Psychologists Off the Clock

Toxic positivity is a phenomenon that has become increasingly prevalent in recent years. It is characterized by the constant reinforcement of an overly optimistic attitude, to the point of ignoring, invalidating, or minimizing the hardships or feelings faced by individuals. This can create a sense of disconnect between people. It can also be detrimental to those struggling with mental health issue...

Belonging uncertainty is a common experience in social life. It is a feeling of not fitting into a particular social group or environment. People who experience this may feel like an outsider, isolated from those around them, or unable to connect with people in their environment. Professor of Psychology, Geoffery L. Cohen is here to remind us of the importance of fostering self-awareness to better...

Striving for what you want in life can be difficult, especially when you find yourself in a stagnant situation or lack direction. However, with the assistance of Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman, a Cognitive Scientist, and Humanistic Psychologist, you can learn how to implement the steps necessary to achieve your ambitions. Take a journey with us as we explore the life-changing work of Dr. Scott and Jordyn...

Racial trauma has been caused by centuries of discrimination and violence against African Americans; a legacy of injustice that has had a long-term impact on mental, emotional, and psychical well-being. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to healing Black racial trauma; transformation and change are still possible. A powerful tool to help those who have been impacted by racism is Acceptan...

As we go through life, we all have experiences, both positive and negative, that shape who we are. Sometimes, we focus too much on the negative experiences and start to think "why me?". In order to counter this negative spiral, we can choose to focus on the positive and use this to empower ourselves. Instead, ask yourself "what now?". You can improve your outlook on life by changing your mindset....

Finding moments of silence can be difficult in our chaotic, constantly-connected world. But, Justin Zorn and Leigh Marz , co-authors of ‘ Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise ’, say it's worth the effort. Shedding light on the many dimensions of silence, Justin and Leigh explore how cutting through the clutter can lead to greater clarity, structure, and improved health in our lives. Yo...

Assertive communication is one of the most important skills when it comes to human relationships. Be it in the workplace, with family, or in friendships, it is a skill that you must learn to develop in order to communicate in ways that are respectful, clear, and effective. Without assertive communication, your goals will be difficult to meet. Joining us for this episode is Randy Paterson , Psychol...

Working parenthood is not for the faint of heart. Sometimes the stress of toggling between family and professional roles can feel like too much! And... it can also be a meaningful source of joy, inspiration, and creativity.  In this extra special episode, we talk to our very own co-host, Dr. Yael Schonbrun about her new book,  Work, Parent Thrive: 12 Science-Backed Strategies to Ditch Guilt, Manag...

If you're trying to figure out how to navigate this whole adulthood thing, and maybe even do some personal growth along the way, we have the perfect episode for you this week! Listen in as Debbie talks with Satya Doyle Byock, Jungian psychotherapist, and author of the book Quarterlife: The Search for Self in Early Adulthood . Satya shares her ideas about the struggle to find both meaning and stabi...

Doing social justice work of any kind, whether it's in our homes with their families or out in the world causes us to encounter uncomfortable feelings like confusion, shame, guilt, and overwhelm. But, according to Dolly Chugh, the author of a powerful new book, A More Justice Future , it isn't a problem to have those emotions; it's more a question of what should we do with them? Join the conversat...

Parenting books and research on kids often lump middle schoolers together with young elementary school kids or older adolescents. This obscures the fact that middle school is its own distinct phase. Join Jill as she talks with therapist, school counselor, and middle school expert, Phyllis Fagell, about the unique challenges middle schoolers face and how parents can help them build key skills to th...

Friendships matter deeply for our mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing. But unlike kids, adults generally don’t knock on their neighbors’ doors and say, “Hey wanna come outside and play?” Making and keeping friends in adulthood is tricky (to say the least). Join us for a special conversation about friendship. In the first half of this episode, Yael and Debbie discuss how they see some of the...

