Thoughts on Record: Podcast of the Ottawa Institute of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Shame is among the most powerful of human emotions and can drive a number of both functional and dysfunctional behaviours.  Sheila Rubin, MA & Bret Lyon, Ph. D., join us for a comprehensive discussion of many of the themes in their new book Embracing Shame - How to Stop Resisting Shame & Turn it into a Powerful Ally.  In this discussion we cover:  why...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Happiness is an elusive and frequently controversial topic of discussion.  Dr. Jeff Perron joins us for an extensive discussion of some of the themes he is exploring in his new substack project: The Psychology of Happiness .  In this discussion we cover: working within a workable & reasonable definition of happiness given the realities of the human conditi...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! For many clinicians body dysmorphic disorder or BDD is shrouded in mystery and can be an intimidating and tricky presentation to try and conceptualize and treat.   Physician, scientist, educator, and author, Dr. Katharine Phillips,  who has spent her career caring for patients, mentoring/teaching, and conducting groundbreaking scientific research on BDD joins...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Hello everyone - hope you are well!  We just wanted to quickly let you know that we’ll be taking a scheduled break for the rest of the summer and will be back with new episodes in the early fall. It’s been a real joy recording and putting out the podcast - we’re so grateful to each and every guest for their contribution to the path that we’ve been on with the...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Strength in vulnerability combined with an internal sense of safety are among the most powerful psychological tools that one can curate to promote wellness and healthy boundaries.  Four-time Olympian, speaker & author, Silken Laumann, joins us for a very special discussion where we cover:   a brief overview of Silken's story and her rise to prominence...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Despite being among the most common of mental disorders that a clinician is likely to encounter, major depressive disorder presents both the client and therapist with a considerable amount of complexity and nuance to navigate with respect to conceptualization and treatment.  Leading international expert in major depressive disorder, Dr. Keith Dobson, joins us...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Many clinicians pride themselves on practicing within an evidence based framework; however, within psychology the influence of pseudoscience and pop psychology has been at times problematic and even harmful.  Psychologist, professor & author, Dr. Hupp joins us to discuss his recently edited book Investigating Pop Psychology: Pseudoscience, Fringe Science &...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Dr. Daniel Z. Lieberman returns for an encore discussion on Thoughts on Record to discuss his most recent book Spellbound , which explores the untapped potential of our unconscious minds. In this conversation we cover: defining of our conscious and unconscious minds why Dr. Lieberman wanted to write this book getting to know what wants, needs & agendas our...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Despite anxiety in social situations being a fairly normative experience, we know that the symptoms and disability associated with social anxiety disorder can be very life-limiting when it comes to important aspects of life such as establishing a romantic relationship, professional advancement and overall quality of life.  Internationally recognized expert on...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Diagnostic frameworks like the DSM are often regarded as definitive, having an almost canonical-like quality.  On the other hand, there are many in the field who have become increasingly critical of the DSM and its shortcomings.  That said, the DSM has been quite helpful in a lot of ways with respect to organizing our thinking around mental illness as well as...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! While many of us regularly use music to enhance our well-being or increase performance, we are often unaware of the underlying science around music as tool to improve our lives.  Reverberation Studio Co-founders, Michael Hermann (CEO) and Anna Gabriel join us for a discussion of Reverberation Studio, an undertaking they have started with legendary recording ar...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! While OCD is a generally a very recognizable form of mental disorder, there are many nuances and complexities with respect to both its treatment and diagnosis. Psychologist, professor & author, Dr. Christine Purdon, joins us for a deep dive on OCD in which we cover:   what OCD is and how it affects the individual and family members  how is OCD usually conc...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Despite typically being scientifically-minded individuals, many clinicians have often wondered about aspects of the human experience that defy rationale explanation, but yet feel profoundly meaningful.  Psychiatrist and author, Dr. Bernard Beitman, joins us for a discussion of many of the core themes in his book Meaningful Coincidences: How & Why Synchroni...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! At the moment there is no more talked about neurotransmitter than dopamine. Our collective obsession with dopamine has led to a huge amount of content generated around so-called “dopamine fasts”, how to leverage dopamine for motivation, worries about dopamine-driven addiction to devices, pornography, food etc.  In addition, there is a tremendous amount of conf...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Imposter syndrome combined with the somewhat curious & paradoxical phenomenon of over-identification with being a clinician is a familiar combination for many psychotherapists.  Drs. Melissa Tiessen & Karen Dyck of the Intentional Therapist join us for a discussion of these important barriers to clinician well-being.  In this conversation we cover:   ...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Given that mental health treatment outcomes have not improved dramatically over time despite a wealth of research, novel psychotherapies and pharmaceutical compounds, it is important that new theories around mental disorders continue to be identified and explored.   Harvard psychiatrist & researcher, Dr. Chris Palmer, joins us for a discussion of some of t...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Evidence-based, psychological models & treatments for chronic pain are an exciting development in the understanding and management of non-structural chronic pain.  Director of the documentary This Might Hurt , Kent Bassett, and Dr. Lilia (Lily) Graue join us for a discussion of the psychological treatment of chronic pain. In this episode we cover:  an over...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Psychological suffering appears to be greatly facilitated by unfavourable comparisons that we make between ourselves and others in many domains of life. However, there are surprising dynamics (and even upsides) to these comparisons or modelling depending on the context.  Entrepreneur & author, Mr. Luke Burgis, joins us for a discussion of the themes in his...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Effective coping almost always hinges on an accurate appraisal of the stressful event that is being navigated, particularly with respect to what can be controlled versus not. In this 3rd annual Fireside Chat, the host of Thoughts on Record , Dr. Pete Kelly, C.Psych, shares some observations on the relationship between truth, control & coping and why it is...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) can at times be difficult to differentiate from the anxious distress that can accompany depression, health anxiety, some presentations of OCD and even social anxiety.  As well GAD, is often treated as a “catch-all” diagnosis that is applied to any client expressing distress. One of Canada's leading voices in the understa...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! As is the case in many areas of life, for those who are perfectionistic, sex and sexual expression can be areas where emotional over-control & cognitive/behavioural inflexibility can impair pleasure, erode intimacy and create anxiety.  International trainer, educator, couples and sex therapist & author, Dr. Tom Murray joins us for a discussion of core...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Music has a unique ability to evoke emotion and articulate a feeling or sentiment where words can fail.  Moreover, much like a romantic attachment, many of us form an intense connection to a specific song, genre or band but are never really sure why or where our specific attraction or pull comes from. Professor, author, producer (Barenaked Ladies) & audio...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! In a world in which we are increasingly wary of quick dopamine "hits" that frequently lead to feelings of emptiness, meaninglessness & dissatisfaction, it has become unclear how one could or should relate to joyful obsessions that reflect a fuller expression of the self, that could hold great personal meaning.  Author, Tabitha Carvan, joins us fo...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) & borderline personality disorder (BPD) are often confused and sometimes used interchangeably when, in fact, they are separate diagnoses with distinct underlying core etiology and symptomatology.  Clinical Psychologist & Professor, Dr. Julian Ford, joins us for a conversation around defining & differen...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy is among the most effective, empirically supported treatments for posttrauamtic stress disorder.  Importantly, there is a growing literature around the neuroscience of PE which has important implications for the delivery of PE.  Drs. Sheila Rauch & Carmen McLean, join us for a review of some of the core themes in their book...