Psychologists Off the Clock

Children nowadays have the luxury of being able to choose from a wide range of athletic activities. Though this is fantastic for their long-term development, youth sports have become more intense and competitive than ever before, which can pose a risk to our kids' mental health and overall well-being. So, how can we raise happy, healthy athletes while nurturing them into kind, compassionate, confi...

Self-forgiveness doesn’t come easily. For some, the shame and withdrawal that come with holding incredible bitterness and animosity towards oneself can take over for years, and in some instances, a lifetime, if left unaddressed. In an interview with Grant Dewar, psychologist and author of The Self-Forgiveness Workbook , he describes real-world examples of how to develop mindfulness and compassion...

It's time to have a no-BS discussion about something that all of us have struggled with at some point in our long-term relationships: maintaining a sexual connection. If this speaks to you and you feel like you’re stuck with poor advice on how to navigate the situation, meet our guest, Emily Nagoski , a sex educator and author of Come Together: The Science (and Art!) of Creating Lasting Sexual Con...

Research shows that somewhere between 2 and 6% of the population struggles with BFRBs at a clinical level, which can include behaviors like hair-pulling, skin-picking, and nail-biting (among others). What differentiates BFRBs from other self-grooming behaviors, though, is the unintentional harm they cause to the body and the lack of successful efforts to stop them. To gain a better understanding o...

It's disheartening to see how burnout has become increasingly widespread. We understand how overwhelming it can be, and we're here to support you in finding ways to overcome it. For this very special episode, all four POTC cohosts come together to celebrate Debbie's new book, ACT for Burnout: Recharge, Reconnect, and Transform Burnout with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy . This incredible resour...

Puberty can be a very confusing and transformative time, full of physical and emotional changes that can be both exciting and challenging to navigate. As your children go through this phase, they may need your support and guidance more than ever. Joining us for a conversation all about all things puberty are Cara Natterson and Vanessa Kroll Bennett, the coauthors of national bestseller, This Is So...

Is wellness something you would like to bring into your life this year? Then our first POTC episode of 2024, featuring Sharon Salzberg , a pioneer of meditation and world-renowned teacher, is a gold mine! Going deep into Sharon's many years of experience practicing and teaching mindfulness, we unpack principles from her work and latest book, Real Happiness: A 28-Day Program to Realize the Power of...

As yet another incredible year comes to a close, the POTC cohosts, Debbie, Jill, Michael, and Emily, gather for the final episode of 2023 in a cozy fireside chat. Kicking off the episode, they reflect on some of the obstacles they faced this past year as well as share some of the valuable lessons they’ve learned along the way. Looking optimistically into the year to come, they get pumped about the...

Since we were introduced to Polyvagal Theory by Stephen Porges in the early nineties, the concept has revolutionized our understanding of the connection between safety and well-being and transformed trauma interventions and therapeutic interactions, inspiring researchers and clinicians to approach things in new ways. Here to enlighten us through real-world examples and themes from their book, Our...

The fact is that, next to sleep, we spend the most hours of a lifetime in the workplace. It's true, even though it is a bitter pill to swallow. That's why Michelle P. King argues the idea that we can only find fulfillment and purpose outside of work. Having a job takes up so much of our day-to-day lives, so we must strive to find meaning in it and understand the unspoken rules that lie beneath the...

Middle school can be such a stressful experience for kids, their parents, and educators alike. It's a time of change, pressure, and uncharted territory that can be extremely overwhelming. In this conversation, Emily Edlynn speaks with the author of Middle School Superpowers: Raising Resilient Tweens in Turbulent Times , Phyllis Fagell, who has crafted a science-backed and compassionate resource fo...

Inequality is a pervasive problem in society that leads to individuals and entire communities feeling undervalued and neglected and can have adverse impacts. We excitedly welcome acclaimed Harvard sociologist Michèle Lamont for this discussion, who joins Debbie to impart wisdom and discoveries from her powerful book, Seeing Others: How Recognition Works and How It Can Heal a Divided World . As the...

