My Sister's A Therapist- Mental Health, Wellness, and Healing with Humor

If you're obsessed with your white knight, the fairy tale, and happily ever after- how was your relationship with your Dad? Bad, right? Zach Woods-Emotional Neglect-Lily Allen- Licensed Therapist-Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist-Neglect-Physical Neglect-West End Girl-Robert Smith Mental Health Advice/Pop Culture/Mental Health Awareness/Trauma Recovery/Sisters/Wellness & Healing/Humor...

We get a listener question from Sharon, who twirls her hair for up to five hours a day and wishes she could stop! What are the commonalities between OCD and and Body Focused Repetitive Behaviors? Why is it mostly women who exhibit these behaviors? Why is it tricky to rock a rhyme that's right on time? And when did Laura stop sucking her thumb? These questions and more are answered on this week...

My Sister's A Therapist is dropping a special New Year's Eve episode- where do NYE traditions come from? Why do we have superstitions- and how close are they to OCD? References: The History of New Year’s Eve 35 Crazy New Year’s Eve Celebrations Throughout History: The History Collection  The psychology of superstition, with Stuart Vyse, PhD: Speaking of Psychology Podcast: Kim Mills How su...

Why does grudge holding feel so good, if it's so bad for you? How can I let go of these feelings, and improve my life? The sisters discuss the benefits of letting it go. Buddhism+Forgiveness+Grudges+#MeToo+Stress+Anxiety+Anger+Therapy+LMFT+Resentment+Dysregulation Mental Health Advice/Pop Culture/Mental Health Awareness/Trauma Recovery/Sisters/Wellness & Healing/Humor/Trauma Healing/Humor...

Your brain is tricking you, and you love it! Why we are SO CONFIDENT in our memories, although they are USUALLY WRONG. Why we remember traumatic events, and how we can move past them. References: Roger Brown's Flashbulb Memories, Gordon H. Bower's happiness and memories, Endel Tulving's Mind Palace. Adlerian Psychology/Therapy/LMFT/Crisis/Memories/Implanted Memories/False Memories/Pess...

Laura and Virginia diagnose their favorite characters in the Frank Capra classic, It's A Wonderful Life. We love you, Jimmy Stewart! Mental health- feminism-family dynamics-LMFT -intermittent explosive disorder- Borderline personality disorder-Cluster B Mental Health Advice/Pop Culture/Mental Health Awareness/Trauma Recovery/Sisters/Wellness & Healing/Humor/Trauma Healing/Humor & Heali...

Sometimes, an episode is based on a fan letter. Sometimes, it's tiktok. This week, it's a conversation Virginia had with a dummy. Where do morals come from? Is it God? Philosophy- moral philosophy- Heinz dilemma- atheism- religion Mental Health Advice/Pop Culture/Mental Health Awareness/Trauma Recovery/Sisters/Wellness & Healing/Humor/Trauma Healing/Humor & Healing/Sisters/Licensed...

Is it embarrassing to have a boyfriend, now? References: Eddie Dresden: Tik Tok  "Is Having a Boyfriend Embarrassing Now? CHANTÉ JOSEPH Why Do We Prioritize Romantic Over Platonic Love?: embracesexualwellness.com The Nuclear Family Was a Mistake: David Brooks Decentering Dating: Why Love Isn’t the Only Plotline: Anh Le  The Nuclear Family Was a Mistake: David Brooks  Why Is Everyone Obsessed...

What do Vincent Van Gogh, Yayoi Kusama, and Louis Wain have in common? The answer won't surprise you! Mental Health Advice/Pop Culture/Mental Health Awareness/Trauma Recovery/Sisters/Wellness & Healing/Humor/Trauma Healing/Humor & Healing/Licensed Therapist/LMFT

This week, listener Anna asks about white people bs, and we talk about it. Thanks, Anna! References: The Backlash Against “Karen” Memes is Peak White Feminism: By Stephanie Younger What exactly is a 'Karen' and where did the meme come from? Ashitha Nagar  Is  Barbie  Peak White Feminism? Does It Even Matter?: JOURDAIN SEARLES When White Women Cry: How White Women's Tears Oppress Women...

What makes us competitive, and is it a healthy impulse? The girls discuss what makes for healthy, and unhealthy competition- and why American society praises the latter. Guess what, Virginia is talking about Alfred Adler again. A nice moment of vulnerability between sisters as Laura complains about shit Virginia did forty years ago. Mental Health Advice/Pop Culture/Mental Health Awareness/Trauma R...

Will p0rn make you an incel? Well, it might not, but why would you risk it? The girls talk about why Cindy Gallop is their hero, and why we should try to stay connected to each other. References: Pornland: How Porn Has Hijacked Our Sexuality:Gail Dines  Make Love, Not Porn: Cindy Gallop Porn Sex vs Real Sex: The Differences Explained With Food Adolescents, Porn, and Mental Health: Understanding th...

