Let's Get Psyched

In our new series called "Fireside Chat," we will feature more intimate conversations with former guests. Join us for our first episode of this series, where we invited psychiatrist Dr. Marshall Forstein back to discuss the complexities of both providing and receiving clinical supervision. Please be sure to catch the very end of the episode, when Dr. Forstein shares a special song he sha...

How can a desire to please and/or be the one person to help someone with a long mental health history lead to problems? How should a clinician respond when a client believes they can only be helped by that clinician? How should a clinician respond when the client seems to be attracted to the clinician? We share our personal experiences. Hosts: Eyrn, Toshia, Al, Yasmine

We share our policies on sharing personal information with clients and when oversharing can cause problems. Is there an “appropriate” amount of self-disclosure or is less more? Are there situations where disclosing personal information can help a client achieve their goals? Hosts: Eyrn, Toshia, Al, Yasmine

In his book, The Sober Truth , psychiatrist Lance Dodes shines a light on the poorly conducted research supporting the 12 Step approach to treating addiction. In this episode, Dr. Dodes discusses how a religious, one-size-fits-all approach came to shape our understanding of addiction and dominate self-help, residential, and intensive outpatient treatment programs in the United States. Hosts: Eyrn,...

Dr. Deepika Shaligram joins us to discuss her work, research, and passion in providing culturally sensitive care when working with South Asian American youth. Hosts: Eyrn, Toshia, Al, Yasmine Guest: Deepika Shaligram, MD References: Shaligram D, Khan M, Adiba A, Anam S. Cultural Considerations for Working with South Asian Youth. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2022 Oct;31(4):789-803. doi: 10.10...

We welcome Megan Aguilera to the “Let’s Get Psyched” team by asking her to discuss one of her special interests. Terms such as “susto” and “ataque de nervios” are frequently used in Latin America to describe a variety of emotional reactions and behaviors that are often similar—but distinct from—mental health conditions commonly seen by clinicians. Megan, a fourth year medical student at the Univer...

Join us for part three of our discussion with psychiatrist, Harvard Professor, and agent of change Dr. Chris Palmer.  He lays out why it is important to distinguish between disorders of the brain and conditions with external causes when treating patients and how prescribing psychotropic medication without sufficient consideration of metabolism has led to worse outcomes. Finally, he shares his appr...

Why are there higher rates of obesity, diabetes, and early deaths amongst people diagnosed with a mental disorder? Dr. Chris Palmer joins us to advance the idea that mental disorders are actually metabolic disorders of the brain. After integrating research from several fields and sources, he claims that understanding metabolism at the cellular level is “the only way to connect the dots in the ment...

We talk to Harvard professor and psychiatrist Dr. Chris Palmer about how mitochondrial functioning and nutrition can open up new approaches to treatment. Dr Palmer shares a compelling personal account of mental illness, homelessness, ineffective therapy, and a quest to find treatment. This led to his exciting research on dietary changes and brain functioning. Hosts: Eyrn, Toshia, Al Guest: Chris P...

There are many biases and misconceptions associated with BDSM and non-conventional sex practices associated with the kink community. We tackle these controversial topics with therapist Nina Ruedas. We learn about these communities while also discussing boundaries and how to maintain safety in a non-conventional relationship. Hosts: Eyrn, Toshia, Al Guest: Nina Ruedas, MS, LMFT

We asked Palm Springs-based therapist Nina Ruedas to share what she sees as common misconceptions and the most important components of sex therapy. She also discusses the most common issues addressed in sex therapy. Hosts: Eyrn, Toshia, Al Guest: Nina Ruedas, MS, LMFT References: https://www.kapprofessionals.org/

Dr. Noshene Ranjbar joins us again. In this episode, Dr. Ranjbar draws on parallels between current events in Iran and her work with providing mental health care for Native Americans in the United States. We explore how a field, such as psychiatry, can meet a community’s needs while also providing adequate care for those that need it. Hosts: Eyrn, Toshia, Al Guest: Noshene Ranjbar, MD, Yasmine Dak...

Born and raised in Tehran, Iran until immigrating to the US in adolescence, Dr. Noshene Ranjbar is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Arizona. As a faculty member with The Center for Mind-Body Medicine (CMBM), she created a Farsi-speaking Empowerment and Trauma Relief Program, which mentors Farsi-speaking individuals in an evidence-based small group model of self-care and tr...