In this bonus episode, Michael leads Jill, Debbie, and Emily in a hilarious round of Dungeons&Dragons. If you just tuned into our episode with Megan Connell on Dungeons&Dragons in Therapy , you’ll understand that tabletop role-playing games can only truly be understood by experiencing them in action, and who better to demonstrate it than the POTC cohosts? And, for those interested in tryin...

Many clinical professionals all over the world are incorporating tabletop roleplaying games (RPGs) into therapy. They offer diverse benefits and can be a game-changing way to introduce enjoyment and creativity into therapy sessions. For this conversation, we are thrilled to be joined by Megan Connell , author of Tabletop Role-Playing Therapy: A Guide for the Clinician Game Master , to talk about t...

Is curiosity one of your greatest superpowers when it comes to making meaningful connections, healing, and growing personally? This episode features Scott Shigeoka , an expert on curiosity and the author of Seek: How Curiosity Can Transform Your Life and Change the World . Join us as Scott draws from personal experiences and extensive research to teach us about the power of deep curiosity and how...

We are all affected by change in some way or another. Whether it is an economic crisis, a career change, a global pandemic, or having children, change is unavoidable. In this episode, we welcome back best-selling author Brad Stulberg to talk about his new book, Master of Change: How to Excel When Everything Is Changing - Including You . Brad shares a new model for defining change and draws upon pr...

It is astounding how much information we are exposed to on a daily basis. But how can we transform information overload into opportunity? For this episode, we invited internationally recognized leading futurist, entrepreneur, and author Ross Dawson to the conversation to share valuable insights from his new book, " Thriving on Overload: The 5 Powers for Success in a World of Exponential Informatio...

The topic of weight and body image is more prevalent in today's society than ever before. Every day we are bombarded with messages that convey the thin ideal and encourage us to strive for certain body types. Sadly, what is often overlooked is the harmful impact of these societal expectations, especially on people who don't fit the narrow definition of beauty. Our guest for this episode is Dr. Sar...

Unseen, unheard, undervalued - have you ever felt like that? As our guest this week, Dr. Janina Scarlet, a licensed clinical psychologist, points out, these feelings, while understandable, can be overcome. In Janina's mission to de-stigmatize loneliness and help people connect and support one another, she authored the book ' Unseen, Unheard, Undervalued: Managing Loneliness, Loss of Connection and...

Students in high-achieving schools across America are facing increased rates of anxiety, depression, and self-harm due to intense pressure to succeed. This leads educators, parents, and community leaders to grapple with a difficult question: how can we encourage excellence while avoiding overwhelming our children? In this episode, co-host Emily Edlynn interviews award-winning reporter Jennifer B....

The secret is finally out! We’re kicking off an amazing new chapter for POTC this week as we reveal our two latest additions to the cohost team - Emily Edlynn and Michael Herold ! It’s going to be a blast having them aboard, and we can't wait for you to discover all the invaluable wisdom and ideas they have to offer in the realm of psychology. With Emily's insight into science-based parenting guid...

In a bittersweet episode of POTC, we say farewell to our dear friend, Yael Schonbrun , who, after six cherished years on Psychologists Off The Clock, is stepping down from her seat as cohost. We take this opportunity to express our deepest gratitude for Yael's brilliant contributions, chat about decision-making tips, reflect on some of Yael's most influential episodes, and discuss what Yael will m...

Have you ever experienced the unsettling feeling of not being good enough despite all of your achievements? Do you fear being exposed as a fraud in your professional life? Prepare to be enlightened as we discuss the uncomfortable reality of imposterism with our extraordinary cohost, seasoned psychologist, and eminent author, Dr. Jill Stoddard .  Jill has dedicated her professional career to helpin...

It’s natural for us to have feelings of anger as we navigate the obstacles of life, but if left unaddressed, they can easily consume us and negatively impact our lives in more ways than one. Forgiveness, on the other hand, can help us let go of anger, improve our mental health, and maintain healthier relationships.  To explore these closely connected topics, we are thrilled to welcome back therapi...

We all want to raise our children to be self-sufficient and to explore their own identities, but it can be difficult to strike a balance between control and support. For this episode, we enlisted the guidance of Clinical Psychologist Emily Edlynn , who, through her book ‘ Autonomy-Supportive Parenting ’, provides parental strategies that encourage your kids to have autonomy while also establishing...