Listener Rachel asks- Why aren't we ok as we are? We explore the origin of the Beauty Myth and why it just gets stronger with time. References: The Beauty Myth, Naomi Wolf Mental Health Advice/Pop Culture/Mental Health Awareness/Trauma Recovery/Sisters/Wellness & Healing/Humor/Trauma Healing/Humor & Healing/Licensed Therapist/LMFT/Beauty Myth/Erin Parsons/Mr. Beast/Family Ties

We thought it was gonna be climate warming, but it looks like the human race is going to chatbot itself to death! How did movies like Her and Blade Runner 2049 try to tell us it was coming? Why does that weird kid have a crossbow? What does Laura's boyfriend Kirk think of all of this? Find out now! Mental Health Advice/Pop Culture/Mental Health Awareness/Trauma Recovery/Sisters/Wellness &...

Can you tell the difference between fear and lust? Between excitement and anxiety? And is make up sex the best thing since Adam and Eve? Find out today! References: Misattribution of Arousal- Schacter and Singer, 1962 David Ludden Ph. D. The Psychology of Makeup Sex Mental Health Advice/Pop Culture/Mental Health Awareness/Trauma Recovery/Sisters/Wellness & Healing/Humor/Trauma Healing/Humor &a...

What's Laura's beef with Charlize Theron? Why doesn't Virginia get traffic tickets? These and many more questions answered in this discussion on pretty privilege! References: Smartless Podcast: Episode 123: Charlize Theron Smartless Podcast: Episode 266: Jason Momoa  A Psychologist Explains The ‘Pretty Privilege’ Paradox: Mark Travers Beauty is in the eye of the employer: Labor market...

How did Winston Churchill ruin Laura's life, and why do we hold onto cruel shoes? How the sunk cost fallacy affects jobs, relationships, and even what we wear. References: Why are we likely to continue with an investment even if it would be rational to give it up? The Decision Lab Sunk cost fallacy: behavioraleconomics.com Sunk Cost Fallacy: Why We Can’t Let Go: Jeremy Sutton, Ph. D. Grey Gard...

It's been a minute since the girls had a real man-hater episode, but we're back! The topic is: when a groom smashes cake into his bride's face, is it a) funny or b) cause for annulment? On the way, we discuss Jake and Logan Paul, John Gottman, and, of course, our Dad. Marriage/Weddings/Mental Health Advice/Pop Culture/Mental Health Awareness/Trauma Recovery/Sisters/Wellness & Heali...

The girls diagnose Big and Little Edie, from the documentary classic Grey Gardens. On the way, they discuss Young Ones, both their grandmas, and quote Morrissey, like usual. References: DSM 5   Puzzling Facts About Edith “Big Edie” Bouvier Beale, The Reclusive Socialite: Factinate Will I Ever Be Good Enough? Healing The Daughters of Narcissistic Mothers: Karyl McBride Mayo Clinic: Schizotypal Pers...

In which Virginia invents a new word for what chiropractors do, Laura talks about flip flops and they both talk about what Enclothed Cognition means. Mental Health Advice/Pop Culture/Mental Health Awareness/Trauma Recovery/Sisters/Wellness & Healing/Humor/Trauma Healing/Humor & Healing/Licensed Therapist/LMFT/Mental Wellness

Special guest Courtney Orlando comes on to talk STRESS! Where does it come from? What can we do about it? Find her at https://www.nodalpointenergyworks.com/ References: What Are the Impacts of Stress on the Body and Mind?: University of Florida College of Medicine   More than a quarter of U.S. adults say they’re so stressed they can’t function: APA Stress in America Is Escalating Rita Watson, MPH...

Does being famous make you an a-hole, or does being an a-hole make you famous? Virginia bemoans the failures of Neil Gaiman, Bill Cosby, and Armie Hammer. References: A third of male university students say they would SA a woman if there no were no consequences: Jon Stone Mental Health Advice/Pop Culture/Mental Health Awareness/Trauma Recovery/Sisters/Wellness & Healing/Humor/Trauma Healing/Hu...

How to disappoint others and why it's important! The philosophy of The We Do Not Care Club, The Big Lebowski, and The Former Airport Chauffeur. Sponsored by Function Health! Function Health- Give us your blood! References: Fed Up: Emotional Labor, Women, and the Way Forward: by Gemma Hartley Dr. Laurie Santos on The Happiness Lab podcast Merriam-Webster Learning to disappoint people: Emily Ley...

Are you your own worst enemy? Learn all the different ways you can trip yourself up- and how to set yourself up for success! Mental Health Advice/Pop Culture/Mental Health Awareness/Trauma Recovery/Sisters/Wellness & Healing/Humor/Trauma Healing/Humor & Healing/Licensed Therapist/LMFT/Mental Wellness

Is gossip all bad? What gave it a bad reputation? Why wouldn't Virginia go back to the 19th century? What's the best gossip from your hometown? Why You Were Born to Gossip: David Ludden, PhD Explaining the evolution of gossip: Michele J. Gelfand THE DIVINE ORIGIN OF THE WORD GOSSIP  Written By Sanne Cheney-Steijger How the Demonization of “Gossip” Is Used to Break Women’s Solidarity: SILVI...