Psychiatrist and researcher, Dr. Paul Weigle, joins us once again to share his expertise on clinical assessment of social media use and the issue of patients diagnosing themselves. He also provides suggestions for what parents can do to prevent social media use from becoming a problem and how to talk to their child if it is. Hosts: Eyrn, Toshia Guest: Paul Weigle, MD Resources: Raising a Screen-Sm...

The San Mateo County Office of Education in California filed a federal lawsuit against social media companies over social media's harmful effects on students. We asked psychiatrist and expert Dr. Paul Weigle to speak to us about the impact of social media on children and adolescents. He also shares his opinion on the role of parents and legislation in limiting the risks. Hosts: Eyrn, Toshia Gu...

Dr. Shawn Christopher Shea shares several techniques of clinical interviewing he developed and adapted from other disciplines that can be life changing for the patient and the clinician. We are enthralled once again. Hosts: Eyrn, Toshia, Al Guest: Shawn Christopher Shea, MD Resources: https://suicideassessment.com/ CASE Approach online courses

Dr. Shawn Christopher Shea joins us for Part 1 of clinical interviewing strategies. He has developed an extensive training program and has taught thousands of clinicians to achieve mastery in the art and technical skill of clinical interviewing. He is a thoroughly engaging speaker who takes seriously his role as a healer with the opportunity to save people's lives. Hosts: Eyrn, Toshia, Al Guest: S...

Early in his career, Dr. Shea discovered that two clinicians interviewing the same patient managed to gather vastly different information relevant to the patient's suicide risk. It led to the development of the Chronological Assessment of Suicide Events to reliably arrive at the patient's actual intent and risk for suicide. Hosts: Eyrn, Toshia, Al Guest: Shawn Christopher Shea, MD Resources: https...

Warning: This episode involves discussions of abuse, violence, and victimization. It may not be suitable for children and may trigger powerful emotions and/or memories of trauma. Support is available through the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888 and online at thisishumantrafficking.com . We have a very powerful discussion on the tactics used by sex traffickers and the path to...

Warning: This episode involves discussions of abuse, violence, and victimization. It may not be suitable for children and may trigger powerful emotions and/or memories of trauma. Support is available through the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888 and online at thisishumantrafficking.com . For National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, Victim Specialist at the Denver Division...

Dr. Chochinov returns to the show to dive into the patient dignity question, the platinum rule, and how biases in the healthcare system can impact both patients and providers. Hosts: Eyrn, Toshia Guests: Harvey Max Chochinov, MD, PhD, FRCPC, Yasmine Dakhama, MS4 References: Chochinov HM. The platinum rule: a new standard for person-centered  care. J Palliat Med. 2022;25(6):854-856. doi:10.108...

We explore Dr. Harvey Max Chochinov's work on dignity therapy, its application in practice, and ways we can enhance humanism in medicine. Dr. Chochinov is a psychiatrist and researcher in palliative and end-of-life care. Our discussion also touches on burnout and systemic challenges the field of medicine faces. Hosts: Eyrn, Toshia Guests: Harvey Max Chochinov, MD, PhD, FRCPC, Yasmine Dakhama,...

Be on the lookout for outcome manipulation! Pharmaceutical companies are important innovators, but they are businesses first. In this episode, renowned pharmaceutical critic, Dr. Daniel Carlat, gives us tips on spotting common research methods used to bias findings. Hosts: Al, Toshia Guests: Daniel Carlat, MD, Yasmine Dakhama, MS4

Renowned psychiatry professor Dr. Daniel Carlat details his journey from pharmaceutical spokesperson to receiving legal threats from pharmaceutical companies. Dr. Carlat gets candid about his transformation and his doubts along the way. Hosts: Al, Toshia Guests: Daniel Carlat, MD, Yasmine Dakhama, MS4

Dr. Rebecca Capasso returns to the show to discuss assessment of violence and what to do when the patient has access to a gun. What are the important questions to ask? When should confidentiality be breached to ensure safety? Hosts: Eyrn, Toshia Guests: Rebecca Capasso, MD, Imaan Alaidroos, MD References: Psychiatrists 4 Gun Violence Prevention website: https://www.psychgvp.org/ Baxley F, Miller M...