Trevor Project as she reveals the findings of the 2021 National Survey on LGBTQ+ Youth Mental Health and discusses what we, as a society, can do to reduce the risk of LGBTQ...

What exactly is open adoption? Is it psychologically healthy for the child and adoptive parents? Are there lingering fears, like the birth parents will come back to "steal" away the child? Today's guest, Dawn Friedman, an expert on adoption, breaks down the research, shares her experiences, and addresses the fears biological parents often have. Learn more and/or read the transcript by visiting the...

Plastic surgeon, Dr. James C. Marotta has repeatedly heard patients, particularly women, express shame and guilt about wanting to change their appearance. They second-guess themselves and worry about seeming superficial or vain. Listen in as he explains why you should never feel bad about wanting to look how you choose. Learn more and/or read the transcript on the official episode page. Guest Bio...

What are your goals in your marriage? Are you trying to make sure everything’s fair and that you and your spouse are contributing equally to the relationship? Today’s guests explain why that could be a recipe for failure. Dr. Nate Klemp and Kaley Klemp are married researchers and relationship experts who have developed the 80/80 method of managing marriages and relationships. Listen as they explai...

Do you know what a peer clubhouse is? What about a member’s only clubhouse for people living with mental illness? These types of clubhouses have existed since 1949 and there are over 200 in the United States alone. Join us as we chat with Dr. Ashwin Vasan, the CEO of the oldest clubhouse in America, Fountain House. Dr. Vasan tells us the theories behind the clubhouse model, the importance of respe...

The Me2/Orchestra was co-founded and is conducted by Juilliard graduate Ronald Braunstein, who lives with bipolar disorder. His orchestra is featured in the new documentary, “Orchestrating Change,” that tells the inspiring story of the only orchestra in the world created by and for people living with mental illness, and those who support them.  The mission of Me2/ is to erase mental health stigma...

After 25 years, Psych Central has received a makeover. Some things are the same, some are new, and some are different. Now that Psych Central’s founder, Dr. John Grohol, has retired from running the website, for the first time in our history, we have a new Editor in Chief. Join us for today’s show as we learn about the new Psych Central and meet our newly minted — and super cool — Editor in Chief,...

How do families and friends of an atheist or nonbeliever mourn their passing when the majority of our traditions are religion-based? Additionally, can someone build a community without religion — and is it even important to do so? Today’s guest is a “non-theist chaplain.” Join us as we find out what that means as he explains that atheism and ritual are not mutually exclusive. Listen Now! View the...

Most people believe that forensic science is an exact science that can always find the right perpetrator. But is that actually true? Today’s expert explains the reality behind fingerprint analysis, DNA, and other forensic sciences. Professor Brandon L. Garrett shares how a variety of cognitive biases and our basic psychology can cause crime labs to make devastating errors that destroy lives. Not o...

At last count, there were over 300 mental health-related apps in the app stores. With this many, how do you choose? How do they differ from each other, and do they actually help? Most importantly, how do we know which ones are safe?  On today’s episode, we discuss mental health apps with clinical psychologist, Dr. Nathaan Demers, and digital health marketer, Joe Conrad, who created the mental heal...

If you’re an introvert, can you become a leader? Are quiet people capable of leading at all or is a loud, charismatic personality a requirement of leadership? The author of “Quietly Powerful: How Your Quiet Nature Is Your Hidden Leadership Strength,” Megumi Miki, answers these questions and tells us more about introversion and extroversion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adch...

Many people have heard the phrase “inner child,” but what does that really mean? Today’s guest explains how she has reinterpreted the inner child archetype for the modern reader — delving into how metaphors of the sun child, shadow child, and inner adult will help you improve your life and relationships. Stefanie Stahl is a national board certified psychologist, bestselling author, and one of the...

In today’s episode, life coach Mike Bayer from the Dr. Phil show shares his philosophy on how to live authentically. Can one decision really be the key to a better life? What does living authentically even mean? Coach Mike shares exercises from his new book that he’s used with Dr. Phil, J.Lo, and other celebs. Coach Mike’s first book “Best Self” was a runaway success, hitting the New York Times Be...

When it comes to adoption, our understanding of the mental health needs of those involved seems to take a backseat. Concepts such as abandonment and trust issues, as well as acknowledging trauma, often remain unaddressed. Listen as our guest experts, Debbie B. Riley, LCMFT (Center for Adoption Support and Education) and Rita Soronen (Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption) help us understand mental h...

Police officers are much more likely to die by suicide than they are to be killed in the line of duty. While society works hard to prevent law enforcement fatalities, mental health and suicide often remain overlooked. Constable James Jefferson, a 13-year law enforcement veteran, shares his story of being involved in a fatal shooting and how that experience led him to have untreated PTSD for years....

What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)? Is it just for select issues or can everyone benefit from ACT? Is there any evidence to support that ACT works at all? Learn about this form in of therapy in this episode. Steven C. Hayes is a Nevada Foundation professor of psychology at the University of Nevada. An author of 46 books and nearly 650 scientific articles, he’s ranked among the most ci...

Most people think they have good boundaries. But when pressed, they can’t often explain what their boundaries are, let alone maintain positive ones. Today's guest explains the importance of setting boundaries to show the world how we expect to be treated, and how to communicate these boundaries without offending our loved ones. Our guest, Nancy Kalina Gomez, currently helps clients through her web...

When Hope Edelman was 17, her mother died. Like many families in the 1980s, Hope’s family grieved her mother's death in silence. This climate of silence around death made her feel shame around the topic and disconnected from her mother. In this episode, Hope answers the question “Is grieving a lifelong process?” and helps us understand the importance of openly discussing death. Learn more about NY...