Personality Couch

In this episode of The Personality Couch, we (licensed clinical psychologists Doc Bok and Doc Fish) dive deep into the dark end of the paranoid personality spectrum, focusing on three notorious cases of mass murder: Jeffrey Weise (school shooter), Richard Farley (jilted lover), and Timothy McVeigh (Oklahoma City bomber). We explore the psychological underpinnings of each of these severe paranoid p...

In this episode of The Personality Couch Podcast, we (licensed clinical psychologists Doc Bok and Doc Fish) unpack how paranoia, paranoid personalities, and psychotic disorders overlap. We explore the line between personality disorders and psychosis; misuse of the term schizophrenia; and introduce the concept of paraphrenia as it relates to psychosis in the paranoid personality. We also explore th...

In this episode of The Personality Couch Podcast, we (licensed clinical psychologists Doc Bok and Doc Fish) continue our discussion about paranoid personality disorder, exploring its three severity levels: Mild, Borderline, and Paraphrenic. We unpack the six subtypes of paranoid personalities as outlined by Dr. Theodore Millon: The Self-Righteous Mistrustful, The Obdurate Mistrustful, the Querulou...

In this episode of The Personality Couch Podcast, we (licensed clinical psychologists Doc Bok and Doc Fish) help differentiate between paranoid and borderline personality disorders. We explore the similarities and differences between these two disorders, discussing their core characteristics, emotional responses, symptoms, and how our own intuition helps us more than we realize. We specifically lo...

In this episode of The Personality Couch Podcast, we (licensed clinical psychologists Doc Bok and Doc Fish) reveal the complex, dangerous, and often misdiagnosed Paranoid Personality Disorder (PPD). We discuss the rising prevalence of PPD in the post-pandemic world, the clinical challenges in identifying and treating these individuals, and the critical differences between Paranoid Personalities an...

In this episode of The Personality Couch Podcast, we (licensed clinical psychologists Doc Bok and Doc Fish) unveil the darkest aspects of personality, focusing on narcissism at its most severe forms. We explore the spectrum of personality types that range from mildly unpleasant to dangerously malignant, discussing examples and case studies that illustrate their risk in relationships. We specifical...

In this episode of The Personality Couch Podcast, we (licensed clinical psychologists Doc Bok and Doc Fish) unpack the dangerous dynamics of malignant narcissism in political leadership. We first explore how these leaders rise to power, the psychological factors that enable their ascent, and the societal conditions that make populations susceptible to their charm. We introduce the narcoticizing an...

In this episode of The Personality Couch Podcast, we (licensed clinical psychologists Doc Bok and Doc Fish) delve into the complex and dark characteristics of malignant narcissism, exploring its origins, characteristics, and using examples from popular culture, particularly the film 'American Psycho'. Citing Eric Fromm’s original work on defining evil, we discuss his triad of: necrophilious orient...

In this episode of The Personality Couch Podcast, we (licensed clinical psychologists Doc Bok and Doc Fish) unpack the tricky topic of communal narcissism, exploring its characteristics, behaviors, and the environments in which these individuals thrive. We discuss the distinction between agentic and communal traits, the illusion of selflessness, and how communal narcissists often deceive themselve...

In this episode of the Personality Couch Podcast, we (licensed clinical psychologists Doc Bok and Doc Fish) explore the complex world of narcissism, focusing on its various subtypes. We unpack grandiose narcissism, its characteristics, as well as fun names in history. Our conversation transitions to communal narcissism, highlighting its deceptive nature and how it can manifest in social settings a...

In this episode of the Personality Couch Podcast, we (licensed clinical psychologists Doc Bok and Doc Fish) delve into the complexities of pathological narcissism, exploring its various expressions, including covert, overt, grandiose, and vulnerable narcissism. We discuss how these themes of overt and covert narcissism appear in all narcissistic individuals, as do grandiose and vulnerable themes....

In this episode of the Personality Couch Podcast, we (licensed clinical psychologists Doc Bok and Doc Fish) delve into the complexities of narcissism and narcissistic personality disorder (NPD). We explore the historical origins of narcissism, the DSM criteria for diagnosing NPD, and the key characteristics of individuals with this disorder, including a lack of empathy and pervasive envy. Our conv...

