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 confusion and misunderstanding around what dopamine actually does within the brain, especially with respect to the experience of pleasure. ...

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:    imposter syndrome & ill-suited syndromethe rigours of the profession vs. the personal and coping resources the majority of...

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 the core themes in his new book Brain Energy, which paints the picture of a potential “unifying” underlying metabolic mechanism with...

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 overview of This Might Hurt and why Kent wanted to make this documentary, including his personal journey with chronic painthe kinds of...

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 widely acclaimed book Wanting - The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life.  In this discussion we cover: important experiences in...

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 often so hard to see things as they are (and not as we wish them to be) and how this can at times sabotage our efforts at managing...

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 understanding and treatment of GAD, Dr. Melisa Robichaud joins us for an extensive discussion of GAD with respect to:  Generalized anxiety disorder...

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 themes of his new book Making Nice With Naughty: An Intimacy Guide for the Rule Following, Organized, Perfectionist, Practical and...

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 engineer (Prince), Dr. Susan Rogers, joins us for a discussion of some of the core themes in her wonderful new book, This is What it...

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 for a discussion of her new book "This Book is Not About Benedict Cumberbatch" in which she explores the notion of a joyful obsession and the value...

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 & differentiating CPTSD & BPD. In this conversation we cover: the adequacy of current conceptualizations of traumathe origin of the...

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 Retraining the Brain: Applied Neuroscience in Exposure Therapy for PTSD.  In this discussion we cover:    why Drs. Rauch & McLean...

Many of those who work in mental health services are personally connected to challenges related to mental health and many have been clients of mental health services.  OICBT clinical psychologist Dr. Stacey Kosmerly joins us for a discussion of the the very important topic of mental health service providers seeking out mental health services themselves.  In this conversation we cover:   the gift of personal development that can often come with providing therapya brief review of rates of...

Host note: Just a quick note that we'll be taking a breather until the fall to enjoy the rest of the short Canadian summer.   Have comments or feedback?   You can reach the show at [email protected].  Finding the show adds value for you?  A rating (and especially review) on Apple podcasts would be greatly appreciated (and, we really like to hear how the content is landing for you, helping you in your practice, life etc).  Take care and enjoy the episode - one of our favourites to...

Death & dying are topics that clinicians frequently tackle both directly (as manifested around a fear of death), indirectly (through discussion of questions of meaning, managing pulls towards nihilism) and process-wise, through helping clients manage grief around the loss of a loved one or to process/manage their own impending death.  Medical Anthropologist & podcaster, Dr. Renske Visser, joins us for a discussion of the topics of death & dying.  In this conversation we cover:...

Investing and management of finances is often a source of considerable distress for many individuals.  Investor, CIO & author, Scott Nations, joins us for a discussion of some of the core themes discussed in his new book, The Anxious Investor.  In this conversation we cover:   why Scott wrote The Anxious Investorthe evolutionary basis of investing behavior   loss aversion as a central driver of irrational behavior in the context of investinglessons from the mathematics of the stock market...

Assessing & treating adult ADHD can be both very challenging as well as highly rewarding for client and clinician alike. Professor, psychiatrist & author, Dr. Sandra Kooij joins us for an in-depth discussion of the assessment and treatment of adult ADHD.  In this discussion we cover:     description of the main symptom clusters of adult ADHD (attention, hyperactivity, impulsivity) and how risk stratifies by various demographic factorsconsideration of the frequent presence of emotion...

The past 2 years appear to have precipitated an unprecedented rise in the dissemination and propagation of misinformation and conspiracy theories, leading to considerable distress and uncertainty around consumers of traditional media platforms as well as social media. Psychiatrist and professor, Dr. Joe Pierre, joins us for an extensive discussion of conspiracy theories in which we cover:  Dr. Pierre's thoughts on the nature & severity of challenges involved in navigating the current...

Engaging in regular exercise is a frequent recommendation of mental health clinicians as a way to address symptoms of anxiety & depression; however, despite clients almost universally voicing a strong belief in the benefit of exercise, it is often challenging for clients (and let's be honest, clinicians) to implement.  Professor, neuroscientist and author, Dr. Jennifer Heisz joins us for a discussion of themes contained in her new book "Move the Body, Heal the Mind".  In this discussion...

While at times a difficult topic to broach, men's mental health reflects an important area of both clinical and research interest.  Moreover, despite the strong emotions that can be evoked by this subject, it is an issue which must be successfully integrated into the current discussion around mental health and wellbeing.  In this wide ranging discussion, professor, author and documentary producer, Dr. Rob Whitley and men's mental health advocate, keynote speaker and panelist, Mr....

Unfortunately, many mental health clinicians will experience a client’s suicide in the course of their career.  The loss of a client to suicide often reflects  a life changing experience which can require considerable processing to reconcile and reach some kind of understanding.  In parallel, risk assessment can reflect a major source of distress, not only for clinician trainees but likewise for seasoned clinicians.  Clinical psychologist, professor and author, Dr. Lisa Cohen, joins us for a...

Jungian/Depth psychology provides a wonderful framework for exploring questions related to meaning and the self that can at time fall outside of boundaries of what is typically explored in cognitive behavioural therapy.  However, each perspective can offer tools and insights which may enrich the application of the other.  Dr. Sean Fitzpatrick, psychotherapist, author and executive director of The Jung Center in Houston, Texas joins us for a conversation in which we explore:   the origin story...

Following registration as an autonomous professional, a psychotherapist could potentially go decades providing service to clients in the privacy of their office without another professional ever directly evaluating their work. Clinical psychologist, researcher and consultant, Dr. Daryl Chow, joins us for an important discussion around clinician perceptions of competency and the promise of deliberate practice for not only improving clinical outcomes, but also clinician confidence and quality...

Chronic pain is emerging as one the most misunderstood aspects of the human experience.  Owing to this misunderstanding, there is often needless suffering as a function of many clients and clinicians not understanding the central role psychological processes can play in the experience of many types of chronic pain.  Clinical psychologist and researcher, Dr. Yoni Ashar, joins us for a fascinating discussion focused on understanding chronic pain from the lens of Pain Reprocessing Therapy...

The interface between nutrition and mental health is a fascinating area of study that is of great interest to both mental health clinicians & clients alike; however, it can be at times difficult to find coherent messaging and/or data-driven information as it relates to the link between diet and psychological well-being.  Uma Naidoo, MD, a board-certified psychiatrist, professional chef, and nutrition specialist joins us for a wide-ranging discussion about themes explored in her new book...