Our 20s are a time of great change and transformation. But many people overlook this and label them "snowflakes" for not having certain things, like partners, houses, mortgages, big jobs, or kids. The truth is that trying to achieve all those milestones at once without any guarantee of success can leave us feeling insecure and stressed. For this episode, we bring you guest, Meg Jay, a clinical psychologist who joins us to chat about her new book, The Twentysomething Treatment: A Revolutionary...

As humans, we face this dilemma of wanting to live life to the fullest, but also taking everything for granted, including time. We often only realize the importance of time when we have little time left. Don’t let that be you! In an episode with Jodi Wellman, we dive into her phenomenal book, You Only Die Once: How to Make It to the End with No Regrets. We have about 4,000 Mondays in our lifetime, and if we're halfway through, we have roughly 2,000 to go. The good news is that you are in...

Are you seeking effective strategies to help your anxious child thrive and grow? In an interview with clinical psychologist and best-selling author, Regine Galanti about her book, "Parenting Anxious Kids, Understanding Anxiety in Children by Age and Stage", we talk about the importance of differentiating between "normal" and problematic anxiety in children, spending one-on-one time with kids to build self-esteem, and the use of praise. Regine also describes how parents can focus on changing...

Want to change your relationship with food? This incredible interview with Judson Brewer, a pioneer in the field of habit change and author of The Hunger Habit: Why We Eat When We're Not Hungry and How to Stop, will not only deepen your understanding of your eating behavior patterns and triggers, but you'll also learn how to completely shift your habits with kindness and curiosity. Listen in for a slew of actionable tips, modern science, and ancient wisdom from Judson; discover which foods...

Are you prioritizing quick fixes over lasting joy in our pursuit of health and wellness? With a focus on promoting long-term health behavior changes rather than short-lived fitness programs that quickly lose momentum, we welcome award-winning researcher and sustainable-change coach Michelle Segar. We are honored to interview Michelle, who is the author of the acclaimed book, The Joy Choice: How to Finally Achieve Lasting Changes in Eating and Exercise. Her thirty years of expertise and...

Almost all of our quality of life is impacted by our careers because we spend so much time at work. As psychologists, we see a lot of anxiety-based patients in our practice. Often, the root of stress or anxiety is having a lot of struggles at work and knowing that something needs to change, but having no idea how to go about it. Here to help you understand and effectively transition in your career no matter the reason, is career coach and author of The Purple Parachute: A Woman's Guide to...

How often do you criticize yourself? Whether you torture yourself with negative thoughts about body image, career goals, or parenting, our conversation with guest and former cohost Diana Hill is sure to change that! Drawing from mindfulness, acceptance and commitment therapy, and compassion-focused therapy, Diana shows you how to liberate yourself from harmful self-criticism by cultivating forgiveness and kindness. We are grateful to Diana for her work in shifting the way people think about...

If you are someone who finds comfort and healing in writing, you’ll already be familiar with the therapeutic benefits of journaling. But, have you ever thought about exploring memoir writing? You may think, ‘What have I got to write about?’ or wonder if your life experiences are worth sharing. That's where our guest, Maureen Murdock, is here to prove you otherwise. In an episode where we talk about her latest book, Mythmaking: Self-Discovery and the Timeless Art of Memoir, Maureen inspires...

Parenting neurodivergent kids can be a unique journey full of challenges and triumphs. For this discussion, we have the pleasure of being joined by Debbie Reber, the author of a book that is breaking the mold! Differently Wired: A Parent's Guide to Raising an Atypical Child with Confidence and Hope takes an innovative approach by focusing solely on the parent's experience and empowering them with the tools to take care of themselves while responding to their neurodivergent child in ways that...

Heartbreak, a universal experience that can leave us feeling lost and questioning ourselves. We've all been there. It's a painful journey, that's difficult to process and navigate. In a conversation everyone can relate to, we bring in the author of Heartbreak: A Personal and Scientific Journey. Florence Williams reflects on her personal experience facing divorce and draws upon science to explain the negative impacts of rejection, loss, and loneliness. We also unravel the mystery behind our...

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, confident, and well-focused young adults who are empowered to passionately pursue their goals?...

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 skills to overcome self-blame and find true self-acceptance. We hear of Grant’s personal history...

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 Connections. With scientific evidence, wit, and compassion, Emily joins Jill on POTC to debunk the...

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 of these difficult-to-control behaviors that can have detrimental effects on mental and emotional...

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 resource can teach you so much about burnout, its dimensions, and how to manage it effectively. You will...

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 Awkward: Modern Puberty Explained. If you are the parent of children who are approaching or...

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 Meditation. One of the most empowering lessons from Sharon is that mindfulness is not just a...

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 their aspirations for 2024 and wrap up the chat with a spirited speed-round. Intrigued to know their...

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 Polyvagal World: How Safety and Trauma Change Us, are father and son, Stephen and Seth Porges....

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 surface. Discussing Michelle’s book How Work Works: The Subtle Science of Getting Ahead Without...

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 for parents and educators to support middle schoolers through the most challenging situations. You...

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 they explore the complicated topic of recognition in society, Michele draws from almost four decades...

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 trying it out themselves, we also provide some free resources. Welcome to Psychologists Off the Clock...

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 the advantages and potential of RPGs in therapy. Using the wildly popular Dungeons&Dragons as...