In this episode of the Personality Couch Podcast, we (licensed clinical psychologists Doc Bok and Doc Fish) unpack the 5 major signs of pathological narcissism, as well as 3 bonus invisible signs of narcissism. We explore warning signs of pride, superiority, vanity, and inauthenticity (among others!), providing insights into how these traits manifest in behavior and relationships. We also explore...

In this episode of the Personality Couch Podcast, we (licensed clinical psychologists Doc Bok and Doc Fish) delve into the complexities of narcissism, exploring its cultural labeling, the distinction between pathological and trait narcissism, and its development from infancy. We discuss the importance of understanding narcissism in contemporary society, the confusion surrounding its definition, an...

In this episode of the Personality Couch Podcast, we (licensed clinical psychologists Doc Bok and Doc Fish) explore the cultural and clinical trends of 2024, focusing on global unrest, political polarization, re-examining power dynamics, and the ongoing mental health crisis. We discuss the impact of trauma awareness and the complexities of the victim mentality, as well as state-specific mental hea...

In this episode of the Personality Couch Podcast, we continue to explore the complexities of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), particularly focusing on the lesser-known subtype: Quiet BPD. We delve into the historical origins of the term 'borderline,' discuss the various subtypes of BPD, and highlight the differences between Quiet and Noisy BPD. The conversation also touches on the lack of re...

In this episode of the Personality Couch Podcast, we dive into the complexities of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) treatment, in particular, the healing power of the invisible dynamics in therapy. We discuss the importance of motivation and insight in recovery for BPD, and the significance of the therapeutic relationship. The conversation emphasizes that while BPD is treatable, the journey i...

In this episode of the Personality Couch Podcast, we delve into the complexities of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), focusing on the themes of suicidal ideation and self-harm. We explore the DSM criteria for BPD, the motivations behind self-harming behaviors, and the stigma associated with these actions. The conversation emphasizes the importance of understanding the emotional pain experienc...

In our second episode of the Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) series, we discuss how this condition manifests in relationships and clinical practice. We explore the pervasive patterns of instability, fear of abandonment, and the role of attachment theory in understanding BPD, while also touching on psychosis and dissociation. Our conversation highlights the challenges faced by individuals wit...

In this episode of the Personality Couch Podcast, we delve into the complexities of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). We discuss the stigma and misinformation surrounding BPD, the media's misrepresentation of the disorder, and the need for a more nuanced understanding of its symptoms and diagnosis. The conversation highlights the emotional experiences of individuals with BPD, the criteria for...

In this episode of the Personality Couch Podcast, we discuss common myths surrounding therapy and therapists. We debunk misconceptions about therapists being perfect, the necessity of shared experiences for effective therapy, and the idea that therapists are always analyzing everyone. The conversation emphasizes the importance of empathy, the reality of therapists' personal struggles, and the moti...

In this episode, we dive into the concept of the drama triangle, a psychological model that explains interpersonal conflict through three roles: the victim, the persecutor, and the rescuer. We explore the historical context of the drama triangle, its origins in transactional analysis, and how these roles manifest in relationships, particularly in the context of personality disorders. Our conversat...

In this episode, we discuss how we diagnose personality disorders as licensed professionals in clinical practice. Personality data is often observed as early as the initial contact for treatment. Once treatment begins, we engage in a "meta process" of observing what's going on inside ourselves as professionals, as well as the dynamic in the room. Because of the nuances and complexities of diagnosi...

In this episode of the Personality Couch Podcast, we discuss four trends we have observed in the post-pandemic world: collective trauma, mental health diagnoses as identity labels, over-identification with neurodivergence, and self-diagnosing. We explore the impact of the pandemic on mental health, including increased anxiety and hostility. We also discuss how mental health diagnoses have become i...

In this episode of the Personality Couch Podcast, we provide an overview of the Enneagram personality typology as a growth tool instead of a personality "box" or label. We discuss our personal journeys with the Enneagram, our typologies, and how we use this non-diagnostic tool in clinical practice. By exploring the different centers of intelligence (body, head, and heart) and the three types withi...