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

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! "Success" is something that many strive for, but a deeper consideration of success yields a number of interesting conundrums and considerations around what success actually means and how one might actually go about achieving it.  Best selling author, management consultant and entrepreneur Mr. Richard Koch sits down with host Dr. Pete Kelly, C.Psych f...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! The “classical” model of emotions which emphasizes the innate, universal (and even primitive) nature of emotions has been the basis for psychoeducation provided by clinicians to clients about the nature of their emotional experiences. However, there is a very large body of evidence to suggest that emotions are, in fact, constructed concepts that are “wired-in”...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! There has recently been a tremendous increase in awareness and acknowledgment of the systemic oppression and challenges faced by racialized populations not only generally, but in the context of mental health.  Clinical psychologists Drs. Mandisa Peterson & Jude Mary Cénat join host Dr. Pete Kelly for a very important discussion around:     the prevalence a...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Eating disorders are among the most serious of mental health challenges, and yet are mired in stereotypes, stigma and misunderstanding.  Clinical Psychologist Dr. Meagan Gallagher joins us for an in-depth discussion of eating disorders which covers:   How Dr. Gallagher became interested in treating eating disorders from a personal and professional perspective...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Helping clients to develop their own solutions to challenging problems as well as work through a variety of perspectives when considering an important decision are among the most important functions of therapy.  Building on their Applying the 80-20 Rule to CBT episode of Thoughts on Record , OICBT clinicians Drs. Jeff Perron, C.Psych & Pete Kelly, C.Psych...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Psychotherapy can be a powerful & transformative experience for the clinician and client alike.  In this episode psychotherapist and author Nicole Arzt, M.S., L.M.F.T.  discusses her new book Sometimes Therapy is Awkward: A Collection of Life Changing Insights for the Modern Clinician .  In this wide-ranging conversation a number of topics central to the p...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Maligned and misunderstood, addiction can present among the greatest clinical challenge to mental health professionals.  In addition, the stigma and shame associated with addiction is a frequent and strong barrier to clients seeking services.  Teaching professor, Chair of the Department of Neuroscience of Carleton University and host of the podcast Minding the...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Forgiveness has been defined in many ways by many traditions. However, a powerful and clinically relevant way of defining forgiveness is as a suite of skills that can be learned to promote a sense of self-efficacy, emotional effectiveness, physical and emotional well-being & resolution of grieving in the aftermath of betrayal, wrongdoings and even trauma. ...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Despite its many benefits, psychotherapy can understandably be an intimidating and scary proposition for many.  In this special "fireside chat" edition of Thoughts on Record , host Dr. Pete Kelly, C.Psych  walks you through:    common reasons why people don’t, won't (or can’t) engage in therapy and some food for thought around how to think throu...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa can reflect among the most severe and debilitating forms of mental illness.  In fact, anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any form of mental illness and unfortunately for a subset of clients, all current "gold standard" treatments can prove ineffective.  Dr. Blake Woodside, MD, a pioneer in the...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Unraveling the mystery of consciousness, including experiences nested within consciousness such as emotions reflects the leading edge of inquiry in a variety of fields including neuroscience, psychology and philosophy.   Preeminent neuroscientist, author & musician Joseph LeDoux, PhD., a pioneer in the field of brain mechanisms of memory and emotion joins...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Many psychotherapists have a number of clients who are taking psychotropic medications to address symptoms of mental illness; however, focused and in-depth didactic training in psychopharmacology as well as how to conceptualize the use of pharmacological strategies in the context of psychotherapy is not a core component of many graduate psychotherapy programs....

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Although emotions comprise among the most profound and meaningful of human experiences, they can likewise evoke intense discomfort, avoidance or even phobic reactions.  Effectively matching one's emotional reaction to  the demands of the environment is a central task of every individual - a task which is increasingly difficult in an emotionally avoidant s...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Many mental health clinicians and consumers operate under the assumption that mental illness results from chemical imbalances in the brain. However, a close examination of the evidence strongly suggests that this is not the case. In fact, there is some suggestion that psychotropic medications such as antipsychotics and antidepressants used to treat mental illn...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Despite widespread acknowledgment that self-care is an essential component of sustainable practice for mental health professionals, it is an area where many clinicians struggle to implement consistent healthy habits or necessary behavioural change.  In 2019, Drs. Karen G. Dyck, C.Psych and Melissa Tiessen, C.Psych became the co-founders of the website Intentio...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! While Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common experience, it is not a challenge that many individuals - quite understandably - like to talk about or admit to struggling with.  Unfortunately, many sufferers simply “learn to live with it”, but at the expense of flexibility and enjoyment in their lives around travel, commuting, sports, outdoor activities &...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Despite Canadian group insurance plans managing upwards of 35 billion dollars a year, mental health clinicians frequently experience significant frustration with respect to accessing the funds required to effectively treat their clients - especially those with more severe presentations.  Co-founder of Cubic Health Inc., Mr. Mike Sullivan RPh, BSP, MBA joins Dr...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Sports psychology is strongly recognized as an indispensable tool to help athletes achieve maximum performance in high-stakes situations.  However, in addition to facilitating sport-based outcomes, psychotherapy can also help athletes manage the demands and rigours of sport from a mental health perspective.  Former Olympic coach (Canadian Women's Curling)...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! While it is common to hear that we are in the midst of a mental health crisis, a closer examination of the available data strongly suggests that so-called diagnostic inflation may actually be a key contributor to the apparent increase in mental illness.  Dr. Allen Frances, MD, author of Saving Normal: An Insider's Revolt Against Out-of-Control Psychiatric...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! While frequently unpleasant in the short-term, adversity often contains our best opportunities for personal growth.  Newfoundland adventurer, videographer, teacher and author Justin Barbour shares the perspectives he has gained from a number of month to nearly three-month solo expeditions by canoe, kayak, and/or on foot in the rugged wilderness of Newfoundland...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Borrowing heavily from Eastern psychology, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) is currently among the most popular CBT approaches to a variety of human challenges.  Dr. Robyn Walser, Ph. D., a prominent Clinical Psychologist who has published extensively around ACT in a variety of clinical contexts joins host Dr. Pete Kelly, PhD. for a discussion of the...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! It's hard these days to pick up a magazine, browse the internet or peruse the self-help section without coming across "mindfulness"; however, there are frequently deep misunderstandings with respect to the correct definition, framing, application and utility of mindfulness in addressing mental health concerns as well as overall wellness.  Co-dir...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Many clinicians are increasingly of the view that an evolutionary lens is essential for a true and deep understanding of the conceptualization and ultimately treatment of mental illness. Dr. Randolph Nesse, MD, one of the founders of evolutionary psychiatry and author of the book Good Reasons for Bad Feelings sits down with host Dr. Pete Kelly, C.Psych to disc...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! It is increasingly recognized that psychological factors play a paramount role in the development and expression of physical symptoms including chronic pain.  Mind-body Syndrome (MBS), a collection of commonly experienced physical symptoms caused by patterns of neurological response to stress and emotional reactions to stressful situations, provides an evidenc...

Comments or feedback? Send us a text! Despite maternal mental health having potentially wide-ranging and deep impacts on individuals, families and society in general, constructive and supportive discussion of maternal mental health is often hampered by "myths of motherhood" and an atmosphere of judgment perpetuated on social and other media.  Drawing from her extensive clinical experienc...