In this special bonus episode, we hear an excerpt from Daniel Pink, author of the book The Power of Regret, on the podcast A Slight Change of Plans , cohosted by cognitive scientist Dr. Maya Shankar. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

In order to show up as our best selves for others, for all the roles that matter most to us, and to make the world a better place, we need to be able to have the important conversations with ourselves. In his new book, How Am I Doing?: 40 Conversations to Have with Yourself, Dr. Cory Yeager, a clinical psychologist and therapist for the Detroit Pistons, offers us 40 questions to help us start thos...

Do you want to be a badass? Sometimes being a badass means asking for help, being vulnerable, and admitting you can’t do it all on your own. Join Jill as she talks with psychologist and ACT trainer, Rikke Kjelgaard about how to live a full and meaningful life through psychological flexibility. In this episode, Rikke and Jill get personal, sharing their own vulnerable stories and experiences in hop...

Suicidal thoughts are a more common human experience than you may realize, and many lives are impacted by suicide. Often suicidal thoughts are an indication that a person is in emotional pain, and there are tools that can help. Talking more openly about suicide can help to reduce stigma, and encourage people to reach out for support.  September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and this week...

If you think you’re a horrible parent, well, you’re not alone! Thinking we such at parenting seems to be an inherent part of parenting made worse by the pandemic, financial stressors, and general unease we live with. The wise and witty Carla Naumburg joins us to share tools from her latest book, You are Not a Sh*tty Parent . Along with some humor and spicy language, we can self-compassion to bette...

Anxiety has long gotten a bad wrap. But maybe part of why anxiety is so much on the rise and harming so many people comes back to how we understand anxiety. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary, author Future Tense: Why Anxiety is Good for You (Even Though it Feels Bad) joins us to discuss why re-thinking anxiety can help us out. As Adam Grant noted in his blurb, this conversation and this book “Is going smash you...

If you think emotions don't belong in the workplace, think again! Emotions, when welcomed and respected, are an essential part of productive and healthy workplace environments. In this episode, Debbie talks with Karla McLaren about the power of emotions at work, problems with the modern workplace environment, and her ideas for how to implement real cultural change at work. Listen and Learn: Why De...

Many of us grew up being told we must be members of “the clean plate club” or that we shouldn’t waste food because there are starving children in other countries. The diet industry rakes in billions, profiting off messages around striving for an unattainable “thin ideal.” All of this contributes to the development of unhealty relationships with food and our bodies. As parents, we are at risk of pa...

Many of us grew up with or are in a current relationship with someone who is emotionally immature. And if that’s the case, you may feel anger towards that person, and a lingering sense of loneliness and anxiety in intimate relationships. Lindsay Gibson, the author of the bestselling book, Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents , helps us understand why these relationships cause us such pai...

The world is chock full of bad news right now, and many are feeling the impacts. From war to revocation of rights , the world around us can easily (and not unreasonably) feel hopeless. On this week’s episode of POTC, Debbie, Yael, Jill, and Michael come together to discuss the psychological impact of the socio-political climate as well as practical advice for navigating these difficult times. Join...

Secrets are a double-edged sword. They can both inflict and remedy physical and psychological injury for us and our loved ones. But regardless of whether they offer benefit, keeping secrets is often burdensome for the keeper. Michael Slepian, author of The Secret Life of Secrets , has dedicated his career to the psychology of secrets and how keeping secrets affect variables that govern social and...

It’s not uncommon to have some anxiety about your and others’ health. However, health anxiety, at its worst, can become an overwhelming, life-consuming experience that keeps you from thriving. Millions of people experience health anxiety, and the pandemic has certainly contributed to the recent rise in numbers of people who experience this . Dr. Karen Cassiday, author of Freedom from Health Anxiet...

Delusional beliefs have a long and varied history, with false beliefs ranging from those as minor as imposter syndrome to those as significant as thinking we are dead or decapitated. Victoria Shepherd, author of A History of Delusions, has dedicated her career to exploring the history of fixed false beliefs and the context in which false beliefs can develop. On this episode of POTC, she and Yael d...